It’s not often you come across a product that you can’t find any fault with. But that is most certainly the case with the Puckababy Four Seasons Sleeping Bag. If you only ever read one review of mine, let it be this one as it could save you lots of money.
When I was pregnant with Dexter, like most mothers-to-be I began stockpiling all the bits and pieces we’d need in preparation for his arrival. And like all new mums, I now know that much of it is pointless and has found its way onto eBay. Cot bedding should go firmly in this category - it’s not necessary, it’s not recommended, it’s not worth the risk.
Our cot was set up about 6 months into my pregnancy with gorgeous (and expensive) coordinating sheets, bumper, duvet and pillow - and some cute teddy bears and soft toys in there for good measure. Then we attended an antenatal class on sleep safety and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and we were advised to strip the cot back to its sheets and put all the bedding set back into wrappers, and back into the wardrobe - none of it was safe for babies under the age of one!
So Dexter’s cot became barren and uninspiring and he spent his first few nights constantly waking up (like all babies do) with no soft toys or blanket to play with. Over time, we gradually began adding the odd toy, and before we knew it - the entire bedding set was back. After all, nothing would ever happen to us.
Then came some heartbreaking news that a friend’s baby suffocated in his blankets and panic set in. We stole Dexter’s duvet and blankets away from him and to be honest, he didn’t seem fussed. It was quite common for Dexter to kick off his duvet anyway and the upstairs of our home has the benefit of underfloor heating so it’s quite warm up there. We assumed that Dexter wasn’t cold as he rarely woke in the night and seemed happy to thrash around in his sleep often ending up sideways in his cot at the opposite end to that we originally put him down in.
However few weeks ago he developed a cold and a cough and we decided it was time to invest in a sleeping bag. There was so much choice out there it’s difficult to know where to start! With each brand starting at upwards of £40 with different tog ratings and sizes we couldn’t work out which ones to plump for and the cost quickly mounts up.
When I was contacted recently by Puckababy to review the Four Seasons Bag - I jumped at the opportunity. Originally created in the Netherlands, their products have won innovation awards and have been designed with help from various baby experts. The concept was genius - a bag that grows with baby (up to 36 months) and can be adapted for each of the four seasons.
I literally couldn’t wait for the postman to arrive and I haven’t been disappointed with the product. It really is Inspired.
The bag has two main components - a fleece and cotton shell. This soft inner fleece sits within the breathable cotton shell offering the ultimate warm pod for baby in the winter. As the temperature begins to increase, you can remove the cotton layer so baby just uses the fleece bit (the recommended format for Autumn). In spring, you can stow away the fleecey part in preparation for the cold chill again, and baby can sleep in the breathable outer liner only. Then in summer, you have the option of unzipping the arms for an even cooler nights sleep.
The quality is just unbelievable. The fleece lining is supremely soft, and it even has (detachable) mittens to keep little hands nice and warm. All the zip components are kept away from baby’s skin and it’s zip-down, rather than up which is a great safety feature as it takes away any temptation for baby to chew on it. There’s also a clever little concealed hood around the neck to protect baby’s delicate skin from the zip-end. Finally, the zip itself bears a rubber Puckababy insignia which is infinitely useful when you have a squirming baby who has sussed that bed-time is imminent.
The fact that you can gather the bottom of the bag (using a secure pull cord) when baby is tiny is also great as it allows for substantial growth (Puckababy is recommended for children from 7 months to 2.5 years). Dexter looks like a little mermaid in his and there’s still plenty of room for him to stretch his legs. At just £76.95 it’s such great value for money as you don’t ever have to worry about upgrading to the next size up or different tog’s.
A close-up of the clever concealed zip hood at the neck of the Puckababy. The bottom can also be gathered into a mermaid shape for smaller babies using a hidden cord.
The Puckababy has made a huge difference to Dexter’s sleep-wriggling too. We’ve noticed he’s spending more time on his back as it’s less easy for him to flip onto his front. He’s also less inclined to try to climb out as he’s swaddled in fabric and has less mobility. In fact, he’s been sleeping for longer uninterrupted stretches and is more contented when he wakes.
I’m hoping to do a video review soon to give you a demo of the product and show you how easy it is to alternate between all the different formats. For now, you can visit their website and also their Facebook page for videos and more on the full range of Puckababy products. I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who shares my concerns about blankets and duvets (we’re binning the lot now as the Puckababy is everything we need, and more).
Finally, the quality is just superior to anything else on the market. It’s so soft and washes like a dream (even the zips). All the zip components are kept away from baby’s skin and it’s zip-down (rather than up) which takes away any temptation for baby to chew on it. There’s also a clever little concealed zip hood around the neck to protect baby’s delicate skin from the zip-end.
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