Prior to having her, no one in my family, and that includes 1st degree relatives, has used a swaddle or is familiar with swaddling. They know how to wrap babies in receiving blankets to keep them warm, but there's hardly a method or technique involve.
So when they saw Yani swaddled in Aden + Anais or in the Woombie especially, they were curious and amused and often commented that that was the first time they saw a baby so wrapped up.
Anyway, unlike the Woombie, Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap didn't look too constricting. I love how soft the 100% cotton muslin fabric is to the touch and it certainly looks breathable. Overall, I thought it's cuter and more baby-friendly - that goes without saying that I thought it's better.
But this just proves that looks can be deceiving.
Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap wasn't exactly the most convenient to use. First, you have to put baby inside the mini sleeping slack which snaps close on the shoulders. Then you have to wrap the extra fabric around her upper body and snaps close in front. There's just too many snaps and one-too-many steps to swaddle a baby who's not particularly fond of being swaddled.
Even if she's asleep, I could swaddle Yani using the Woombie, but couldn't do it with Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap because I would need to lift her or turn her to her sides to be able to wrap her properly. By the time I'm done, she has already awaken.
Another problem is when I need to check on her diaper. Because she's in a sort of mini sleeping sack, there's no opening at the bottom and I had to unsnap and unwrap her just to check if she's poop on her diaper or to change it. It's like going back to Step 1 and repeating the whole process all over again.
Problem no. 3, maybe this has something to do with baby's size, but even if we got the smallest size, Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap seemed a little big for her (she's 3 kgs or 6.6 lbs when she was born). There's more than enough room to wiggle her arms, and although she wasn't able to set them free, the wrap rides up to above her neck and could cover her mouth and nose.
To avoid this, we wrap her first in an extra cloth, usually a flat diaper, before swaddling her with Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap to have a snug fit. But there goes another extra step and another layer of fabric wrapping baby, which is an issue if you live in an area with warmer climate.
When she got bigger, I thought Aden + Anais Swaddle Wrap would finally fit her nicely. But her arms also got stronger and smarter and this time, she could squirm them out of the wrap. And there's not much leg room inside the mini sleeping sack.
So yes, we got to use it a few times. And yes, I still think the fabric is top-quality and the design is cute. But is it easy, is it effective and more importantly, is it safe? I don't think so. And this is why I really don't recommend this swaddle.
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