SwaddleMe Deluxe By Your Side Sleeper

My first baby was a nightmare in regards to sleep, so in preparation for baby No. 2, we were prepared to try all sorts of sleep products. The SwaddleMe Deluxe By Your Side Sleeper (let’s go with “Deluxe” for short) arrived a couple weeks before baby, and I couldn’t wait to try it out.

I opened up the box and pulled the sleeper out. To my delight, it was already in ONE PIECE with no assembly required. I glanced at the instructions long enough to see they are very simple, as this product is pretty self-explanatory. The most important part is folding and unfolding/setup, which is demonstrated with a succinct combination of illustrations and text. These are my kind of instructions … ones you don’t actually need! Folding it up involves three quick steps, while setup is four. Either way, it only takes about a minute.

The Deluxe is intended for use from birth until your baby can roll over or push up to hands and knees. The manufacturer’s website describes it perfectly as a “safe, cozy, comfortable sleep space.” The mattress pad feels nice, and the mesh sides allow for good air circulation and a clear view of your newborn.

The bells and whistles of this sleeper are wrapped up into the vibration and sound unit, which is a separate piece. It requires a small screwdriver to access the battery compartment and three AA batteries. Once it’s juiced up, the unit simply slides onto the frame of the sleeper. The sound is controlled by a four-position slide switch, offering music, nature and womb sounds; there are also several volume levels. After 20 minutes, any sound will automatically shut off to conserve battery power. The light comes in super handy when you’re stumbling around in the dark trying to find a pacifier or check the diaper status! We don’t use the vibration feature very much because it is a bit loud.

Harvey napped frequently in the Deluxe during his first couple weeks. We were combatting jaundice and needed to place him near windows, while keeping him in a safe sleep environment. He slept so well in the sleeper, despite his ever-changing location in the house. Now that he’s 6 weeks old, we primarily use it for overnight trips, as we prefer not to bed-share on a regular basis. I love how easily the deluxe folds up, remaining in one piece (except for the slip-into-place sound and vibration unit). It is also very compact and lightweight—perfect for travel, even by plane! I’ve found that keeping baby’s sleep environment familiar while on the road can only increase your chances of getting some much needed shuteye yourself.

One of my favorite features is how easy it is to clean. The fitted sheet is machine washable, with no special care required. The frame and sleeper pad can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth. Because Harvey was born during flu season, I usually wipe it all down with natural, non-toxic disinfectant wipes.

The SwaddleMe Deluxe By Your Side Sleeper comes in a sleek gray and white neutral design and is sold for $60. (The standard version is $40.) The key difference is the sound, light and vibration unit, so you can decide what will work best for your family.

Price: $60
To buy: amazon.com