Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post, at no cost to you. This post was not sponsored by the Magic Merlin sleep suit company.
As a mom of two, I wanted to share our family’s experience with the Magic Merlin Suit to help you decide whether it’s right for you.
In case you aren’t familiar with the Magic Merlin Suit, it’s a swaddle transition product for babies designed for back sleeping only in the crib.
Basically its designed for warmth and comfort to help calm a baby’s startle reflex, but with added freedom of movement so they can find their own sweet spot for sleeping.
We used the Magic Merlin Suit with both of our children and we absolutely loved it. I’ll share more on how and why we used it below!
As with all baby products, there’s always going to be parents who may not feel the same way. I will share a quick interview I did with another mom below who didn’t feel the sleepsuit was a life-changing product for their baby.
Let’s get started!
How to Use the Magic Merlin Suit for Great Sleep
Experts recommend transitioning out of the swaddle around 12 weeks old.
This coincides perfectly with the Magic Merlin Suit‘s minimum weight requirement of 12 lbs and 3 months of age.
At this time, baby’s reflexive startles are still quite frequent, and I had become accustomed to longer stretches of sleep. When dropping the swaddle, I did NOT want to chance my babies getting back up 2-3 times in the middle of the night again.
I would try anything for a good nights sleep and that’s how we ended up purchasing the Magic Merlin Sleepsuit.
Related: Should I Get the Snuggle Me or DockATot?
Start Using It With Naps First
Any time you are transitioning baby to something, it brings a sense of nervousness that it will impact the decent routine you’ve gotten used to.
Start using the sleepsuit with naps first so you can see how your baby likes it first.
I remember wanting to check on my daughter frequently through the baby monitor during her first nap in it. If we had started with overnight first, I would have interrupted my own sleep to keep checking on her.
Once she fell asleep in the sleepsuit, she took great naps in it. She definitely still needed me to rock her to sleep though, and it looked kind of funny in the sleepsuit!
Related: 6 Best Pack and Play Mattresses for Baby
Transition to Using It Overnight Next
Once you’re feeling confident using the Magic Merlin Suit for naps, transition to using it overnight next.
We made the switch right at 3 months old, so this went really easy for us because they were already used to sleeping in it for naps.
However, the 4-month sleep regression still hit us really hard, even in the sleep suit!
My daughter literally woke up every 60-90 minutes for about a month – we were SO tired. That’s when we decided to do sleep training when she was 4 months old, which I know is a controversial topic.
Every parent will know in their hearts what they are comfortable with!
I made sure they were in a completely safe sleep environment according to the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics. While it may have broke my heart, I knew they were safe and it worked really well for us.
Ultimately both of my kids used the sleepsuit until they were just shy of 6 months old.
I never experienced them rolling over in the sleepsuit… I made sure to transition them out of it once they were regularly rolling over on the play mat.
Related: The Ultimate List of Baby Stuff You’ll Need
Why Choose the Magic Sleep Suit Over Traditional Sleep Sacks
Why should you choose the Magic Sleep Suit over a regular sleep sack?
At 3 months old, you want your baby to start having SOME freedom of movement, but a sleep sack or “wearable blanket” allows for UNLIMITED freedom of movement which means frequent middle of the night wake ups.
Would they adjust and get used to it? Absolutely! Some parents are just not ready for this transition this early though.
Here are some similarities between the Magic Sleepsuit & a sleep sack:
- Open hands for self soothing
- Scooped neckline to keep fabric out of baby’s face
- Zippers down for easy diaper changes
- Made of breathable cotton
Here are some differences which the Magic Sleepsuit has and a sleep sack does not:
- Open feet for additional body temperature regulation
- A comfortable layer of polyfill on the outer layer
- Double zippers for easy diaper changes
Let me be clear – we LOVE sleepsacks too! After the Merlin Sleepsuit, we transitioned both of our kids to cotton Halo sleep sacks until they were almost 2 years old.
I just think that during a REALLY rocky time for sleep (those early days of 3-6 months old) you should take advantage of every baby sleep product that may make your life a little bit easier.
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Negative Feedback from Parents on the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit
You don’t have to take my word for it! No doubt every parent’s experience is completely different.
That’s why I’m sharing quotes from helpful interviews I did with two other moms. It’s my job to give you multiple perspectives!
For example, will baby be home with you all day or will they be at daycare while you work?
Here was some feedback I received from a mom who went back to work when her baby was 12 weeks old…
We just started using the Merlin Sleepsuit for naps but I’m conflicted on it because she goes to daycare and it’s not allowed there. I don’t want to set her up for nap failures there.
The mom below was a stay-at-home-mom and her baby experienced a developmental delay. Here’s what she had to say…
We used the Magic Sleepsuit every night and for all naps. My daughter was very delayed in rolling over and I wonder whether the Merlin Sleepsuit could have caused this delay.
Her experience was not my experience, but you can never discount what someone else’s belief or perspective was. We’ll never know whether this sleep product contributed or not.
Related: The Ultimate Winter Baby Items List
Frequently Asked Questions on the Merlin Suit
When Do I Start Using the Magic Merlin Suit?
You can start using the Magic Suit at 3 months of age and a minimum of 12 lbs.
Technically you could start using it earlier than 3 months if baby is already 12 lbs, but their startle reflex may be too strong to have sustained success with it.
Always place baby down on their back on a firm, breathable crib mattress.
When Do I Stop Using the Magic Merlin Suit?
Once your baby rolls over in the Merlin Suit, it’s time to transition out of it for safety reasons.
It’s designed for back sleeping only, and your baby is now ready for more freedom of movement while sleeping.
Related: 12 Safe Sleep Alternatives to the Rock n’ Play
What Should My Baby Wear Under the Magic Merlin Sleep Suit?
It’s recommended by the company to dress your baby in no more than one layer of cotton clothing for underneath the Magic Merlin. Alternatively, if your child tends to sleep hot, you could put them into the sleep suit with nothing on underneath.
Try keep the room at the recommended room temperature of 68-72 degrees, but if you cannot control it, monitor your baby’s temperature by placing your hand on their stomach or back.
For example, the upstairs level of our last home got really hot on summer days, even when we had the curtains drawn and the A/C cranking.
There were some days I was really concerned about the temperature of her nursery, and if she was overheating in the Merlin sleepsuit. We had the cotton one, and put her in it with nothing on underneath on these days. Surprisingly, she was never sweaty!
In winter time, we were able to dress her in comfy jammies underneath. She always woke up SO happy 🙂
Related: Crib vs Pack and Play: Which Do I Need?
Our Verdict on this Baby Sleep Product
I 100% feel it is worth trying out the Magic Merlin Sleepsuit. What do you have to lose other than restful sleep?
In my opinion, you definitely only need to buy the 3-6 months size – most babies will be rolling before you’d ever need the 6-9 months size. The 6-9 months size is just a good option if you have a younger baby who’s grown really quickly.
Worst case if your baby is growing like a weed and you need the larger size you can always purchase it later. It’s available on Amazon with free shipping so you can get it delivered the next day!
Many moms may feel that it is a sleep “crutch” but the truth is babies will adapt and outgrow all habits eventually.
It’s going to take work to transition out of the swaddle, again out of the Merlin sleep suit, again out of the sleep sack, again out of their crib, and again through every sleep regression you hit throughout childhood.
My daughter is almost 4 now and all I can say is – sleep hasn’t necessarily gotten easier!
Next Up: Check Out Our Other Baby Product Reviews
Our Review of the Slumber Pod Blackout Tent
Our Review of the SleepOut Travel Blackout Curtain
Our Review of the Newton Non-Toxic Crib Mattress
Dreamland Baby vs Nested Bean: Which is Better?
The Best Strollers for Big Kids
GB Stroller Review: Your Complete Guide
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