At some point when my daughter was much younger and beginning to roll onto her stomach, my husband and I knew it was time to take her out of the sleep swaddle [1] and find a transitional sleep sack for her so that she could use her arms. It was the dead of Summer, and while many parents suggested we try the Baby Merlin, it looked too heavy and bulky for the season. So I searched the internet further and discovered the Zipadee-Zip [2] ($38). The name was a tongue-twister and the prints were cookie-cutter, but all of that aside, I liked the science behind the product. The sleeves are sewn into little points, creating a slight resistance in the arms that catches the baby before they startle themselves during sleep, all without restricting any mobility. Plus, it can be used from 3 months old to 3 years old.

The first time we put our daughter in it, my husband and I couldn't stop laughing — she really looked like a starfish, with almost claw-like fingers that she found amusing herself. It fit her snug and gave her plenty of room to wiggle her hands and feet. We never found the fabric to be restrictive, and when we zipped her up, there was never extra fabric that might gather and become an obstruction. It was truly a win!

She's now 15 months old and still loves sleeping in it. We've tried other wearable blankets, but found that she sleeps much more soundly in the Zipadee-Zip. Guess we'll be in this thing until she's 3!