[Note: I was not paid for this product review monetarily or via product. I was put in contact with the creator, Maureen, by one of my dear friends after she learned about my Magic Sleepsuit review. Maureen was thrilled (but not surprised) at my child’s success with her product, and agreed to do a giveaway to benefit my readers!]
How I Got Ahold of a Magic Sleepsuit
In 2013, a Fb friend, Natalie, sent me Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit out of the kindness of her heart when she heard that my little one was having some trouble sleeping.
Benson was always great at going to sleep when I laid him down with a pacifier and in a swaddle. The trouble was keeping him asleep! The problem was that he only slept for about 30-minute periods at a time due to noise, or flinching, or wanting to roll-over, or who-knows what else. I felt bad that the little guy just wasn’t getting enough sleep!
During the day, he would nap only for about a max of 30 minutes per nap. At night, he would sleep for about 5 hours and then wake up and eat. He would only go back to sleep from then on if he was next to me! Do you know how difficult it is to get a sound night’s sleep while trying not to roll over an infant?! I’m sure some of you do!
I wasn’t convinced that this fluffy suit could actually push my little spunky one into a deep slumber, but I decided to try it.
Here’s My Experience
The first time I put Benson in the suit was for a nap when he was 2-months-old. He is a long baby, so he fit just fine. He does tend to sleep with his legs up in a ball and not always in the leg holes, but because his arms stay in the arm holes, the suit can’t go above his head. Please ensure that you child fits properly in the suit before leaving him or her alone in it. I didn’t use it as a transition from the swaddle, but rather, an alternative to the swaddle. He slept for a good 1-1/2 hours uninterrupted, which was a huge improvement from 30 minutes!
The second time was for another nap that same day. He slept for another 1-1/2 hours uninterrupted. SUCCESS!
The third and most AMAZING time was that night. He slept 8-1/2 hours uninterrupted, ate, and then went back down for another hour. SAY WHAT?!
Highlights ever since that first day
-I feel so much better, because not only is Benson getting a great series of naps and a full-night’s sleep, which is so important for his growth, but we (the parents) are, too! We finally feel sane during the day!
-When I put him down, I don’t have to hold my breath in hopes that he won’t will cry any second!
-Sometimes, after he’s slept for a few hours, I will hear him make a little peep. Most of the time I go into his room to find him asleep again!
-It really is magic, because nothing I’ve tried has done anything like it — sleep sacks, swaddling, warm pajamas, etc.
-It relieved me of the guilt I had having him lay next to me at night, because he doesn’t need me right next to him when he has the Magic Sleepsuit on.
-At night, he sleeps a minimum of 8 hours, eats, and then goes back to sleep for another couple hours. Oh, the relief!
-We don’t have to sweat at night to keep him warm, because the temperature-regulating material does it for us! However, I do check his chest temperature whenever I wake up, because I’m paranoid. I learned at one point that a baby’s body temperature can’t accurately be assessed by feeling his or her hands or feet. That’s why I slip my hand down the top of the Sleepsuit to feel his chest.
-It is machine washable and dryer-friendly.
-I anticipated it being difficult to get him in and out of the suit, but it’s simple because of the two long zippers. You can view my video below.
The Downside?
I haven’t found much to complain about in regards to the Magic Sleepsuit, besides the price… then I looked at what was most closely comparable: swaddlers and sleep sacks (although, these two have significantly less fabric than the Magic Sleepsuit). Sleep sacks range from $13 (OneStepAhead) to $40 (Potterybarn Kids) and swaddlers range from about $16 (Summer Infant) to $44 (Woombie). Which would I rather at the $40 range? I’d opt for the Magic Sleepsuit, absolutely.
Who Is the Magic Sleepsuit For?
- Babies, ages 3 -9 months, who need assistance transitioning out of a swaddle, sleeping longer, or sleeping more soundly.
- Babies transitioning from a bassinet, cradle, or co-sleeper and into a crib.
- It is for twitchers, snugglers, or little ones who just can’t seem to get comfortable.
- If you have a great sleeper already, but want to ensure the baby stays warm while sleeping, or want to help prevent rolling over, this product is also for you.
Product Details
It comes in two sizes: 3-6 months and 6-9 months.
It comes in blue, pink, or yellow.
You can purchase one at a time, or both sizes together.
Background & What Does It Do?
I had the honor of interviewing Maureen, the creator of Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit, so I could share more with you. Here’s what I learned.
Maureen created the product to extend the duration of her son’s sleep. She needed a way to transition him out of the ever-shrinking swaddle (due to the ever GROWING baby).
However, transitioning from a straight-jacket swaddle to a free-willy baby proved difficult (can you relate?), so Maureen experimented with different ways of prolonging quality sleep for her little one.
Maureen developed the concept of a sleep suit that allows for free–yet contained–arms and legs, and the comfort that a swaddle provides. Maureen felt it was important to choose a safe design with a low, scooped neck line.
She chose microfleece for the outside for a sense of coziness, jersey cloth on the inside for comfort, and polyfil between the layers for a cloud-like padding and to prevent the baby from waking up due to a twitch. After discovering how well her son, (and later, her daughter) was able to sleep in the suit, she decided to make a few prototypes for family and friends.
How could she keep this a secret?
After working with a seamstress for well over a year, Maureen put the product that she wholeheartedly believed in on the market for others to purchase. She wanted to offer the peaceful sleep that she and her children found to other parents and their little ones.
And, thus birthed The Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit and the Baby Merlin Company. For more detailed information regarding the creation of the Magic Suit, see the “Q&A with Maureen” at the bottom of this post, visit www.magicsleepsuit.com, and visit the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Facebook page. <– Hint: You can also find some great giveaways on their Fb page!
Update: In addition to the microfleece sleepsuit, you can also now purchase a lighter, cotton version, which I used on my third child!
Safety Thoughts
What testing has been done?
The Magic Sleepsuit was put through and passed extensive safety lab testing by the Bureau Veritas Group, an independent safety testing agency. It is also CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) compliant.
Is it safe for babies who can roll?
My experience is that, although Benson can roll outside of the suit (he discovered how to roll at 2-months-old!), he is unable to roll with the suit on, because of the extra padding. The Baby Merlin Company constructed the suit to be used while the baby sleeps on his or her back in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. If your child can roll with the Sleepsuit on, the Baby Merlin Company recommends you transition your child out of the suit and into new sleeping attire.
Since it is padded, should I be concerned with suffocation?
You can see in my pictures that Benson’s onesie actually has a higher collar than the Magic Sleepsuit, and he isn’t even tall enough for his legs to stick out of it, yet. If your baby is the correct size for the suit, you should not be concerned with the material going over the baby’s face. However, it is important to ensure that your baby fits into the suit properly before leaving him or her alone to sleep.
Will my baby overheat?
I read that some people were concerned with the heat the Magic Sleepsuit radiates, especially in the summer. It’s been quite hot here in Colorado, and I’ve had no problem with it. We open our windows at night, because it does get hot in our home without them open (and I’m too cheap to keep the A/C on at night). We put the A/C on during the day as needed to stay at 69 degrees, but we would do this whether or not he had the Magic Sleepsuit on. The Baby Merlin Company constructed the suit such that the material and the open feet and sleeve design is actually meant to help regulate the baby’s body temperature. If you are concerned, touch your baby’s chest while he or she is sleeping to get a sense of their body temperature. If he or she is cold, put socks or booties on. If he or she is warm, take a layer off. If there are no layers, of course, take the Sleepsuit off. If your home gets super hot, try their cooler cotton version.
Reviews from other customers I contacted:
My baby loved being swaddled from day 1 and always slept better when he was tightly wrapped. Around 4 months the swaddle blankets would often loosen in the night, causing him to wake and causing me to worry about the danger of loose blankets in the crib. We did some research and it sounded like the Magic Sleepsuit was the next best step for us. And it was! No possibility of unwrapping which has meant full night’s sleep and peace of mind for everyone. He’s 10.5 months now and it’s still a staple in our nap time and bedtime routines.
-Kate, New YorkI’ve had it just over 3 weeks. Tate has slept great ever since. 8-11 hours a night! It’s HEAVEN!!!
-Becky, UtahBaby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is my #1 most essential baby product and I have converted many other mamas! I had a good (swaddled) sleeper to begin with, but the Magic Sleepsuit helped her sleep better, longer, and more comfortably. Plus, I didn’t have straight-jacket guilt. I was worried about the day we’d have to wean her from it, but it happened totally naturally. Once she was able to sit/stand up in her crib and seemed frustrated by the somewhat-limited mobility of the sleep suit, we switched to a Halo Sleepsack for about a week (just to keep bedtime ritual feeling similar) and then to just pajamas. No sweat! Magic Sleepsuit, I love you so much.
-Angie, New York
How easy is it to put on and take off?
I made this video so you can see:
[wpvideo QySy0Xtc]
Where Can I Get One?
Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Website
Q&A with Maureen, the creator of Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit:
I went through many different kinds of fabrics when designing the Magic Sleepsuit. I was looking to create a cozy feeling for the baby and wanted something very soft and comfortable. The microfleece outer layer provides just enough coziness while the jersey cotton inner layer is a soft, comfy fabric against the baby’s skin. The layer of polyfil in between and overall fabric thickness provides babies with a cozy, secure feeling and helps muffle their reflexive startles to aid in their sleep.
As you may have read on my website, I created the Magic Sleepsuit with my first baby to provide a cozy, secure feeling and help muffle his reflexive startles. He napped very well in the car seat or stroller, but as soon as I’d put him in the crib, he would wake up in 30 minutes. My goal was to design something that would simulate these cozy, contained environments, but for use in the crib. I worked with a seamstress for well over a year tweaking the design. I wanted the scooped neckline to keep fabric away from the baby’s face, and double zippers for easy in and out. We initially had snap on booties, but found after our first round of trials that it was better to leave the feet uncovered and allow parents to either keep babies’ feet covered or uncovered for added ventilation. Through the design process, I learned that simple is better for both safety and function. As you can see the design evolved over time with much thought and consideration. We are also very excited to announce that we just recently added zipper covers for a cleaner look and extra coziness.
No, Baby Merlin Company was created in conjunction with the developement of the Magic Sleepsuit. I originally had no intentions of creating a product to sell or starting a company, I was just trying to create something to help my babies sleep better. The Magic Sleepsuit evolved on its own and Baby Merlin Company was formed in response.
The concept of the Magic Sleepsuit started with my oldest son, and, as I mentioned, it very much evolved over time. It was with my second child, my daughter that friends and family began asking me what I was using to help my babies sleep so well and asked if they could try it. I made some early prototypes and friends and family tried them with great success! That is when I realized that I had created something that really met a need for babies (and parents), so that is when we started the patent process, incorporating the business, working on prototypes, etc. It takes a long time to bring a product to market the right way, so it was years in the making before the Magic Sleepsuit actually hit the general market.
Resources:
Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Website
Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Facebook Page
Excellent, what a web site it is! This webpage presents useful data to us, keep it up.
wow these products are great! Wish i would have known about them all when our daughter was in her first yr. Our fav product wasn’t listed here but the zipadee zip sleep sack has been amazing for our daughters sleep. She feels cozy and lightweight and very easy to get on.
Hi Ashley! This was only a review of Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit. I’m due with my 3rd at the end of Feb and would LOVE to try a Zipadee Zip after seeing it on Shark Tank. If I get a chance, I’ll certainly put up a review of it, as well.
It was a pleasure reading the review. Was hoping you could share a few more logistical aspects: what time did you decide to put “down” your baby for the evening? And any challenges with pee/poo diapers?
Hi Kristin,
I really appreciate your questions! I’m sure others have similar ones.
1) With all 3 babies I let them take naps as they want/need until about 30-60 mins before I go to bed (generally 10pm). I keep them up for a little while before I head to bed and then put them in the Sleepsuit for the night. I realize that this is not a plan that will work for everyone, but it has worked well for us.
2) No challenge with diapers. I just unzip, remove legs (just like I would with any pajamas), and change it.
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to comment.
Hey!!
Love the blog and now that I have my son I love your baby advice/reviews!
Question- we used the magic suit instead of the swaddle like you did with your first, not as a transition, and it has worked beautifully!! I’m trying to figure out when I should get him out of it though ? He is 5 months and still startles awake even with the suit on but the suit helps him go back to sleep fairly quickly- I love the suit I just don’t know when I should part with it or how to go about testing him out of it- whether I should try naps or nights?? Any help you could give me would be much appreciated!!
Thanks in advance!
Hi Candace!
Thank you so much for your questions. I’m not an expert on baby sleep, but I’ve had 3x experience, so I’ll let you know what has worked for me and what my estimated guess would be. I’ll also send this to the Baby Merlin Company office so they can hopefully add their take to this thread.
I left my 2nd child in the suit until he was strong enough that I had fear that he’d roll over in it. In fact, that suggestion was given to me by the Baby Merlin Company. When I transitioned out, I put him in a generic sleep sack. This allowed me to forego loose blankets and still keep him warm. It also allowed him to still be covered fully, which gave him a sense of security. As far as if you should do it at nap time or sleep time first, my strategy is to do it at the time you feel you could sacrifice a little more. For example, if you REALLY need your night sleep, try transitioning out of the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit at nap time. If you have to work through nap time or you don’t get a paycheck you count on, transition first at night time. You might be pleasantly surprised in that it’s possible he won’t need much easing into the change. I hope that’s the case for you, Sister!
Again, I’ll pass this along to the Baby Merlin Company and ask them to reply here to you.
🙂
Darcy
Wonderful thank you!!
We recommend transitioning from the Magic Sleepsuit once your little one begins to roll IN the Sleepsuit. That is the true indication that your baby is ready for more freedom of movement in their sleep.
When making the transition, some parents (including myself) have layered
some cotton pajamas with a sleeper on top (depending on the
temperature, of course). This gives some fabric thickness similar to
the Magic Sleepsuit and still allows your baby to wear their warmth.
Typically, if babies are transitioned out of the Magic Sleepsuit when
they are ready, the transition goes smoothly. Please let us know if
you have any other questions at 877-458-0130.
Thank you both for being great customers – we appreciate your business!
Thank you so much for your wisdom, Kelly!
You are very welcome!
We are transitioning our daughter out of the sleep suit this week. If we put her in two layers of cotton footie PJ’s will she be okay? The room is relatively cold – around 69 degrees, typically – plus there is a fan on and a cold air humidifier going as well. The sleep suit has been incredible for our daughter and our family. It’s the best thing ever! Thanks!
Thanks for the question, Brynn! It’s hard to say. I would try it out and go in after a half hour to feel the temperature of her hands and face. Congrats on having a growing baby. Approaching new stages is so exciting!
Hi there I enjoyed your review because i have been very curious about this sleep suit. My little guy just turned 2 months and since week 2 he has been sleeping in the “straight jacket” (as we call it lol), Miracle Blanket which has him sleeping 8-10 hours every night, its amazing. However lately we find him in the morning w his legs out and just this morning, somehow he woke w his arms out. Also there have been times he makes sounds in the night and i see that one of the flaps has gotten loose and it covers his face which keeps me paranoid at night. In addition he is 25in long and seems to be too long for this blanket anymore. We want to transition him out of the swaddle from his bassinet to his more spacious crib but was not sure at what age is best. What do you think? You mentioned you started at two months? Thank you any advice or tips are appreciated.
Hi Star!
I’m definitely not a sleep expert, but I definitely know what you mean about the paranoia. My youngest just hit 4 months and consistently breaks out of the Miracle Blanket. We used to switch off the use of Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit with the Miracle Blanket, but now we just use the sleepsuit.
My son is short for his age, so his feet don’t stay through the feet holes right now. He ends up balling them up near his chest, which (under the sleepsuit) makes him look like he has a huge belly. It still pleases him, though! Sometimes when he wakes up, he’ll kick his legs really hard and the sleepsuit actually ends up unzipping and his legs end up out of it. However,it doesn’t pose a danger. Once he grows a bit, his feet will stay through the leg holes and that won’t happen.
Good luck to you! I’d love to hear an update. If you get it and have a little review, please feel free to post back here so that everyone can see what you think.
Darcy 🙂
Its Very Great Product review, keep reviewing 🙂
Thank you, Suzie! I have some more coming soon.
This is a great review! We are gonna give this a try. Our two month isn’t a great napper, also only napping 20-30 minutes at a time.
My only question is middle of the night feeding. Can you breastfeed while baby is still in the suit?
Thank you! I’m glad you’re trying it. Yes, yes! You can definitely nurse with it on. I just did it this morning. 🙂 Let me know how it goes. <3
I am borrowing this sleep suit from a friend because my little guy didn’t like the constriction of the Velcro swaddles. I put him in this and he seemed to love it. I could feed him in it and burp him through the night. In the swaddles he would not be able to burp and would be up multiple time because of spitting up and tummy issues. The sleep suit allows him the sleep and feed without the upset tummy. I am waiting for the night where he sleeps through. Love this sleep suit though!
Aw! That’s so great, Melissa! I’m glad he’s doing well in it. Crossing my fingers for the first fulllllll night’s sleep! ?
very nice blog baby feel relax 😀
Oh yes! Such a nice feeling as a mom! 🙂
Just curious how you transitioned out of the magic sleep suit? We’ve been using it since my daughter was 3months and she’s starting to roll a bit more and I’m nervous about not using the sleep suit anymore!! Any tips or tricks for when you stopped using it??
Wow! I’m so sorry for answering your questions so late, Jen! I’m wondering how it went if you already transitioned.
When I transitioned, I moved my babies from the Sleepsuit to sleep sacks like this one: http://www.2daydeliver.com/product_detail.php?id=SKUB001PGRLLO#.V4MJvJMrKu4
The ones I had were hand-me-downs and served the purpose of keeping a loose blanket off of the child.
My kids personally didn’t have trouble moving from the Sleepsuit to the sleep sack, but they were both a bit older. Is your daughter rolling when in the Sleepsuit, or only when out of it?
Going to try this sleep suit in hopes it gets my restless 3 month old to sleep better and in to his crib! Question about when to place the baby in the suit? He is such a light sleeper I am afraid when I go to put it on him, it will wake him right up from being groggy!
Such a valid concern, Dawn! I used to try to catch the baby before taking him to bed – when he’s still more awake than asleep. This can be hard with a 3 month old, especially if he’s doesn’t sleep at the same times every day. Do you happen to have a schedule where you know around when he’ll head to bed?