Reddit mentions: The best nursery swaddling blankets

>Recommendations for the best crib mattress or what to look for and stay away from would be helpful.

I like the double-sided ones: firm side is for infants, soft side is for toddlers and older. As far as materials, many folks are looking into organic mattress material that does not have flame-retardant on it, but that's totally a personal choice you can determine on your own, with Google's help.

>Recommendations on bouncers or something that can be next to my bed for nighttime. I am also looking for something that is easily to move.

This is the bassinet we used next to our bed for the first 3 months of our daughter's life. It's easy to move, easily collapsable for travel and storage, and really easy to travel with. The only downside is that traditional bassinet fitted sheets don't fit the mattress, so I just used a receiving blanket as a "fitted sheet" instead. No biggie - just a mild annoyance.

But, my daughter had reflux so she napped in a Rock N Play and we kept her bassinet mattress inclined. Many parents of reflux babies use the Rock N Play for nighttime sleep as well, and it's very easily transportable.

> Bottle brands - which is best and why?

This is 100% totally up to the baby, not you. You can buy a hundred Playtex Drop-Ins (because that's what we use, and what my mother used with me!) but if your baby doesn't like it, then it's money wasted. I'd recommend buying one bottle of one brand and see if your baby likes it before buying more of them. Also, there are different nipple styles for some brands (Playtex is one of them) so it's not just about your baby liking the bottle style, but mainly the nipple style.

So, what's "best" is completely dependent on what your baby ends up agreeing with.

>What items can mom or dad not live without?

For me...

• video baby monitor
  
• velcro swaddles, because they're so much easier to figure out than plain blanket swaddles
  
• a baby carrier - I'm a huge, huge fan of Lillebaby because it doesn't need an infant insert, it doesn't use loud velcro, and it has lumbar support. Baby carriers are great even if you're not into attachment parenting. I can easily multitask when I wear my daughter, and it's way easier than pushing around a stroller in crowded, public places like museums, supermarkets, malls, etc. - especially places where there are lots of stairs!
  
  >How important are swings and play yards for a newborn?
  
  Depends on the baby. Play yards (I assume you mean this?) are great because you can just plop your baby on/in it and they will stare and eventually swat at all of the dangling toys. It's also great for tummy time. But, my daughter stopped using it at around 5 months and now it just sits in the corner of her play room, folded up.
  
  Swings are great for some babies, but others hate it. My daughter, again, had reflux and it's very common for reflux babies to need a swing to keep them upright and in motion after feedings so they don't get uncomfortable from the acid. But, in general, babies love the motion! We got a super cheap swing and it was one of my favorite things while I was on maternity leave - after her morning bottle, I'd put my daughter in her swing, drag it into the kitchen, and she'd just swing there while I did dishes, made breakfast, and cleaned. I'm glad I didn't spend a ton of money on it, though, because it's just a one-trick pony and she outgrew it by the time she was about 6 months. Friends of ours went off-registry and bought us a MamaRoo and my daughter liked it... but loved our $30 swing way better. I'm glad we didn't spend the $300 on the MamaRoo or else I would've been pissed!
  
  >Are there any items I can wait to get until the baby is a little older?
  
  Exersaucers, high chairs, walkers, doorway bouncers, sippy cups, bumbo seats... those can all wait until around the 4 month mark.
  
  Also, you may want to check out /r/babybumps if you're pregnant, and keep /r/beyondthebump on your radar if you want to ask current moms lots of questions. :)
  
  Congrats!

Warning - lots of text below! My baby is about 6 weeks now and I'm exclusively breastfeeding. My Medela Harmony manual pump has been fine for building a stash - I pump 1-2 times a day for the freezer and occasional bottle feedings from Dad. I think it's pretty convenient, but I'll be using a double electric pump when I go back to work (waiting to see what Tricare will cover in 2015!).

Whatever you decide to use for diapering, I'd strongly recommend getting some prefolds (I got Osocozy unbleached). They're great for burp cloths, catching milk from your other boob during letdown, etc and they're also way cheaper and more absorbent than fancy burp cloths. Personally I love prefolds and covers for diapering, but don't buy too much into any one system or brand until you know what works for you. My husband hates prefolds so now I'm having to add pockets and AIOs to appease him.

I'd get some swaddlers (at least 2; my favorite is from Nuroo but that was a gift and they're pricey, the summer infant SwaddleMe wraps are good now that she's bigger but didn't fit well until about 10 lbs). My girl lives in footed pajamas and I love the Gerber zipped ones, we found tons at goodwill for $1.50 each but if you can't find them used, they're on Amazon for $10 for a 2 pack. You're right that other people will buy clothes, but they'll pick cutesy stuff and you need some practical choices too.

Nursing pillow - I had an unexpected C section and this has been so necessary. I love the Luna Lullaby since it's big and I had a big baby.

Some kind of baby carrier, I got a Moby wrap while she's small and it's amazing for running errands (I put it on before getting in the car and pop her in before going in the store, WAY easier than a carseat and stroller).

We were gifted a used swing and it is a freaking godsend. It's the only way I get chores done since I can pop her in there and cook, do laundry, clean, etc without her crying. YMMV, some babies hate them, but buy used and you won't be out too much cash.

Wubbanub pacifier is easy to keep track of and super cute.

Pack n Play with a mattress for cosleeping (recommended to reduce SIDS risk for the first 6 months). At least 2 mini crib sheets.

Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter is amazing for the first couple weeks.

QuickZip crib sheets will be amazing once you use the crib.

Simba baby safety nail cutter - no bleeding!

Finally, the Itzbeen pocket nanny timer is so helpful for keeping track of feedings and diaper changes, especially in the first few weeks.

Hope this wasn't too overwhelming. Good luck!

*Edited to add links to products.

Aw, that is super exciting! Congrats. (:

I managed to find a few cute things for you!

I didn't go through the comments to make sure someone didn't already send them to you so I apologize if someone else already did. (:

1

2

3

4 a rattle,

5

6 This is neat. (:

7

8 and I LOVE these little onesies!

9

10 Love this too!!

11 PUMBAA!! (:

12 Rafiki. (:

13 Timon.

14 Zazu.

15 Nala.

16 Scar! >:(

17 ADORABLE.

I found a lot, wow. Haha. Oh well, I hope you like some of the stuff. (: Super happy for you guys!! (:

Check out the Happiest Baby on the Block. It's a very helpful soothing method for newborns. I found it works a lot less well after a few months but early on it was great! You can just order the DVD or it's a short book with a bit more info, but here is a youtube video of Dr Karp on Dr Phil's old show showing the basic idea.

Also, for swaddling we didn't do the whole blanket tie because a) we were lazy, and b) we had a super active baby Houdini, and c) it's hot in the summer her and all the layers of cloth was too much. So we used some swaddle products where you just put the baby in, zip, tuck, velcor which requires much less (but a little) skill. We loved the Halo Sleepsack Swaddles because we found they fit best and you can also do arms out. After two months we started doing arms out because our baby would try so hard to get her arms out and she'd suck on her hands to sooth herself (again, personality varies).

We didn't use this but a lot of people get a baby swing bassinet of some kind especially electric ones can rock the baby for you including as it sleeps. We did have a rocking chair though which we used and walking around and bouncing her in our arms. I used to say her moto was "bouncing makes it better". These are all versions of the same thing.

However, the first few nights at home my baby just wasn't cool with us putting her down at night at all and would cry. Maybe we could have co-slept but our bed was not safe for that and frankly it just isn't what we wanted for our family. It took some getting used to for her but she did it. (After all, she'd never not been held before in her tiny life! Being in the womb is like being held which is what swaddling tries to get at too.) Even feeling temperature changes or hunger (umbilical cord is constant) is new to them. It's a big transition! They were already alive just in a warm less loud dark place with constant cuddle and food. Not bad. (We had a bassinet by the side of our crib and I spent a whole night putting her back in it after all the care even if she cried and just stroking her and telling her it was okay and I was here. It was rough.)

Newborns are really rough. They are so much work, you get so little sleep, and you are totally afraid of breaking them. I just want you to know that the newborn stage is hard on almost everyone and it does get better. They sleep longer, they smile at you, play, they become so much more fun and you are well rested enough to enjoy them.

In the meantime you and your fiance just need to be a team and try to give the other some sleep/breaks. If you guys are not breast feeding at all (I read bottle?) then you can split the night wakings which is nice since one person could sleep in another room to get 6 hours in a row and you could take turns. (I nursed so I had to wake up every time she needed to eat.) If one of you is nursing then once you are done nursing and baby is changed if they are still crying it's dad's job to walk around with baby so mom can get some shut eye (that's what we did at least). Or if mom is sideline nursing in bed dad can bring her the baby and put it back so she doesn't have to get up/fully wake up.

Long run you will need some more long run sleep solutions (maybe, some kids work it out on their own) but don't worry about that yet.

Congratulations. Best of luck to you three.

I have a three-week old. Here's my very fresh advice.

A swaddling sleep sack is awesome. It's a straightjacket for newborns. Makes it easier to feed (hands don't get in the way), helps calm him/her down, and sleep longer. You can swaddle with just a small blanket, but our baby breaks out in no time. The sleep sack keeps her swaddled for much longer.

Don't buy a ton of newborn clothes. If you have lots of family, you may need to buy none. Put a hint in your announcement on facebook, or the email or whatever, that some baby clothes would be greatly appreciated. You'll get quite a lot. Send a family member to the local swap or big yardsale, and get even more cheap.

For a bassinet, we have this pack and play. It can be folded up in ~3 minutes, and it transforms to a crib later, so it will last a while.

Our hospital sent us home with some extra diapers, enough for 2 days. If yours does the same, that gives you time to run to the grocery store and buy a couple of packs of the same size. Don't go overboard, they grow quickly. This changing pad is cheap, and you can use it on the floor, table, bassinet, etc.

Don't be afraid to blatantly lean on any close by relatives for support. Cleaning, food, etc. They want to spend time with the baby, and they will help you out.

If the hospital has a lactation consultant and you're going with breastfeeding, try to make sure they stop by for at least one feeding. They're very knowledgeable and helped us out alot.

You're probably pretty terrified. I had 9 months to prepare and I wasn't sure I wanted to be a dad. It's amazing how quickly you will fall in love with your little poop machine. I can't stop staring into her little chubby face, and I can't wait until we get to the interactive stages. The care is time consuming, but it's not hard, you'll do fine.

We got this car seat and are happy with it easy to get into the car, easy to remove, you can buy extra bases for multiple cars. They make strollers that the car seat snaps into, so you don't have to take the baby out to swap.

My baby wants to be bouncing when she's awake. Constantly. The swing is only sufficient sometimes. A baby carrier is just the the solution for us. We wear her around and bounce on an exercise ball, or just walk around doing chores.

Before you leave the hospital you will need the carseat. Send a relative out to toy's-r-us to get it. You'll probably want the bassinet immediately too. Everything else you can acquire in the first two days. Save receipts and don't be afraid to return if the baby doesn't like it.

Well.....various stuff has worked for us, at various times.

We started with a zip up swaddle pod which allowed quite a lot of arm movement our little baby. Alongside this we used the Velcro swaddle me made by the same company. Both are shown here: http://www.summerinfant.co.uk/categories_view.php?id=59 these products are probably not super suitable for one arm out..but I'll mention them anyway..perhaps he might change his mind again!

Same company also used to make massive swaddle blankets but they seem to have stopped now and just make massive muslins. Perhaps this was over concerns of baby overheating. I found massive blankets/Muslins best particularly as baby got older. (We swaddled till about 8/10 months iirc.) Aden and anais make massive Muslins also and we also used ones by Big Muz http://www.bigmuz.com/

If one arm out is preferred then the swaddle blankets work fine. (But are more of hassle especially with night time nappy changes) Zip up swaddle pod type things where there are arm holes that open and or shut with poppers also exist. ( means it kind of converts into a sleeping bag but you don't have to unpop both arm holes) We used this ergo cocoon one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ergoCocoon-Organic-Zip-up-Swaddle-Months/dp/B004VO5DYE/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1377289528&sr=8-40&keywords=Swaddle.
Woombie also make a version of this. See here http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Woombie-73-5-Convertible-Swaddle/dp/B005MPAQAW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1377289655&sr=8-9&keywords=woombie+swaddle

Personal experience tells me that both these zip up ones give more arm movement that using a blanket or the Velcro type swaddle. Yes you can do the blanket looser but we found that just meant it came off all together which did not lead to happy baby in our case. Also, I'm not qualified to comment on safety issues but I always felt more comfortable with doing the blankets up tight enough that I felt they would not come undone as I didn't like the idea of the loose blankets in the cot (not that it mattered in our case as it would always lead to a screaming baby!)

Finally, when we realised that swaddling wasn't working anymore but our son needed something to help us thought the transition (one arm out didn't work for us) we used this amazing life and sleep saving thing called a peke moe
http://www.pekemoe.co.nz/

It's like a pillow case with a hole in it for babies head! It worked a treat. I think we used to swaddle loosely around it to start with to give him the security he was used to (contradicting myself on the loose blanket thing here a bit, but he was about 8/10 months old), then used just the peke moe on its own and then finally no peke moe. Interestingly enough once we dropped the peke moe, it became super obvious that our child much preferred sleeping on his tummy. So we used to put him down like that. This was at about 10month mark. This was deffo right decision for us. He could roll over onto his front by this stage anyway.

Right well there's a bit of an essay for you, I hope some of that is useful...looking amazon there are loads more products now for swaddling that 2 years ago!!

Ps. A lot of the stuff around safety of swaddling has changed in to years, so please don take my word for anything.

Good luck!

Not a parent, but I'm a neonatologist with RA, so I spend a lot of time with newborns and have a couple of ideas! First, register for baby clothes that don't have tons of snaps! Those cute little outfits with a million snaps are impossible when my hands are flaring. I find the onesies with zippers (like this) much easier. I'm also a big fan of sleep sacks because they make it super easy to get newborns snug and swaddled, and I've never met a newborn who doesn't like them. Also, I don't have personal experience with them, but I have friends who've used a co-sleeper as a safe way to have a newborn within reach while sleeping but still in a safe sleep environment, and I would think it would be really helpful for still being able to care for a baby when just getting out of bed is hard. Good luck!!

It's possible they don't know what they want quite yet and sounds like she's not doing much shopping being on bed rest and all. Or maybe they feel weird registering for a ton of stuff since they probably already had baby showers for at least one other kid. My oldest was 11 when I had my LO and I got rid of his baby stuff years ago lol so I can definitely tell you from personal experience that even if I did have stuff from my oldest it probably would not have been in the best shape not to mention dated. I had another baby shower and registered for everything lol.

So with that in mind, I recommend getting them something off register for baby. I don't think Boppys were a thing when I had my oldest but I literally got one on the way home from the hospital (I had him 4 weeks early so we totally weren't ready). Even though we ended up formula feeding I use it all the time still (LO is 7 months old). I got the one with the extra cute cover so I think it was like $40-50 and I love it!

Also, my MIL bought us a 4 pack of Aden and Anais muslin blankets (also not a thing 10 years ago) and they were $50 which seemed like a lot at the time and I don't think we would have bought them on our own because of that but we used them every night and every nap for MONTHS. Pretty much until my little guy started busting out of the swaddle lol. Plus they come in a ton of cute prints.

Decided at the last minute to post some links for you:

aden + anais Classic Swaddle Baby Blanket, 100% Cotton Muslin, Large 47 X 47 inch, 4 Pack, Lovestruck https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JFSPT6W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ax3ZAbNTTMNY6
*One quick note about this print though is that the metallic print came off in the wash after like 3 washes 😒 so I probably wouldn't get one with metallic.

Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner, Luxe Chevron Whales/Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017ORW0WM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xz3ZAb6PHFWYH

Hope this helps!!!

ETA: Ditto gift receipts

These are all things that not only I love but a lot of people in my bumper month group really liked as well, and that I didn't think to ask for in my registry and wish I did:

VAVA nightlight
USB charged, this touch operated nightlight was my best friend in the hospital and at home for late night feeding

Love to Dream swaddle
Amazing swaddle that's super easy to use and lets baby self soothe with their hands

Merlins magic sleepsuit
When baby outgrows swaddling (which happens fast!) this helps muffle the startle reflex to keep baby asleep.

hushh portable sound machine
Basically the only way I get any sleep

beaming buggy
Plays music, lights up and has white noise. Somehow is total magic.

Oball toys
Because there's always someone who wants to just buy toys and these are great for small hands

Wow. Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate your input. Thanks for sharing the pics too :)

I'm planning on taking the first two weeks off to help my wife. My wife is taking a full 12 weeks, and I've made it clear to my retired mother-in-law that she's welcome to move in for that first month. She's wonderful and should be a great help.

We're getting there. Picked up a Sony Nex-5N over Christmas to capture all the memories. Also definitely planning to get this Medela and the Miracle blankets.

As for my original question, we did find a recliner we like. It's the Havana recliner from Macy's. It's a bit pricey but we called and it's supposed to go on a one-day sale tomorrow, so we'll see. We're planning to pull the trigger tomorrow. I must say, it's not easy finding a modern recliner with nice, clean lines. They all look like teddy bears.

In our search, we did come across this awesome glider recliner loveseat (8908 style). Both sides independently recline and glide. Amazing if you're prepared to drop $1300.

Take your lady, if that's a thing, and go to a store that sells baby stuff and has it all out. That way you can look at all the things and see what you, and more importantly she, likes.

I like Graco, as a company, so we bought mostly stuff from them. And the more stuff works together the nicer it is. We got a carseat that has a base and your baby carrier "snaps" into it. Then you can carry them in that carrier and it can also "snap" into the stroller, so it all works together. so FIND A COMPANY you like and just get one. TBH, strollers, or.. did you call them prams? Have to meet safety standards, so they will all be fine. But figure out how small they fold up too, for transport and storage. Also, if you live in an area with rough terrain, like rocky roads, dirt paths, cobblestones, etc., consider one with large bike tires rather than small plastic wheels. It takes up more space, but it is so much easier to push! They call them jogging strollers. I don't jog... but after one trip to the pumpkin patch which had several hundred feet of crushed stone you had to get across... I went and bought one used.

I also found something REALLY useful called a "rock and play", which is like a rocking sling bed you can put the baby in. Ours actually had a little mechanical foot that let it rock itself. It is a safe place you can put baby down when you need to do something else, like do laundry or feed yourself.

Finally, some babies need to be swaddled to sleep, which means wrapping them up like a burrito. It's pretty easy for them to get out sometimes though which wakes them up. So, they make "sleep sacks" that represent the swaddle but they are zippered. We found one called the Woombie that worked well for us. I think it was like this.

Oh! And don't be afraid to get stuff used. You may not want to, but some of it, like, you barely use, and it's still fine. Especially clothes. Sometimes you get clothes and they don't even wear them because you forget about it, or it gets lost, or you just don't like it, or they are the wrong size for the weather. Also shoes! Baby shoes are stupid expensive, so try to find some cheap at yard sales in various sizes. Throw them in a box and by the time baby needs them, you'll have a bunch. But use common sense. Probably don't buy a used carseat, because you don't know what happened to them, but maybe a pack and play and definitely clothes.

Good luck! Ask questions, we'll help!

Gerber Diaper Flats for Burp Cloths These are my absolute favorite burp cloths. They are thin, yet absorbent, so they're easy to pack in a diaper bag and they wash really well. They're super affordable too, like 14 for 10 I think?

Sophie the Giraffe Ugh. I have a love hate with this Giraffe. My son LOVED it, but we always lost it, therefore resulting in buying several of them. They are the most expensive, glorified chew toy, but they're easy for babies to get their mouths on.

Woombie If your baby is a swaddle baby, this thing is a life saver. You won't regret it. I like these the best because they have a zipper, no noisy velcro, no annoying snaps. I know you can find them Buy Buy Baby, Babies R Us, or Amazon. My FAVORITE swaddle! Once they have grown out of the wooombie or swaddle, I highly suggest the Zipadee Zip My son lived in this until about 13 months. I also never had to worry about blankets in his bed!

One last one.... Boon Silicon Teether Skip the mess of a mesh teether and buy this for your sanity. Super easy to clean and the perfect size. When my son was as little as 4 months and teething, we'd put a breast milk ice cube in this thing and he'd go to town. It's awesome.

Congrats! If you haven't already got one, get a nose frida. Yes it looks gross, but this thing (and some saline if needed) is magic. My other tips are:

Try this thing out, quick & easy with a bonus to diaper changing as you don't have to worry about baby hands being where they ought not be.

Use this or a running faucet to calm her and mask any would be startling noises (like gun fire sounds from the TV).

This here is pretty handy to have around, especially if you're taking road trips to see family. Being able to rock it with a tap of the foot is also great to free up your hands for some controller time.

Good luck and enjoy this time as much as possible, before you know it you'll be playing coop with her!

first of it's amazing that you're willing to do a foster to adopt. A couple of people in my family have fostered and it's great. Most people are only willing to adopt and if they consider foster will only foster an infant.

Okay, I saw that you and your husband are a nerdy couple (like us) and I saw this article a while back and thought of it instantly when I saw your post. My favorites are the lost nursery, the doctor who, and the superman (which I'd use as inspiration for a batman) ones.

If you end up going with the lion king nursery you can start with either Mellow Yellow by Behr or Zinnia Gold. I think they're really lion king colors and they're not to bright for a nursery. It's also better than using those sticky decals which look cheap and are horrible quality.

These are amazingggggg, especially at night. I had this one which may go with your theme a little bit but it was absolutely amazing. It comes with a remote for it that you can turn it on from the doorway or outside the room so if the baby is about to fall asleep you don't have to walk in and wind up a traditional mobile to get it going again. Babies R Us also offers this one which is a traditional lion king mobile.

A lion king bedding set would go nicely with some lion king sheets. I like the sheets because they don't just come in lion king character prints. They come with other safari type prints as well. If you don't want to go with the big bedding set and just the sheets you could get this blanket for the crib. A diaper stacker works well especially if you're limited on space. This lamp is a little on the expensive side but is absolutely adorable. These are a nice alternative instead of using the wall stickers. This little snuggler is so cute.

Honestly you and your husband can do the wall art similar to the buzzfeed article I sent you (the superman nursery theme). Just go to a craft store and get a couple of canvases and you guys can paint a couple lion king pictures to add some pop to the walls.


good luck and hakuna matata.

First child? So people are going to get a lot of clothes for you. Onesies are where it's at. Anything else is over the top and not really necessary. You probably won't be taking your child out into the world a lot. A Co-sleeper is really convenient for the first few months, you can attach it to the side of your bed so you don't have to do much when the baby wakes up at night. I recommend having at least 6 SwaddleMe's. Baby's love being swaddled until their a few months old. Also recommend 6-8 bottles at a time to minimize dishes. Anglecare bath support is necessary to give baths in. Don't bath them until they're a few weeks to a month old, then try to start giving him baths before bed to get him into a cycle. These are our favorite bibs for later when he starts to drool a lot. Onesies and bibs is where you will catch yourself doing a ton of laundry, so get a lot of them. Babies soil their clothes easy. Oh sorry, the bibs are kinda 4+ months, but for a newborn please don't forget a cap and mittens, they get cold because they can't regulate their arms and legs. Our son was pretty good. He would wake up ever 3 hours, we'd change him, feed him, and he'd go back to sleep. That went on for about a month and then it went to 4-5 hours and slowly he started to just stay up all day (That's where it gets rough). Let me know how it goes! Congrats!

edit: Oh, a vibrating swing is REALLY good for non-cosleeper comfort when you're in the living room or at the computer, etc.

I've tried a lot of different things and what has worked has changed consistently so my suggestion is take what I tell you and just try it all and try other things too that I might not even say because you just don't know what will work for your baby! I try not to nurse to sleep for naps because I don't want him having that association.

In the beginning naps were easy because he would just fall asleep in a swing or in the rock n play. Then he would only fall asleep while I was wearing him. So I would strap him in my Tula carrier and go on a long walk in my neighborhood until he was asleep and then come home and do chores while he napped in the carrier on me. Other times I have put him in the rock n play and done this - started with a swaddle (we have loved the Love to Dream swaddle and the Halo fleece swaddle sleepsacks...each of these has worked at different times) and then sat on the yoga ball and bounced with him and shushed him (with white noise playing in the background with this white noise machine AND on the rock n play) and patted his back (I hold him in my left arm with his stomach facing me and his head resting on my arm and pat his back with my other arm) until he fell asleep. Sometimes I would have to use a paci and other times he would be indifferent to it. Once he's asleep I carefully place him in the rock n play. Heating up a blanket in the dryer beforehand and putting it under him while warm helps him a lot. Then putting a warm blanket over him (around his waist) and putting the rock function on the rock n play. We also have the Solly baby wrap that he falls asleep in pretty easily. Now he is 16 weeks and in daycare so he naps in his crib at home and I rock him in a rocking chair instead of on the ball for his naps. Patience is key. And trying different things and realizing that what works today may not work tomorrow and what didn't work yesterday may be the thing that does the trick today!!

He will also fall asleep in the car if he's tired or in his stroller on a walk whereas just a few weeks ago he wasn't doing either of those things. Good luck mama!

Hi. I have a 4.5 month old and sleep has been the biggest struggle. My daughter is a sensitive sleeper and is very attached to nursing. She has always been extremely aware of her surroundings and she fights sleep like it's her full time job. She is not rolling quite yet, so I cant advise you on that front. But we have had quite a nap journey, so this is our experience.

Wake Windows Are Your Friend

Sleeping cues are not. Our kiddos are discovering a huge new world and sleep is not an interest to them. In my experience, cues show up just a bit too late and then they are overtired by the time you get to try for a nap.

I highly recommend using the app Huckleberry as it calculates wake windows for you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.huckleberry_labs.app

Why We Use a Swing for Naps

When she was 3 months old, our daughters naps gradually become harder to come by. She would only fall asleep when nursed and would only stay asleep for the vibrating bouncer or on a parent. Then, one day the vibrating bouncer stopped working and I was trapped under a sleeping baby all day long.

I learned that I could lay in our queen bed with baby slightly rolled to the side with a pillow tucked length ways under her as a buffer for rolling. I nursed her lying down and when she fell into a deeper sleep I gently rolled away. Issue is she would wake every 20 minutes because she hadn't learned to connect sleep cycles. So I'd have to lay down and nurse her back to sleep every 20.

I quickly realized that nursing in bed was not sustainable and I couldn't hold her all day. I did a ton of research, found a swing in Craigslist, and learned how to nurse her to sleep, then transfer her in. I could gently rock her to lull her back into a deeper sleep as I strapped her in, then turn it on high to help her connect cycles. We've been doing this for over a month and it is what works best for us. She will nap from 20-80 minutes in there depending on how tired she is.

This is what encouraged me to try the swing. I was afraid to introduce another sleep association, but it's easier to ween from a swing than many other things.

https://www.preciouslittlesleep.com/weaning-baby-off-swing/

We don't personally use one, but I've heard so many people recommend the zippadee zip for rolling babies.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RCZYDZ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7Pr2Db1A4235H

At 4.5 months we have hit a new roadblock. Bedtime has become an issue but after a few attempts, we've realized our daughter is not yet ready for full on sleep training. We're waiting a few weeks to let her develop a bit more before another attempt. You might find r/sleeptrain helpful if you want to consider that direction yourself.

I wish you good luck and good sleep!

The Merlin Magic Suit is great, but can be a little tricky once they start rolling over. I've heard that the Zipadee Zip can be a good alternative if they are able to roll over? For whatever reason, both of my kids loved these once they transitioned from a swaddle: https://www.amazon.com/Taggies-Character-Blanket-Harley-Raccoon/dp/B07889GHNW?ref_=ast_bbp_dp I guess something about rubbing the tags helped to soothe them to sleep? Anyways, both might be worth a shot. Good luck to you!

First of all, congratulations! That is so exciting.

The two best things we got for our newborn, other than the obvious completely required things like a carseat, place to sleep, and diapers:

• Sleep sacks/swaddle sacks. To be specific, this kind has worked magically well for our baby. It seems comforting and comfortable to her, not too hot, and perhaps most importantly, unlike other types or brands we tried, there's no parts that get loose on her, and she can't get out of it on her own at all. The smallest size fit her when she was born (about 6.5 lb) and fits her now at 9 weeks (about 11 lb).
  
  
• This changing pad. Comfortable for the baby, but also extremely easy to wipe off. I can't imagine using a cloth-covered changing table.
  
  Stuff we bought or received that has been useless:
  
  
• Clothes that are hard to put on the baby. We received a lot of cutesy little outfits that required a lot of wrangling to get on the baby, and after a few tries, those went straight to the donation pile. IMO, onesies are where it's at, especially for babies who are fussy about being changed.
  
  
• A lot of "newborn sized" clothes, particularly the cheap ones, were too small for our baby even literally the day she was born-- and as described above, she was quite a small newborn, in the 11th percentile or so of both weight and length. I think that unless there's reason to expect that the baby will be extremely small, I'd skip straight to the "0 to 3 month" size.
  
  
• A pack and play. This might be useful someday when we use it as a playpen, but our newborn just freaked out about being in the bassinet part of it. She wants to either be held, or be moving/bouncing at all times, unless she's 100% asleep. While YMMV, this doesn't seem super unusual for babies, so if you don't have one yet, I might hold off on this particular thing until you can gauge whether it will be useful yet to you or not.

You should try different swaddles. We switched to the Swaddle Up Love to Dream for our second (our first was also a terrible sleeper), and it was a game changer. I also heard the Merlin suit was amazing as well. Links below, good luck.

Love To Dream Swaddle UP, Gray, Small, 8-13 lbs, Dramatically Better Sleep, Allow Baby to Sleep in Their Preferred arms up Position for self-Soothing, snug fit Calms Startle Reflex https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xZWYDbJH7YMXE


Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit - Swaddle Transition Product - Microfleece - Blue - 3-6 Months https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095YY7RY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TYWYDbF516YCE

I understand that your concerned about temperature, but I wouldn't just assume that means you're not going to swaddle. It makes an amazing difference for how well or how long some babies sleep. It could be that you end up having a LO who loves that feeling of being held tight. If you're afraid your apartment will run hot and maybe make your LO too warm, maybe try one of these swaddle bands. I haven't tried it, but I thought it looked really neat, especially if I end up having a summer baby at some point. Then they stay swaddled, but won't overheat.

I have a five day old and we’ve been really loving the Swaddle Me brand for her. She’s very strong and can Houdini her way out of a muslin swaddle, but these chill her right out, they’re like baby Valium most of the time. These have less Velcro than the Halo brand, so they aren’t as loud when you take them off.

Also, to echo what others have said about safety, I’m
a nurse and we swaddle babies all the time, the hospital where I used to work actually provided parents with a sleep sack for infants to take home. The nice thing about the sacks is they can’t kick them loose and potentially get the fabric up by their face, but many people use muslin/ flannel swaddles or blankets and have no problems. You can always check with your pediatrician to see what they recommend, I know the two times I’ve been to ours I asked 8 million questions and I’m a pediatric nurse! Our doctors have been very patient and reassuring :)

SwaddleMe Original Swaddle 3-PK, Busy Bees (SM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JDnbBbHW9KCJV

Rock him to sleep, bounce him to sleep (worked best for us) or let him sleep in your arms! My sons been napping and sleeping in his crib for months and yours will too eventually but right now hes still very new and seems to need you nearby. You can't spoil or create bad habits at this age! My son napped in our arms for awhile but slept great in his crib at night. Naps are just harder for babies because its brighter and theres more things going on. My son definitely had some FOMO going on!

At your sons age he should only be awake between 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes, watch him for cues that hes getting sleepy. For my son its rubbing his eyes and tugging on his ears. You want to start trying to put them to sleep just before they reach their awake limit so they don't get overtired.

Also, my son stopped enjoying having his arms swaddled to his side and slept much better with this: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-Small/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=asc_df_B0081GJ038/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241927338949&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17321934209130385377&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033274&hvtargid=pla-365069357173&psc=1

A few things I'd like to recommend that I haven't seen on here yet. An amazing swaddle alternative is the Love to Dream Swaddle Up. If your baby likes to be swaddled great, go with that! But if you're in my situation and have a baby that likes the comfort of a swaddle, but hates having their arms trapped to their sides, this thing is a lifesaver. I can't say enough how much of a difference this thing made for my baby sleeping.

A white noise machine is also key to getting a baby to sleep. You can also use an Echo or Google Home by asking it to play rain sounds or white noise. Rain white noise worked best for us.

I thought this may help my fellow new parenters out there. If you're anything like me, you scoured the internet checking off every "must-have" baby items list before your LO was born, but I still ended up having Amazon deliver things about every other day for the first couple months.

As a disclaimer, I'm not saying these are MUST HAVE items. I just went through my Amazon purchases and I'm writing down some things that I purchased in those 3 AM wee hour Amazon shopping sprees.

Here's a compilation of everything that I felt I missed in my preparation for my baby girl:

• An electric nail file. I was terrified to cut her nails myself. This is a safe and easy alternative.
  
• A Swaddle UP. This allows her hands to be by her face, which she preferred her first month or two.
  
• Friedababy MediFrida. My baby had a rough go of reflux and was diagnosed with Ranitidine pretty quickly. This helped us give her doses with no fuss!
  
  
• Comfy shorts for me. I was unprepared for my post C-Section body and clothing options.
  
  
• Gripe Water / Colic Drops. My reflux baby had some rouuuuugh nights. These helped? Maybe? Witching hour SUCKS.
  
• A bigger swaddle that ZIPS. Screw trying to unvelcro my child out of her swaddle quietly at 2 AM.
  
• A mirror to help with tummy time. She still hates tummy time. But she does like looking at herself for a while. So I count that as a win.
  
• MORE. BOOKS. you don't have enough. I promise. After the 15th time of reading "The Rainbow Fish" you'll appreciate a change of pace. I personally recommend, "The Wonky Donkey."
  
• Trial and error pacis. Your kid will have a preference and you'll just have to figure out which. Once you figure it out, buy extras.
  
  
• Bibs / ABSORBENT Burp Cloths. Again... You don't have enough. And the little tiny rags that Gerber tries to sell at Target will not do the trick. Get some THICK in your burp cloth regimen.
  
  ---
  
  I hope this helps! Let me know if there's anything you would add to the list.

Mine prefers the Halo sleepsack, but we got a Love to Dream swaddle too which works pretty well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ft5TAb05BYX40

Our daughter would wake herself up trying to get her hands out of the swaddle and up to her face so we tried the Swaddle Up. It's tight around her torso and her hands are up by her face but her startle reflex is subdued and her legs are loose like a halo sleep sack. First night she wore it ~6 weeks old she slept for 5 hours straight! We have since bought 2 more, a backup and a backup for our backup lol.

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_KaEYVo2vjDUF4

Hope things are going better. My wife and I found success with Swaddleme-style sleep sacks and a HALO sleep sack. My brother-in-law swears by the Snoo smart sleeper, but obviously that's an expensive option and not for everybody.

Check for any environmental concerns—my daughter was wailing one night and I noticed, thanks to an in-room thermometer, that it was a little too hot for a baby in there.

But also, yeah, babies that small sleep odd hours for short periods. If he's sleeping well in between feeds, you're probably doing okay.

This was a great transitional swaddle for my LO: Love To Dream Swaddle Up Original https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_vLEaub0VEPQM5

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SkHizb9M9EHS6

These are LEGIT. We got the ones where the arm pods zip off and it's just a blanket. Perfect for transitioning.

Yes! I do the same setup for naps as nighttime. I also love these sleep sacks. Stops him from startling but allows more movement and he can still use his hand to keep his paci in his mouth to self soothe.

You could do a wearable blanket so she can move her arms like she likes.


Edit: another option could be this. My son isn't a huge swaddle fan cuz he really likes to put his hands up by his face and spread his legs and he sleeps pretty well with this.

Our little one will wiggle herself awake if we don't swaddle her. We have a halo and swaddle me up Velcro swaddle. But the one we end up using almost every night is the love to dream zip up swaddle. Bonus it has hands up and she can still self soothe by numbing on her hands without escaping.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_AgZQAbQG555B8

Try this swaddle - Love To Dream Swaddle UP, Gray, Small, 7-13 lbs., Dramatically better sleep, Allow baby to sleep in their preferred arms up position for self-soothing, snug fit calms startle reflex https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5jDSCbA6PZJ12

My daughter didn’t like any swaddles except this.

Toddler tried a couple of bottles but refused them all until he tried Dr. Brown bottles (with the regular nipple, not wide mouth), but it's true that they can be a pain to clean. For some reason it didn't occur to me until toddler was around 6 months old that I could put bottles through the dishwasher? So handwashing all those Dr. Browns bottles was hell. But once I realized I can toss them in the dishwasher I bought a couple of these little dishwasher cages and that made cleaning the Dr. Browns bottles totally manageable.

Toddler was also a huge fan of swaddling. But he could easily bust out of any swaddle I attempted with a plain blanket. We bought a single Halo sleepsack at our local Target and quickly realized its magical qualities. Something about that tight velcro squeeze, Toddler couldn't escape and would happily sleep away. We purchased a few more on Amazon and even bought the next sizes up as Toddler grew. In fact, Toddler still sleeps in these toddler versions of sleep sacks.

We use these one https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW
They work great for my newborn(he’s a week old and 7lbs) and I used them also when my daughter was a newborn 4 years ago and she loved them too!

You might consider trying a HALO SleepSack. That one is cotton and allows you to swaddle their arms in, or one can leave the arms out and just wrap the "wings" around his belly. For a lighter cover, you can consider a muslin sleep sack like this one. To be clear, I'm not advocating for HALO; I really like the Aden and Anais muslin sleep sack, and there are several other brands available via Amazon, Jet, Google, etc.
As for camping, it's the same as anywhere else (unless he's under 8lbs - if I recall that weight correctly). Dress him as you'd dress yourself. If you need an extra layer to stay warm, so does baby. I'm not sure that's what you were asking, though; did I address your concerns?

We use this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U82JSOO/

Our house is pretty warm (68-70°) so it isn’t very thick. But it’s nice because it has vents that can zip open if it gets too warm at night.

SwaddleMe! Hands-down the best thing we got or bought. Nurses may be expert swaddlers but my lil' guy breaks out in 5 seconds! With these things he can't get loose until I let him. :)

There's also these if you're looking for alternatives Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AlRzzb9AESKWZ

I’m not the person you replied to, but when my baby kept breaking free of all other swaddles, we ended up using a zippered, arms-up swaddle. Like this: love to dream arms up swaddle. They’re stupid expensive but they worked well for my little one.

Have you tried a swaddle sack instead of a swaddle? His fingers will be contained, but he won't be strapped down like in the swaddle.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1539269451&sr=1-5&keywords=swaddle+sack&dpID=41PVzoBf6DL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Have you tried to swaddle with hands up? My first hated being swaddled too, with her arms in, and this one she liked and it kept her from waking herself up (she used to rub her face/eyes in her sleep then wake up). Love To Dream Swaddle UP Original, Swaddle Blanket 1.0 TOG, Small 3kg-6kg, Grey https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AMeQDb1B650SH

Love To Dream Inventa Lightweight Sleep Bag/Wearable Blanket with Unique Vented Cooling System, Luxurious Super-Soft Cotton, Stylish Fashion Design, 0.5 TOG, 4-12 Months, Light Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VJ2DMD0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_w8pTBbSY8RCGY

I had this swaddle for my baby at infant size, and it was AMAZING. Arms can move pretty freely but this should stop the big startles!

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J42OB9YWFSXY&keywords=swaddle+sack&qid=1562096551&s=gateway&sprefix=swaddle%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

I have these swaddlers and they are awesome. I'm not very good at swaddling with a blanket, and it took way too long for me to do it, plus trying to do it on a screaming, wiggly baby is not fun. These swaddlers are soooo much easier, and baby slept great in them... at first... until he didn't like being swaddled but that's later on down the road. ;)

This has been a good night-swaddle-to-sleep-apparatus for our newborn. The first three weeks were a sleepless nightmare. The last three weeks have been much more restful.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original--Gray-/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452583247&sr=8-1&keywords=Love+to+dream+swaddle+up

We tried the halo. We hate the halo.

Is she rolling over? As far as I know, that's the only reason to stop swaddling. Our LO is 4 months and has started going from belly to back, so we're still swaddling at night using the Love to Dream Swaddle. The fabric is strong/elastic enough that even when he TRIES to pull it, it keeps his arms snuggle in place. If you can afford it, try it. Maybe read reviews first.

We use something like this https://www.amazon.com/Bearington-Lamby-Plush-Security-Blankie/dp/B001RHYR7M/ref=pd_sim_75_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001RHYR7M&pd_rd_r=0AKX0C6DYF43QSC9R74A&pd_rd_w=ZgOHp&pd_rd_wg=Y6rEw&psc=1&refRID=0AKX0C6DYF43QSC9R74A&dpID=418KfwzVSML&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=detail for a lovey. basically a security blanket. I only let him use it when I can watch him/he's napping and has one arm out because he has pulled it over his face and then yelled at us to move it...

Not sure if this is big enough, but we use this for a lovie for our daughter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RHYR7M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They have other animals, too!

Tip for whatever ends up working for you: get a few! If baby get's attached it's good to have a back up!

Work out childcare backups -- people you can call if you have an emergency, need a date night, need a daycare.

Work out a pediatrician -- ask friends, your girlfriend's OB-GYN.

What I'm glad I had:

• car seat that doesn't turn into a baby carrier
  
• boppy pillow
  
• wearable baby carrier
  
• swaddle blanket
  
• a rock-n-play
  
  What I could have waited on:
  
  
• stroller until 6 months
  
• finishing his nursery until 6 months
  
• toys until 3-4 months
  

We have a our 7 of these: Bearington Baby Wee Lamby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RHYR7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2L-ezb2ATQRYH

My aunt got the original for my LO when he was 3 months old. We've since bought a ton as backup since they are easily lost. I hope you can find more of yours at a reasonable price. My lord.

Congrats. Just had our first 6 weeks ago. Warning, the first month is sooooooo hard! No sleep! 6 weeks is only moderately better. Everyone says 2 - 3 months is when it starts to even out. We'll see.

Also, this book is a lifesaver.
https://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Block-Revised-Updated-Second/dp/0553393235/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=10OKYUFFJWPPG&keywords=happiest+baby+on+the+block&qid=1550595906&s=gateway&sprefix=happiest+baby+o&sr=8-1

It comes on DVD and is worth the 40 minutes.
We got it from our library, it is probably on YouTube as well. (I didnt read the book, but there is an article that sums it up, DVD helps you to see the positioning)

Article: https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

And steal 3 of the infant swaddle blankets from the hospital They are a little bigger than the junk you buy at the store and will come in handy. Then get these, they come in a variety of styles:
https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=swaddleme&qid=1550596102&s=gateway&sr=8-3

The most useful things I remember from the first year or so were a white noise machine and this swaddle which let her sleep with her arms up but without smacking herself in the face repeatedly.

Also make sure that your car seat is installed and fitted properly before you give birth.

Sounds a lot like my daughter! Once we tried one of these vs. a regular swaddler she started sleeping a lot better. She was still up a few times a night but it was a LOT less.

We started doing Ferber at 6 mos and didn't really follow through, because it is hard. Then tried it again around 8 months and she really took to it then. I feel like it's really hard to "sleep train" a baby under 6 months and I know it really sucks and seems never ending now but it does get better. We go through periods were she sleeps almost all through the night (maybe one wake up) and others where she wakes up 2-3 times but never really any more than that and it's usually due to teething or having a cold.

I think it might be the Love to Dream. I've been contemplating buying either this one of the Wombie but can't decide which one would work better for a newborn.

1)Swaddle blankets for newborn
https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496771259&sr=8-1&keywords=swaddleme
2) Several different types of pacifiers/bottles (you don't know which they'll like and they do have a preference)
3) Travel swing - because they're smaller/take up less room/ and you can move them from room to bathroom or whatever and less expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Harmony-Kingdom-Portable-Swing/dp/B00E3RKC36/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771354&sr=1-1&keywords=travel%2Bswing&th=1
4)Breastfeeding pillow: https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Harmony-Kingdom-Portable-Swing/dp/B00E3RKC36/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771354&sr=1-1&keywords=travel%2Bswing&th=1
5)Carrier:https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Ktan-Original-Carrier-Black/dp/B000UYFULU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771644&sr=1-1&keywords=ktan

Also check out something like this. https://smile.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1520520111&sr=1-7&keywords=swaddle&th=1

I have it and it is worth every penny

Does he like sleeping with his arms up? The Swaddle Up was a lifesaver for us. At six weeks you're likely just starting the second wonder week, which was the worst for us. Thankfully at 9 weeks old her fussiness and colicky fits disappeared.

I have quite a few mom friends who are struggling with breaking the swaddle, a couple of them are using this and have been saying positive things: it's called a swaddle up and apparently it really helps with the startle reflex and it still holds them snug but gets them used to having their arms in a different position.

Looooved the swaddle, I think it was a major reason why my first was such a good sleeper. I really like the SwaddleMe Pod for newborns and the SwaddleMe velcro swaddle for slightly older infants. It takes all the stress out of trying the swaddle.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01416HEHA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.W2LzbTF0MFB3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dY2Lzb2D7MFKN

Try a swaddler! Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003E6OBMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543354718&sr=8-5&keywords=baby+swaddler&dpPl=1&dpID=31MhbkTTC1L&ref=plSrch

My little was the same way and this helped very much.

Arms only baby swaddle

It took us a long time to discover this, after going through a lot of others. Just so much easier to use, can check on the diaper without removing it, and it looks hilarious.

Also the Baby Bjorn.

The one thing I can't live without is the Velcro swaddlers. I like these

Love to Dream Swaddle

My three year old still wears a sleep sack because he still does not know how to remain covered with a blanket throughout the night : ( This is the one he has, it fits up to 3 years old-ish and it's only about $20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U82JSOO/ref=twister_B076MP7VG8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_R9fGDb27939AK

take the easy way out

My kid always broke out of the swaddle. At 2 months he was transitioned out of a swaddle to zipper swaddle that keeps his arms up and then a sleep suit at around 4 months.

Zipper Swaddle

Sleep Suit

My guy always busted out of a swaddle. He wanted his arms free/up but that moro reflex makes for shitty sleep.

we started using these:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=pd_bxgy_75_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005ULUZIQ&pd_rd_r=7C39P2V0VK8NR8HDPDGN&pd_rd_w=osNGQ&pd_rd_wg=VpXSi&refRID=7C39P2V0VK8NR8HDPDGN&th=1

you can buy them at targets for their real price of 29.99. He sleeps real well with this and looks so adorable. He was always an arms up baby. This also lets him nibble his wings and touch his face. He puts himself to sleep with this. They also make "half 'n' half" to transition to just being a sleep sack.

One is simply not "set" on diapers, you need more. A little thing, but you need them - pacifiers. "Oh, we have a 2-pack already." No, you need about 8 of those within reach at all times (our pediatrician recommended not giving until 2 weeks old).
Also, if the female species is feeding the spawn, then invest in these. You will not be able to find them in stores and the 24 to 48 Amazon takes to deliver will make turn the female species into the devil. While you are at if you do not have a quality breast pumping if she will be breast feeding, invest in that as well.

And while you are at it a baby straight jacket for sleeping. This has helped our spawn sleep longer throughout the night.

The Halo sleep sacks work for many babies, but they are not necessarily safe. If you look at the one star Amazon reviews, you can see that many parents have seen a dangerous condition of the sack bunching up near the face when baby tries to break out: http://www.amazon.com/SleepSack-Cotton-Swaddle-Cream-Small/dp/B003E6OBMA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

This happened with our baby (luckily, while I was awake and I noticed right away) and we immediately discontinued use of the Halo.

We tried to skip swaddling when it became apparent that my daughter was just wiggling out of her muslin blanket swaddle at night, leaving a nest of blankets in her crib and giving me a nightly heart attack. It did not work at all for us. She really needed a swaddle to sleep more than 2 or 3 hours at a time. We finally found zipper swaddles and they were awesome.

There are a lot of baby things I would skip but a swaddle is so not on that list. I hate crap that's going to be useless in 3 months, but a swaddle really is an investment in your sanity.

If it's a money thing, try to buy used. If it's a space/minimalist thing just be merciless about passing it on when you're done. Somehow, it feels less wasteful than I thought it would when I pass things on to new moms with little ones. They're so grateful and I'm so glad for them that I have something that will help (plus my closet isn't stuffed to the gills)