Are you about to give birth and looking for the best sleeping solution for your future baby? Your best friend is soon welcoming a new member to their family and you want to give them a useful and handcrafted gift? Ouatine & Cumulus cocoons are a practical and wonderful choice to give to expectant parents , to add to a baby registry, and to pack in your hospital bag. From their first moments until 18 months, your baby will find themselves in a secure environment that will support their development! Unsure how to choose the right cocoon? Stéphanie, founder of Ouatine & Cumulus, a pediatric nurse and mother, gives you four tips to help you make your choice.
What criteria should you consider when choosing your cocoon? This is certainly a question you asked yourselves when you found yourselves in front of our catalog. Size 1 or 2, sleeping bag, cotton or jersey , each cocoon has characteristics that need to be understood in order to take them into account optimally.
Criterion #1: Your baby's age 👶
At Ouatine & Cumulus, we offer cocoons in two different sizes, as well as sleeping bags, which are chosen according to the developmental stage of your little one.
T1 Cocons are designed for the first few weeks of your baby's life. Their smaller size creates a defined space around your newborn, allowing for a gentle transition from the womb to the outside world. After birth, babies need contact at the head and feet, reminding them of familiar sensations in utero and helping them maintain a flexed position that aids self-soothing . Their reversible hood allows for safe sleep during naps and at night.
The T2 Cocons were then created to support the baby until the time he or she is able to spontaneously roll over onto their stomach, generally around the 6th month . These cocons are larger to accommodate the baby's growth and because they no longer need contact at the feet level according to their developmental needs. A nice extra feature of these cocons is a pocket at the back where a rolled-up fabric can be inserted to safely define the space around the baby according to their needs. The flap allows them to more easily keep their hands close to their face and reassure themselves if they grab it.
Sleeping bags are used between the 6th and 18th month. At this age, the baby has developed good motor skills. They are able to roll over, move from their back to their stomach and vice versa. They grasp objects and pass them from one hand to the other. Lying on their back, they pedal with their feet, they grab them... A whole series of learning experiences that mean the baby moves much more in their sleep, so they need total freedom of movement . The sleeping bag lives up to its name and becomes essential to allow this. The particularity of the Ouatine & Cumulus sleeping bag: it is narrower than others to continue supporting babies who liked to be wrapped up.
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Criterion #2: Your baby's weight ⚖️
Unlike clothing and pajamas, which are chosen according to your baby's size, your child's weight is the determining factor when choosing a baby cocoon . Indeed, the cocoon helps newborns maintain a flexed position with their legs raised close to their belly and their arms folded near their face. This position is ideal for their development, as well as for their digestive comfort ; therefore, it is essential to choose bedding that will allow them to easily maintain this posture.
Choosing a cocoon based on size would therefore be pointless. As a reminder, a baby during its first few weeks weighs between 3 and 4 kg; at 6 months, it reaches between 6 and 9 kg; at 18 months, it usually reaches 12 kg.
Criterion #3: The right fabric for each season ☀️ ❄️
The ideal temperature in bedrooms is a topic that regularly comes up among new parents. It shouldn't be too hot, nor too cold, but it's also important to respect your child's temperature. Specialists agree that the ideal temperature is between 18 and 20°C . For your baby to fall asleep peacefully , it's necessary to pay attention to the fabrics surrounding them. That's why sleeping bags and swaddles are made from different materials: cotton, velvet, teddy fabric, wadding,...
For the upcoming winter months, cocoons made of teddy fabric or velvet are perfect for keeping warm; in spring and autumn, cocoons made of cotton, with wadding, jersey or muslin are ideal. Finally, for summer, when the heat takes over the house, cocoons made of cotton, without wadding, are best suited.
At Ouatine & Cumulus, we have chosen stretchy fabric for your baby's comfort, reminding them of their time in the womb. Furthermore, we have considered the comfort of young parents, as cotton jersey and muslin are wrinkle-free materials. This represents considerable time savings when faced with piles of laundry and the lack of time that young parents often experience.
Criterion #4: Baby's thermoregulation 🌡️
Children and adults alike all have their own unique body temperature; some are more sensitive to cold, while others tolerate hot weather more easily. To check your child's temperature, you can use a thermometer at different times of the day: it should show a temperature between 36.5 and 37.5°C . If it is lower, your child is cold and needs to be dressed a little warmer. In case of chills, it can be helpful to protect your child's head with a small hat, which will allow them to more easily retain their heat and energy to gain weight properly. If the temperature is higher, you should remove a layer of clothing, as they are too warm.
In children, the circulatory system is immature , and it prioritizes vital organs (the brain, heart, and lungs). Therefore, one should not rely on the temperature of the hands or feet, which are often cooler, but rather on the temperature of the nape of the neck, face, or chest.
There's a simple way to check your child's temperature: a hand on the back of their neck will tell you their condition. If it's dry and warm, it means they're doing fine; if it's clammy, it means they're too hot.
Need some extra advice to choose your cocoon? Contact us!
