Kiddopotamus & Co 100% Cotton Knit SwaddleMe® Circle Bear - Small Reviews

• What no one tells you about sizing

  
  By AONXNUE8RMO0M on 2007-05-17
  First off, I really love this product. It's the quickest, easiest way to swaddle my baby girl, who sleeps much better at night when she's securely wrapped up. We went with this kind of swaddle over a blanket because she has been a "mobile sleeper" since birth, and always managed to wriggle out of our blanket swaddle. Note that these notes below pertain to the small size.
  
  Now - here's what you need to know about sizing, based on my three months of experience and multiple attempts to get it right.
  - There are three kinds of swaddle fabrics at the time I'm writing this:
  1. Flannel (in the gingham prints)
  2. Fleece
  3. Cotton jersey (like a t-shirt). This variety has the most options in terms of patterns and colors.
  
  I've arranged them in that order because that's the order of smallest to largest. The flannel variety stretches, well, not at all. It's the smallest of the three types of fabrics, therefore, in terms of fit. (My daughter outgrew her small size swaddle at 13 pounds, after washing it a few times - even though it's supposed to fit up to 14.) The fleece variety does stretch a bit - she's now 15 pounds and this still fits her.
  
  The cotton variety is the stretchiest one - and it REALLY stretches. The first time after I wash and dry it, it's pretty snug. But if I'm lucky enough to get 2 or 3 nights of use out of it, by the third night it's considerably bigger than it was. I just bought another small cotton one and my baby's 15 pounds.
  
  What's more, I just bought a flannel gingham swaddle in large, and that fits her great. (But the cotton variety in large was HUGE and I'm returning it.) Anyway - hope this is helpful to all of you out there. This is a great product and I wish you luck!
  
  

• Worth Its Weight In Gold

  
  By A3NZF19UWLZA76 on 2006-10-04
  When my daughter was born, I didn't know about swaddling, and it would take me HOURS to get her to sleep! I would feed or rock her in my arms until she falls asleep, then put her in her crib... and she'd flail her arms, wake up and cry, and I had to start all over! What a nightmare!
  
  Then I figured out that since her arms wake her, it would make sense to wrap her in something so she couldn't move them as much... so I started wrapping her in regular receiving blankets. It worked! It became much easier to get her to sleep. But then she wiggled out of those receiving blankets and wake up again.
  
  When she was a little over a month old, somehow I came across SwaddleMe blankets on the Internet and immediately bought it. It worked great! It was so easy to wrap my daughter in it, and it stayed put. My daughter started sleeping so much better!
  
  I wish I found those blankets sooner - it would've saved me from so many sleepless nights!
  
  2 years later, my son was born, and thankfully I already knew about those blankets from the start. He goes to sleep great in the SwaddleMe blanket! Out of curiosity, I tried to put him to sleep without this blanket, and his arms wake him right away - exactly the same as my daughter!
  
  I consider this blanket one of the most important baby items you could buy. It should be a must for a new mother who wants to get some sleep!
  
  

• Dangerous?

  
  By A3RGB5FTU5GWF6 on 2007-04-26
  I really liked the Swaddleme fleece swaddle that was given to us when our son was born. As the weather turned warmer and the boy grew, I decided to try this cotton one. I'm not happy at all with it. It stretches too much and doesn't keep him swaddled for long. This morning I woke to his crying only to discover he'd worked the entire thing up his body and wrapped it snugly around his neck. I won't be using it any more.
  
  

• Really great product

  
  By A3W4Z3KAD1TH3M on 2007-01-04
  This is the only swaddle so far that has worked for us. My son stays nice and tight and secure in this swaddle. We will be buying more when he outgrows this one.
  
  

• Velcro does not hold

  
  By ACQNUVOZ28AIE on 2006-12-30
  I have an older fleece blanket and it's great! But this version is really bad, velcro closures are to far, can't close them properly, Size small was still to big for my baby who's avarage size, I wish they wouldn't change this product!
  
  
• We LOVE this blankie!
  By A3F69HNLEEWH11 on 2007-05-23
  We love this blanket so much, we've given it a name! My baby only stayed swaddled until she was about 2 weeks, then could wiggle out of even the tightest wrap and cried almost all night. Then of course would sleep all day... then would be wide awake at night again! It was frustrating! When she was about 6 weeks, I remembered that I had bought this Kiddopotamus blanket (it was just sitting in the closet) and thought I'd try swaddling again. That night, she slept 9 hours straight! Every night since, she sleeps at least 7 hours, and some days as much as 10! Unlike other swaddle blankets I have, this blanket is soft and stretchy so she can move a little if she is uncomfortable (but arms stay in there) and you can open the bottom easily for diaper changes or when the temp is warmer. We think it's a lifesaver for those who like to sleep at night. I think it has magic powers. ;) And, it's cheap!
  
  
• Spend more and have it last longer
  By AP2RQF7PNKTBL on 2007-09-22
  I bought several of these for my daughter. First, she was too small, so I swaddled her using a traditional blanket. Then, they fit, but the fabric would stretch out during the night and she'd get her arms up and wake herself up. Finally we spent the extra money for an Amazing Miracle Blanket. It is AMAZING and worth every penny--instead of buying several of these, buy ONE Amazing Miracle Blanket and test it out. You'll see that I am right!
  
  
• Alot of room for improvement
  By A3AQLSR5UELSEO on 2007-11-03
  This swaddle blanket WAS a lifesaver or so I thought. The concept is a GREAT concept but this particular material was the worst. My baby is a 'wriggler' and always manages to wriggle her little arms out of the blanket up to her face,which is worrisome at best because once the material is that stretched then the problem becomes two-fold either her hands wake her up or the material follows her hands to her face and now we have a suffocation hazard, or sometimes her hands will find the opening in the bottom of the blanket where the 'flaps' overlap. I found the cotton knit material to be more counterproductive than helpful and HIGHLY suggest the cotton flannel. I have the microfleece, but have yet to use it. I've had minimal problems with the cotton fleece, the material isn't the stretchiest. The only real problem I have with the overall design of the blanket is the velcro. I think this blanket, especially the cotton knit, would benefit from a larger area to fasten the velcro at, therefor making it a possibility for a tighter swaddle. Also, the tabs start to 'bend out' after just once wash, making it a scratching hazard if you don't watch yourself.
  
  
• Never Fit Right
  By A3BKYK19JP3WT5 on 2008-05-21
  My son loved to be swaddled during his first months, but this product never fit him right. It would gap and he could put his arms out and eventually wriggle it loose. We tried it a few times and then put it in the donation bag. Old-fashioned swaddling with receiving blankets worked much better (and is less expensive).
  
  
• Must Have
  By A2XVRRBBGT5QCK on 2007-07-09
  Every new mother needs a swaddleme. I have used several brands from numerous stores and I think the Kiddopotamus brand is the best. We have swaddled my daughter every night since she was one week (she's now 4 mo.) and are purchasing the next size. I now give one of these as a present at every baby shower.
  
  
• Dads! Buy a Few and Sleep Better
  By A2SY1WRZW66096 on 2007-09-25
  I'm a father of two, one is currently swaddled in this. She sleeps in this. No crying! Buy a few as your wife will want to wash it when the infant spits, throws up, etc..
  
  
• Works for us :)
  By A236Y6PJNRRWXM on 2007-10-03
  While it's not a miracle every time, it does help a lot. We bought this blanket when she was about 4 weeks old. It fit her pretty well, and still does (she's 6 weeks now). I can tell that it will be too short before too long, though.
  
  The velcro has stayed put, and she has only wiggled an arm loose once. Swaddling her helps when she is over-tired and fighting sleep. Once she is in the blanket and we give her a paci, then rock her, she is usually asleep within a few minutes.
  
  The material is great for the weather right now, since it's a jersey/cotton material; it's not too hot nor too light. We usually put her in a short sleeve onesie, and that keeps her from over-heating.
  
  I like that it's created in a way that allows you to change diapers without undoing the swaddle around her arms.
  
  For those that gave the blanket a poor review because they say it didn't help their children, they have to remember that each child is different. They may not like swaddling; or maybe sometimes they aren't crying because they need the comfort of swaddling, but possibly they are hurting or have a different want/need at that moment. It doesn't mean the product doesn't work as it should (the velcro stays in place, holds their arms down, etc...). The product doesn't promise to make the baby quit crying, but it says that it swaddle the baby, which is known to help.
  
  Good luck to everyone!
  
  
• Too thin
  By AFEWVZ1ETP5GA on 2007-11-26
  The blanket is a little too thin but it swaddles very well. My baby will actually stay swaddled until we take her out of it.
  
  
• Couldn't live w/o these!
  By A2OAHKP6Q9MZBB on 2007-12-06
  I wish I had gotten more of these...I have two so when one gets soiled I immediately start a load of clothes to get it cleaned! My son doesn't like his arms swaddled, but the rest of his body stays close and warm.
  
  
• My daughter could get her arms out
  By A4MW6V7GRJR3E on 2008-04-03
  I was very disappointed in this item. My daughter could easily pull her arms out, no matter how tightly we tried to close it. It didn't hold nearly as well as the Miracle Blanket. Although swaddling worked wonderfully for us, this product did not.
  
  
• Get the cotton knit, not the flannel
  By A1J10HR3RY00Z3 on 2008-05-25
  We tried many different types of swaddle blankets (e.g. the Miracle Blanket, etc.) and the Kiddopotamus was the only one that worked right.
  
  The Miracle Blanket definitely kept our baby swaddled, but it literally took 2 of us to get it on her correctly, and it was such an ordeal that she was very upset by the time we were finished. In contrast, the Kiddopotamus is extremely easy to work with and wraps your baby up very quickly.
  
  My only word of advice is to buy the cotton knit instead of the flannel. We thought that the cotton knit would stretch more than the flannel (and indeed it does), but we thought this would make the cotton knit less effective (as in the baby would be able to get out more easily); however, what we found is that the stretchiness allows you to wrap it more tightly and effectively than the cotton flannel.
  
  Also out of 3 flannel ones we bought, 2 tore holes in them very promptly. And even though the cotton knit was used probably 10 times more often than the flannel, it never tore a hole.
  
  
• Not very snug
  By A36N62I47U9IIH on 2008-06-19
  We had received one of these as a baby gift. First it was too big. After my daughter had grown into it, she was able to get her arms out and it was never very snug, so she wouldn't like it very much. It's not a bad product, but it just doesn't work as well as a blanket.
  
  
• What a wonderful thing!
  By A3KIR5ZBMUJD3J on 2006-12-20
  Buy this, don't wait click to buy now. baby must have this. also buy "the happiest baby on the block" DVD. When you can't hold her all the time this soothes her like you are it's not just great for sleeping it's great for C-section moms who use the restroom regularly for long periods of time.
  
  
• Great for babies who like to be swaddled, but only works for a while
  By A25W0UKYKVTIFN on 2007-06-08
  Kiddopotamus & Co Swaddleme® Adjustable Infant Wrap 100% Cotton Knit Small, Circle Bear Print We used several of these with our daughter. They were really easy to get her in and out of and kept her all snug and secure. After it had been washed several times, though, the velcro stopped holding as well. It was partly due to her being more wiggly, though. I had some old ones and some new ones. The newer ones are better because they have flaps for the velcro to hold onto so that it doesn't stick to everything in the wash. There is a slit in the back so that you can use this in a car seat. That is COMPLETELY ridiculous. I can't imagine how that would work, besides, it would be a safety hazard unless you left the baby's arms out. They come in polyester and cotton. The cotton ones are much nicer.I would suggest trying one, because they really were nice for a while. If they work for you, you would probably want at least one more to put in the laundry rotation.
  
  
• Good product and helps a lot with new borns.
  By A34W6ACJ456AGC on 2007-07-23
  I bought it for my one and half month old son and feel very much satisfied with this wrap. The only reason for not giving all 5 stars is that, it opens up automatically if my son pushes little harder and he gets unwrapped and then starts crying.
  
  Otherwise, it's a perfect wrap of great help.
  
  
• LOVED this product and highly recommend it!
  By A18NDL31SF1FP3 on 2007-09-22
  When my baby was four weeks old (now one year old), he would not sleep on his back. The only time "we" got any sleep was when he was on his belly on my chest or laying next to me in bed. When my hubby mentioned this to our pediatrician, we got a stern talking to and he insisted that we make our baby sleep on his back in his bassinet or crib. I researched ways to help my baby sleep comfortably on his back and found lots of positive reviews for the Swaddleme. So...I forked out the cash and bought one. Much to my surprise, it worked! The main reason my son had such a difficult time sleeping on his back was due to the startle reflex. He would wake himself up when his little arms would flail around. The Swaddleme kept him bundled and he had less episodes of waking himself up. I bought two more and used them until he was around 6 months old. Make sure your wrap your little one up nice and tight otherwise they tend to do a Houdini and get their arms out the top. By the time my son was 4-5 months old, he was sleeping with his arms out (and the startle reflex was mainly gone), but he still enjoyed the comfort of it wrapped around him. Also, don't put your baby in really warm clothes since this adds a layer to their sleepwear. I highly recommend trying a Swaddleme if you are having a difficult time with your baby sleeping on his/her back.
  
  
• Ok, but there are better.
  By A1PVQTIU3JXBZ1 on 2007-09-22
  I've used this and other Kiddopotamus products. They're not bad, but never rise to greatness. The Miracle blanket worked much better for keeping our baby tightly swaddled.
  
  
• Baby swaddle blanket
  By A2AU9TD734UXXK on 2008-01-12
  I can't rate "how good it works" yet as my grandson is due in March. BUT, the quality of the material is great and the concept of swaddling the baby makes sense. I ordered two, so there will be a "back up" handy if the blanket becomes wet or soiled.
  
  
• Not quite perfect, but definitely helpful
  By A3EZGM0DQ71TZ7 on 2008-01-14
  I have used several of these in both the cotton solids and prints. I have a 3-month old daughter and at 11 pounds she is just starting to outgrow the small size but is too little for the large size. They need a medium size. One thing I like about the prints versus solid colors is that it's easy to tell when the swaddle is right side out which can be tricky with the solid colors in the middle of the night when the light is low and you're getting the swaddle set up one-handed because the baby is in your other arm. There have been several occasions where she manages to wriggle an arm out which is why I don't give this 5 stars. Even though the velcro pads are designed to avoid catching on other things in the laundry, the swaddle has been stuck on something more than once when I take the clothes out. We also own a "Miracle Blanket" which really keeps her arms from escaping, but I find it a pain to use compared to this one. When we first brought her home we swaddled her in blankets but found that most of the time they would loosen up and her arms would get free. For the price, I think it is a worthwhile product.
  
  
• Would get no sleep without this!
  By A3UUH25TL8409L on 2008-01-15
  This product is a lifesaver! My 1 month old son won't sleep without it. My only regret is not having more then one! One night his diaper leaked and we had to take him out of it. Worse night sleep ever!
  
  
• blankets are better...
  By A2F97T48GL0F54 on 2008-02-11
  If you want a really effective swaddle just get an oversized blanket. These don't swaddle the legs/ lower body tight enough.
  
  
• Must Have for Newborns
  By A2B4B2ROEVK6BK on 2008-02-12
  This was by far our most useful baby gift-- it helped our baby get to sleep and even saved our sanity a few times. Nothing calms a crying newborn better than a good swaddler. At first it's a little tricky to figure out how the velcro fits together, but once you've tried it a few times, it's easy. Just buy 2 or 3 so you won't go into a panic when it's in the wash.
  
  
• Great for a newborn.
  By A24WBWYOYMYKG7 on 2008-02-14
  A must-have for a newborn baby. I would not recommend buying the larger size because my older baby does not like being so wrapped up. Would definitely suggest getting this for a newborn baby. It is so convenient and secure. Works best if you swaddle with a regular swaddle blanket (like the hospital kind) and then put this over the top. Baby will stay warm and cozy and safe.
  
  
• A Must for New Parents
  By A1TTEG3OK3IBZ5 on 2008-04-06
  Our 2 week old cannot stay a sleep longer than 10 minutes without her hands and feet waking her up.
  
  Thanks to the Swaddler we are able to get her to sleep for a full 3 hours (or until she wakes up to be feed).
  
  This is a must have for any new parents.
  
  
• Works Well for Many Babies I Know!
  By A30SHL43U3Q27N on 2008-05-26
  This swaddle is my favorite gift I give to all moms-to-be I know and all of them just love it. It's so easy to use, soft and comfortable, and it works so well! I think this swaddle is the reason why we have never really had any sleeping issues. We used this swaddle up to 8 months (then the larger one). Great, great thing.
  
  

• Kiddopotamus & Co 100% Cotton Knit SwaddleMe® Sage - Small
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• Kiddopotamus & Co 100% Cotton Flannel SwaddleMe® Blue Gingham - Large
• Kiddopotamus & Co 100% Cotton Flannel SwaddleMe® Sage Gingham - Small