You might remember from my post on the Swaddle Pod that I haven’t had much luck swaddling my little fidget. So if I were to start over, I would definitely try the Woombie (I know, horrible name, but let’s give it a chance), which claim to be ‘great for babies who are restless and in need of an inescapable swaddle’.
The Woombie does all the usual swaddling things – comforts the baby, prevents face scratching and stops the startle reflex waking them up – but, in contrast to super-tight blankets, it won’t lead to overheating. It also claims to improve the symptoms of colic and I’m sure any parent who has suffered with evening crying will think it’s worth a punt.
It had never occurred to me that swaddling might be a bad thing, but (in an admittedly slightly doom-ridden sensationalist way), the Woombies website highlights the dangers of overheating and also restricting movement, which can lead to problems with the development of motor skills. The stretchy fabric and zip fastening ensure that arms and legs can’t escape, but can stretch – just as they would in the womb (geddit?).
They’re not the prettiest of items, but the thinking behind the Woombie, designed by nurse and ‘mompreneur’ Karen Barski, does seem to make sense. The Original Woombie, from £22.99, is made from 94% cotton with a dash of Lycra and comes in 5 sizes (I particularly like the idea of MEGA baby – sounds like a super-hero) in white with coloured detail at the neck. The ‘made in the USA’ version, £24.99, has two fabric weight options (heavier for your ‘Lil Houdini’), two sizes and a selection of solid colours – Feather Grey is my favourite. For colder climes, there’s the Winter Woombie, £26.99, in stretch fleece, which seems particularly snuggly.
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has any experience of whether they work or not, but any product that makes your baby look a bit like a peanut has surely got to be worth it, no?
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