Swaddling your baby is one way of getting them to sleep well while feeling safe and cozy. Mastering the art of swaddling is easy when you use a baby swaddle designed for this specific purpose. When comparing HALO Swaddle vs Love to Dream Swaddle Up, you’ll notice there are differences that matter!
HALO Sleepsack Swaddles keep babies securely wrapped with arms secure along with their bodies or free as they get older. The Love to Dream Swaddle Up gives your baby the freedom of arm and hand movement while feeling securely swaddled. Both designs allow for free hip and leg movements.
When you should start (and stop) swaddling
Swaddling is most suitable for babies from birth to four to six months old. Your newborn will benefit most from swaddling in their first couple of months as they develop healthy sleeping patterns. Safe swaddling may also prevent your newborn from rolling over onto their stomach, which could result in sudden infant death (SIDS.)
Baby experts do recommend stopping swaddling when your little one starts turning over onto their tummy as they get older. This could be anytime between two to four months.
Watch this video to discover the benefits of swaddling your baby,
Similarities and differences between HALO Swaddle vs Love to Dream
The Halo Sleepsack Swaddle and Love to Dream Swaddle Up share some similarities worth noting but also have notable differences that could matter when making your choice.
Design
A key feature to look out for in any baby swaddle is space for your little one to move their legs freely. Both the Halo and Love to Dream swaddles are certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. You can rest assured your baby’s natural hip development won’t be hampered when wrapped in these swaddles.
Fabric
The Halo swaddles are available in 100% organic cotton or micro-fleece fabric. The fabrics are breathable and flexible for added comfort. The Love to Dream swaddle is made with 93% cotton and 7% elastane, making the fabric stretch four-ways while being soft at the same time.
Adjustability
Velcro fasteners turn the Halo swaddle into an adjustable sleepsack for your baby’s perfect fit. This allows you to secure their arms alongside their body snugly but adjust as they get older for more arm movement.
Hands-in wings of the Love to Dream swaddle keep your baby’s hands and arms snug inside the swaddle while giving enough flexibility to move their hands up to their face. The wings can be unzipped and removed if your baby wants to sleep with their arms above their head.
Zippers
The Love to Dream has a two-way zipper which means diaper changes can take place without having to unswaddle your baby. The Halo inverted zipper lets you unzip from the bottom for convenient diaper changes.
Sizes
Both Halo and Love to Dream come in three different sizes.
- Halo Sleepsack Swaddle
- Preemie: 14 – 19 in/birth- 5 lb
- 0 to 3 months: 19 – 23 in/6 – 12 lb
- 3 to 6 months: 23 – 26 in/13 – 18 lb
- Love to Dream Swaddle Up
- Newborn: 5 – 8.5 lb
- Small: 8 – 13 lb
- Medium: 13 – 19 lb
Care Instructions
Both the Halo and Love to Dream swaddles are machine-washable on a warm cycle. Love to Dream does recommend placing the swaddle in a wash bag for extra care. Both swaddles can tumble dry on low. You can iron the Love to Dream swaddle but it’s not recommended for the Halo sleepsack.
HALO Swaddle
The Halo Sleepsack Swaddle is used in 1,700 hospitals nationwide. This baby swaddle helps parents to start a healthy sleep routine from the day the baby arrives home.
What TOG is a Halo Swaddle?
The TOG rating for a Halo Swaddle differs between the cotton and microfleece fabrics:
- Cotton: 1.5 TOG/Room temperature between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit
- Microfleece: 3.0 TOG/Room temperature between 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit
Features
- Roomy design for free leg movement
- 100% organic cotton or microfleece fabric
- Adjustable velcro fasteners for perfect fit
- Keeps arms immobilized to prevent startle reflex
- Available in different colors and patterns
- Inverted zipper for easy diaper changes
- Available in three sizes
- Machine-washable and tumble dry on low
Why to consider it
The Halo Sleepsack Swaddle 3-way design is unique and designed to accommodate your baby’s sleeping style. The adjustable wings prevent the arms from coming free which could result in waking up your baby during the night.
Pros
- No overheating when sleeping
- Keeps its shape after many washes
- Very easy to swaddle for a snug fit
Cons
- Can be challenging to find the right size
- Outgrow newborn size very quickly
- Velcro fasteners are noisy
How to use a Halo Swaddle
- Step 1: Dress your baby in their normal sleepwear and place them on top of the open swaddle. Read my article to discover what should a baby wear under a swaddle when deciding how to dress your baby for sleep time.
- Step 2: Zip close from the top and fold one wing over your baby’s right arm, tucking it under the left arm. Fold the other wing over, on top and secure with Velcro fasteners.
- Step 3: Ensure the wrap is snug, below the chin, and aligned with the shoulders.
What TOG is the original Love to Dream swaddle?
The TOG rating of the original Love to Dream Swaddle Up is 1.0 with ideal room temperature being between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Love to Dream
Features
- Unique design allowing natural arms-up movement
- Ample space for hip and leg movement
- Self-soothing with flexible hands-in wings
- Single layer fabric prevents overheating when sleeping
- Two-way zipper for easy diaper changes
- Available in three sizes
- Machine-washable and tumble dry on low
Why to consider it
If your baby doesn’t like being restrained while swaddled, preferring to have free arms and hands movement while sleeping, the Love to Dream Swaddle Up works well. It still gives your baby a sense of being snug and safe when wrapped without feeling constricted. It’s a great alternative also to a SwaddleMe.
Pros
- Lightweight and breathable fabric
- Designed to accommodate baby’s natural sleep position
- Doesn’t ride up to baby’s face
Cons
- Outgrows newborn quickly
- More expensive than other baby swaddles
How to use a Love to Dream
- Step 1: Dress your baby in normal sleepwear. Open the swaddle and place your baby’s legs at the bottom and the arms into the wings.
- Step 2: Zip close.
That’s it! No fancy wrapping techniques are required! When you need to do a diaper change in the middle of the night, simply pull the zipper up from the bottom. There’s no need to remove your baby from the swaddle.
Which one to choose
When comparing sleep sack with swaddle blanket options, the former design is easier to use if you want to avoid getting tangled up when wrapping your baby for bedtime. I pick Love to Dream Swaddle Up as the best baby swaddles in this review. It takes all the angst out of swaddling your baby while giving them more freedom to move their arms. Which one will you pick?
Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
