Swaddling Struggles: Weighing the Pros and Cons of the GloYes Baby Pod

I'll be honest, swaddling my second baby was a total nightmare. That's when I started dreaming of a game-changing baby pod that'd make my life easier. The GloYes baby pod caught my eye, but it's not cheap – prices start at over 350 rubles on AliExpress. I've had my fair share of hit-or-miss experiences with products from that platform, so I was a bit skeptical about the quality. For a newborn, it's crucial to choose products made from high-quality natural materials from trusted manufacturers.

I was lucky enough to get the GloYes baby pod for free to test.

The color options are pretty impressive – they offer over 10 different shades, including some adorable designs for boys and girls.

I opted for a plain pink pod.

The GloYes baby pod is designed for free swaddling of babies from birth to 3.5 months.

Description from the manufacturer:

Free swaddling means the baby sleeps in a pod-like blanket. This allows the blanket to gently cradle the baby's body, calm them down, and restrict their arm movements, while also not restricting their leg movements. It's essential to choose the right pod.

From the earliest months of life, we recommend using a pod-like blanket. This type of blanket makes the swaddling process much easier for parents, and the baby feels incredibly comfortable, with the ability to move their arms and legs freely. The pod's shape cradles the baby's body, just like a mother's arms, soothing them and restricting their arm movements. The pod is also elastic and doesn't restrict leg movements. It's perfect for newborns.

One thing that's undeniable is the GloYes baby pod has some real advantages:

It's made from a soft, pleasant-to-the-touch, elastic material that can be easily stretched, allowing the baby to move freely without any restrictions.I was blown away by the build quality – it's seriously top-notch. The stitching is flawless, with no loose threads or uneven seams.The label is attached to the outside, which is a nice touch.Even after multiple washing cycles, the zipper still works like a charm.Design is definitely a winner. The soft pink color and white zipper are a great combo.The materials used are cotton and spandex.However, I have some reservations about the GloYes baby pod. When it comes to ease of use, I'm still on the fence. At first glance, everything seems perfect – I put the baby in the cocoon, zipped it up, and voila! But since we're born in February, our home is pretty chilly. Leaving the baby in one cocoon all day is just reckless, so I had to put on some onesies. The baby would constantly take them off because they weren't constricted like a swaddle.

Wearing some other clothes – like a onesie and pants – and then putting on the cocoon is just a hassle for both me and the baby.

The zipper is double-zippered, which means you can open it from the bottom and change the diaper without taking off the whole cocoon – unless there are snaps underneath, of course. But overall, this feature was a bit of a letdown.

As for safety and practicality for the baby, I'm pretty satisfied. The zipper is hidden, so even with the baby's movements, I don't have to worry about them getting hurt.

I've got to say, in theory, putting a baby in a swaddle is a great idea – they just sleep peacefully, but in reality, it's a whole different story. My little one's got a lot of energy, and they hate getting dressed. I swear, it's like they have a sixth sense for finding the zipper and trying to wriggle free. I'd just manage to zip it up, and then they'd start flailing their arms, trying to get their hands out of the hood. It was a real challenge.

The manufacturer claims that the swaddle provides a comfortable sleeping environment, thanks to its elasticity and shape, but let me tell you, it didn't make a difference for us. Our baby was just as fussy as ever.

When it comes to cleaning the swaddle, it's a real pain. With a small baby, there's always spit-up, and you'll need to wash the swaddle every day. At 699 rubles (or 799 rubles without a discount), it's not exactly the most cost-effective solution. You could buy a whole set of burp cloths for that price.

Size-wise, the swaddle's supposed to be 50-55 cm long, but in reality, it's more like 47 cm. That's a pretty big discrepancy.

I was expecting a bit more room to work with, especially since my baby's already 55 cm long at two months. We started using the swaddle at one month, but it just wasn't working for us. We tried it a few times, but it was just too small. I ended up putting it away and trying again at two months, but the result was the same.

My rating's a generous three stars.

I'd say maybe, but only if you want to try it out first. It might just become a useful and practical addition to your toolkit.