|
S |
(3-6 months old) |
12-18lbs for babies up to 28 inches tall |
|
M |
(6-12 months old) |
19-26 lbs for babies up to 32 inches tall |
|
L |
(12-28 months old) |
26-34 lbs for babies up to 39 inches tall |
The best fit is when a baby has to push on the fabric to extend fully... it's that resistance that helps ease the transition and encourages self-soothing.
Small:
The small is geared towards the 12-18 or 19 pound mark and is designed for babies up to 6 months old, or up to 28 inches tall. Some little ones use the small until 22lbs. The length of the zipper alone on all the Zipadee-Zips is 24 inches (remember that a baby’s head makes up a good portion of their height so the small will fit most little ones under that 6 month mark with no problem.
If a mum is using the Zippy as a swaddle transition and their little one is around 17-18 lbs and is under 6 months old, we really recommend getting the small size for the transition. We recommend the smaller fit to start because there is more resistance in that wing-span which gives the baby more of a feeling of being enclosed and cozy. This womb-like sensation is what helps ease the transition off of the swaddle.
Under 6 months old, a baby’s startle reflex will still be coming into play and the Zipadee-Zip is most effective if there’s slight resistance in the arm-span of the fit so a baby has to push on the fabric a little to extend fully. That slight resistance is what gives a little one the sense of enclosure they need to soothe the startle, and feel nice and cozy during the transition off of the swaddle. Some moms who have never swaddled their little ones will use the Zipadee-Zip to transition a baby from sleeping in a swing or a Rock and Play sleeper to a crib and a snugger fit is encouraged for that transition as well.
If your baby weighs above 18 pounds and is around 28 inches tall, they are on the cusp of moving to a medium and may not be in the small for very long (although Syephanie’s daughter wore her small until she was over 22lbs) which is why parents will usually get a small for an easier transition and a medium for once the baby is comfortable with the new-found freedom. If you decide to go with a size medium so that your little one can grow into it, make sure to do nap times in the Zipadee-Zip first for a while before moving to night time sleep. That will help ease your little one into the freedom over a shorter period of time. Ideally you want to have resistance in the arm span if you are transitioning from the swaddle.
If, a mum is only using the Zippy as an alternative to PJs to keep a baby’s hands warm or to prevent scratching (for babies with eczema for example), there’s no harm in a little extra room. If a baby is on the cusp of moving to a size medium and doesn’t need any help with a transition, going to a larger size is fine.
Medium:
If your baby is over 6 months old and over 18lbs, or over 28 inches tall, go with the medium. Past 6 months old, the startle reflex has started to subside so it’s easier to make the transition off of the swaddle in a slightly larger size as long as your baby is 18 lbs or over. If your baby is right on the 18lbs mark, and you don’t want to go with the small after reading the information above, a more gradual transition might be helpful if you do decide to go with the medium since there will still be room to grow in that size and there will be less resistance in the arm-span to help with soothing. In the event that your little one is right on cusp of moving between sizes it may help to do naps for a while before night time sleep just so that your little one has more time to get used to the new-found freedom. Most babies wear the medium until 12 months old or older. The medium fits babies up to 32 inches tall.
If the Zipadee-Zip is not being used as a transition solution or is not being used to help improve sleep or self-soothing skills, the resistance in the arm-span is not as important and more freedom in the fit will be just fine!
Large:
This size is not meant for the transition from the swaddle but after a baby has already made that transition with a smaller size. We don’t recommend skipping the size medium and going from the small to the large. There is a reason behind how the Zipadee-Zips are sized as it provides a gradual transition to full freedom making the move to PJs instantaneous and easy! The size large is very big and can fit most 2 and a half year olds. The difference between a size medium large is pretty significant. The large gives a baby lots of extra room with no resistance at all. This is the size you want to move to after the transition and before your little one sleeps freely in normal PJs. We highly recommend using the Large for a while before moving to PJ’s. It will still give them the security of being enclosed and cozy but will allow them to get used to moving around completely unrestricted. This size is also a perfect alternative for parents who haven’t swaddled and just want to put their little ones in a wearable blanket that keeps those little hands warm at night and prevents scratching. Parents who have never swaddled or never used the Zipadee-Zip in smaller sizes will often get the Zipadee-Zip in a large as a solution to keep their wiggly little toddler from climbing out of the cot. The large fits babies up to 39 inches tall.
