As longtime friends know, I‘ve never been shy about sharing the ugly truth about parenting. So it will come as no surprise that finding solutions for my son‘s sleeping struggles topped my priority list during the newborn phase. And that quest led me to the weighted, zen-promising realm of Nested Bean.
Over the past year, we have put at least a half dozen Nested Bean sleepers and weighted swaddles to the test. Were some more successful than others? Absolutely. Did ANY of them fully transform my spirited, erratic sleeper into a perfect angel baby? I wish! But I cannot deny that integrating their products into our nightly routine had noticeable positive effects.
Here is my unfiltered, caffeine-fueled diary of our year with Nested Bean. Consider this your magnifying glass into the world of weighted sleep magic – peering through the eyes of a desperate mom willing to try just about anything!
What the Heck is Nested Bean?
For any fellow parents living under a rock, Nested Bean burst onto the baby gear scene about 5 years ago with their unique Zen weighted sleepers. The concept uses lightly weighted pouches and pods to mimic the calming sensation babies feel when cradled against Mom or Dad‘s chest.
This gentle pressure activates relaxation points to help lower baby‘s heart rate, regulate breathing, and release those comforting "cuddle hormones" we moms run on unlimited supplies of (until we actually have a baby…then we need to recharge via power naps whenever humanly possible!)
The company itself was founded by a new mom named Manasi, who delivered the first Nested Bean Zen Swaddle prototype after many sleepless nights with her own daughter. The early positive feedback amongst social media parenting groups gained major viral attention.
Soon major retailers came calling. In just a few short years, over 1 million Nested Bean units were sold and the products had developed an almost cult-like following, especially once featured on Shark Tank.
Their reach continues expanding into additional weighted blankets and sleepers for kids and adults alike. But those flagship baby products remain the bread and butter.
Where We First Heard About Nested Bean
I distinctly remember stumbling down an Instagram rabbit hole of popular mommy bloggers late one night during my maternity leave. As I soaked my aching back and feet in an epsom bath, one particularly enticing sponsored post caught my eye.
It featured an elegantly swaddled newborn cradled in some young social media mom‘s arms. The glowingly scripted caption promised something about the magic of weighted Zen sleepers by Nested Bean.
As my due date rapidly approached, I soaked up every bit of wisdom from these real-life moms. And that zen pod concept stuck with me even as contractions started up several weeks later.
In fact, one of the first non-essentials I added to my new baby Amazon registry was a Nested Bean Zen Swaddle based purely on that influencer endorsement and some hastily googled product reviews.
Little did I know that single impulse click would kickstart an year-long product testing adventure!
Getting Started with the Nested Bean Zen Swaddle
Let me start by saying my son was not an easy sleeper from Day 1 at home. Jaundice complications meant supplementing breastfeeding with formula bottles. This seemed to upset his tiny tummy and led to painful gas for those early weeks.
Getting him to settle at night involved bouncing on a yoga ball for ages while shushing louder than a box fan on high. And the second we finally achieved calm and attempted to lower him to his bassinet…cue the hysterical crying and sleepless meltdowns all over again!
By week 3, I had modified the Zen Swaddle to safely accommodate hands-up swaddling per The Owlet sock‘s breathing monitoring recommendations. This helped mitigate the startle reflex. But he still woke frequently needing comfort.
However, I did notice subtle improvement in length of sleep stretches on the occasions when he would tolerate chest-down swaddling with the weight pod in place. Instead of 45 mins, we got closer to 2 hour increments between feedings.
This told me the weighted concept had merit. When positioned just right, he would sink into deeper sleeps. But achieving that zen was far easier said than done! I had mixed results depending on how rowdy he was during the swaddling process.
Expanding Our Weighted Repertoire
As the months went on, his sleep only grew more erratic amidst the dreaded 4-month sleep regression. We fully leveled up into a bonafide sleep warrior household – rotating different swaddles, sleep sacks, white noise tools, blackout curtains, dream feeds, bedtime routines…you name it, we tried it!
It was then we decided to experiment with more of the Nested Bean weighted options. I figured if he was going to fight the traditional swaddle anyhow, why not try products allowing some arm mobility while still incorporating weight?
First we tried the Zen Sack. He didn‘t love that. The pod sat too low on his torso, so he would wiggle and scoot downwards attempting to escape. Plus husband and I struggled getting consistent tightness and positioning in something so spacious.
Next came the Zen PJs. These worked alright for daytime cat naps. The footies seemed to startle him less mid-slumber, and the centered chest pod prevented too much rolling. But the weighted effect got lost at night amongst all his flailing. Plus, diaper leaks required changing him out more frequently.
Most recently, we‘ve tested the Zen One sleep sack. I‘d rate this our most successful weighted option beyond normal swaddling age. The shoulder snaps allow adjustable fit to contain his movement just enough while also working fine for arms out. The higher pod placement keeps him from squirming downwards too.
Now at nearly 14 months, he still voluntarily crawls into this Zen One sack when put down drowsy for naps and overnight. I think the slight weight gives sensory input his active body craves. Sometimes I even witness him self-soothing by gently pressing his hands against that snug pod space – pretty cute!
What Do Other Parents Think?
Obviously experience varies widely based on your unique baby and sleep environment. Some kids take to these weighted garments instantly, while others could care less. Haters gonna hate!
But sifting through hundreds of reviews shows consistent themes of at least incremental success:
- Longer stretches between night wakings
- Falling asleep faster at bedtime
- Deeper, more restorative daytime naps
- Decreased fussiness/crying during transitions
- More peaceful self-soothing behaviors
The gentle pressure works well for sensitive or anxious personalities prone to getting overstimulated. One friend likened it to baby massage or a ThunderShirt for dogs in providing comforting weighted input.
Plus that cozy feeling promotes letting down guard and relaxing instead of resisting sleep. Multiple reviewers mention their baby only tolerates sleeping ON them until trying a Nested Bean product. Pretty powerful momma magic!
By The Numbers: Quantifying the Sleep Boost
Okay, you want statistics? Well tracking sleep obsessively has kind of become my thing over the past year.
So here are conservative averages pulled from my meticulously color-coded and chronologically catalogued Google Sheet tracking:
- Average nightly sleep pre-Nested Bean: 7.2 hours
- Longest single sleep stretch pre-Nested Bean: 3 hours
- Night wakings/feedings pre-Nested Bean: 4-5 per night
And here‘s how those numbers stacked up on nights consistently using a Nested Bean Zen sleeper correctly:
- Average nightly sleep WITH Nested Bean: 9.1 hours
- Longest single sleep stretch WITH Nested Bean: 5.5 hours
- Night wakings/feedings WITH Nested Bean: 2-3 per night
That‘s at least 2 extra hours of sleep a night for the whole family and nearly DOUBLE his longest snooze stretches! Now just imagine the positive domino effect on mood, development, immunity…we owe Nested Bean some serious thanks!
My Advice After 1 Year of Testing
Obviously personal preferences, baby‘s growth patterns, sleep environment and so forth impact individual results. But here is my top advice for getting the most mileage out of Nested Bean‘s offerings:
Start early – Utilize that magical newborn sleep window (HA!) when they sleep more soundly in general. The weighted concept is especially helpful transitioning recently womb-evicted babes.
Ensure proper fit – Check weight and height charts religiously to achieve ideal pod placement and prevent startles. Some trial and error here.
Mix up positioning – Be willing to tweak handling baby‘s arms or transition between sack styles as they grow. Containment early on moves towards more freedom.
Layer as needed – Use Halo SleepSack wearable blankets or footed PJs under the Zen sack or swaddle for adjustable warmth/compression.
Consistency is key During sleep training, stick to consistent routines for optimal habit forming.
Answering Common Reader Questions
Alright, let‘s rapid fire some FAQs for anyone still on the fence about taking the Nested Bean plunge!
Are these weighted sleepers safe for infants?
Yes, very much so! Weight is thoughtfully calculated and distributed based on size to avoid suffocation or SIDS risk. Bean pods are rigorously tested for breathability and securely sewn in place. Sure your heart might stop the first few times velcroing them in. But thousands of babies have snoozed soundly for years thanks to smart safety testing.
Aren‘t they super expensive?
Kinda! Expect to invest around $40 per suit. So yes, more than basic cotton pajamas or generic sleep sacks. But also less than many popular baby devices like dohm sound machines, Snoo rentals, or Owlet socks. For under 3 months of better sleep, the math works out. Secondhand re-sale recoups some cash too!
What‘s the best Nested Bean option for a baby that __?
Here‘s my Cliff Notes cheat sheet:
- Hates any swaddling: Zen PJs or Sack
- Startles easily/flails arms: Zen Swaddle or One
- Rolls and moves a lot: Zen PJs
- Needs extra warmth: Layer Zen Swaddle or Sack under sleep bag
- Fusses getting arms contained: Zen Sack or One
- Dislikes weighted feeling: These likely won‘t work
Where can I buy Nested Bean products?
Direct from Nested Bean‘s site, Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Walmart online, and specialty baby stores like Lil Tulips, Spearmint Love, Magic Bean, etc. Browse their Store Locator for options.
Any discount codes to save money?
Yep! UNIQUE20 takes 20% off site orders while Facebook10 saves 10%. Their email list and Instagram also advertise seasonal sales pretty regularly.
Final Thoughts After 12+ Months of Testing
While definitely not the single solution to achieve perfect infant sleep, Nested Bean products absolutely helped nudge my son towards better sleep habits…especially when used consistently in his routine. We continue relying on their weighted Zen technology as part of our sleep arsenal a year later.
I confidently recommend Nested Bean to any open-minded, desperate-for-rest momma willing to experiment with weighted garments. Most babies tolerate them beautifully and demonstrate noticeable improvements in sleep quality.
Just know it requires some trial and error to determine ideal product fit/placement for your unique child. Arm yourself with patience and commitment through the grouchy sleep transitions. But when all goes well, both baby AND parents finally get some much needed zzz‘s!
So Zen your way on over to grab a Nested Bean weighted wonder today. Your future rested self with thank you!
