22 Best Things to do in San Diego

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San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and boasts of a population of 1.3 million. The city area consists of many charming neighborhoods and communities including La Jolla, Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter, La Mesa to name a few. San Diego is famous for its year-round mild climate, untouched pristine beaches, and a host of family attractions that attract visitors of all ages. Tourists to San Diego are spoiled for choice as the city promises a memorable vacation experience for everyone.

San Diego, California, downtown skyline
San Diego, California, downtown skyline

Best Things to do in San Diego 

San Diego was historically a part of the Spanish possessions. It is greatly influenced by Mexico which is reflective in its cuisine, way of living, museums, and monuments. The city has many breathtaking architectural marvels. Visitors can smell the lilies and lotuses in the Botanical house in Balboa Park or go searching for seals and sea lions at the La Jolla Shores. You can indulge in the comfort of a California Burrito followed by a stroll in the quaint neighborhood of Little Italy. San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

Also Read: 24 Best Places to Visit in California in winter

Balboa Park

This 1,200-acre urban park is the epicenter of San Diego’s tourist attractions. There is a distinct charm to it. Balboa Park has a world-class zoo, beautifully landscaped areas for family picnics and people watching, and historic museums designed in the Spanish Revival style of architecture. Kids especially love visiting the San Diego Zoo. They can see rare and endangered species of animals in their naturalized enclosures including giant pandas, leopards, zebras, arctic fox, mole rats, and even polar bears. Kids also enjoy hopping onto the three minute Balboa park miniature Railroad for a fun trip across the park. There are many museums for cultural tourists in the park including the Natural history museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Art Institute, etc. Visitors can also take a stroll in the Spanish village art center located near the zoo. The Botanical Building and Lily Pond is a must for garden lovers. Balboa Park has multiple gardens and contains over 2,100 individual plants. It looks beautiful in spring and is one of the best places to see spring blossoms in southern California. 

Balboa Park's Casa de Balboa Building in San Diego, California
Balboa Park’s Casa de Balboa Building in San Diego, California

Gaslamp Quarter

San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter houses 94 historic buildings in a 16 block area. The best way to explore the Gaslamp Quarter is on foot. You can see heritage buildings in Victorian architecture and museums that narrate the area’s history. One of the popular photo ops is the Gaslamp Quarter Arched Sign located on Fifth Avenue. Installed in 1990, this sign has become an icon of the area. The quarter is a great place for foodies and those in search of nightlife. Inside the quarter, you will find an array of over 100 sidewalk restaurants, craft breweries, cocktail bars, dive bars, and rooftop lounges. to let you meld in the charm of San Diego nightlife. Many events are held at the Gaslamp Quarter year round including the Comic-con which is held in July, the Mardi Gras parade on Fat Tuesday, and St Patrick’s day festivities in March.

The Embarcadero

San Diego’s walkable waterfront harbor is dotted with boutique stores, souvenir shops, and eateries. The Embarcadero overlooks Coronado Island and the San Diego bay. This is a great place for people watching or for whale watching in the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can rent boats or go on whale-watching cruises across the harbor. Kids of all ages love the Embarcadero. They can have a fun time splashing in the interactive fountains at the Waterpark or play at one of the play areas. The Embarcadero is home to the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival while the San Diego orchestra often plays concerts here from late June to the beginning of September.

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum

San Diego’s Embarcadero is home to the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world, the USS Midway. The aircraft carrier has been permanently moored here since 2004 and is open to visitors. The USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the country. It is dedicated to aircraft carriers and the naval aviation history of the US. Visitors can opt for a self-guided audio tour of this gigantic vessel. During the visit, they can see over 30 restored aircraft including 8 propeller planes, 8 helicopters, and 14 jet planes. Visitors can also have many hands-on experiences at the museum including testing the stimulators, climbing into the cockpit, and watching videos about the aircraft carriers’ history.

San Diego Zoo

Located in the famous Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is a must-visit if you are visiting the West Coast with kids. This is a world-famous zoo and has served as teh model for modern zoos the world over. In its innovative natural habitats, you can see a variety of animals and birds including giant pandas, elephants, tigers, polar bears, and California condors. There are many other things to do in San Diego Zoo apart from seeing the animals. Families can ride the aerial tram to see the zoo from above or visit the Children’s Zoo to pet animals. You ideally need half a day to see the zoo completely. 

San Diego Harbor & Whale Watching Cruises

All along the Pacific Coast Highway road trip, you can have beautiful and memorable animal encounters. One of the best places to go for a whale-watching cruise along the West Coast is the San Diego harbor. Along with whales, you can spot pelicans, herons, as well as sea lions. Visitors can also go on a 1-hour cruise around the San Diego bay. On the cruise, you can see over 50 local landmarks – including the San Diego Coronado bridge – and some of the ships themselves are those popularized by movies and pop culture. The experienced cruise guides entertain and educate visitors about San Diego’s history and narrate anecdotes about the navy. The cruise along the deep blue water of the Pacific Ocean is a great refreshing and relaxing experience for all visitors.

Seaport Village

The waterfront mall of Seaport Village is an actual little village! It is full of restaurants like Pier Cafe and Edgewater Grill where you can taste fresh seafood and delectable regional cuisine. The Seaport Village is located very close to Downtown – just a little south of the Embarcadero. As a result, you can easily see the Downtown, Embarcadero, and the Seaport Village in a single day. Visitors can explore the narrow lanes and alleys to see historic buildings in a variety of architectural styles from the Spanish Adobe style to Victorian architecture. Seaport Village is especially vibrant on the weekends. Stores and markets are open everywhere and tourists can pick up unique souvenirs like hand-painted tiles, San Diego mugs, or even listen to live music and bands on summer weekends. Seaport Village is also home to a historic carousel, located just off the parking lot off Pacific Coast Highway. Kids of all ages can ride on the beautiful carousel which was hand-carved in 1895.

Mission Beach

Visitors to San Diego love the famous 2-mile long resort community of Mission Beach. This beachfront neighborhood town is a peninsula with the Mission Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other side. It has a long boardwalk which is perfect for a stroll. Mission Beach has many rental shops where you can get kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, and bike rentals. Belmont Park is a classic boardwalk amusement park with exciting rides such as the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, bumper cars, arcade games, rock climbing, miniature golf, and the Beach House Grill – a great restaurant. Visitors can indulge in a host of activities like biking, beach volleyball, surfing, whale watching, sport fishing, and scuba diving. Mission Beach also has surfing lessons for people of all ages.

Belmont Park

As mentioned before, Belmont Park in Mission Beach is a great place to take the kids while in San Diego. This beachfront amusement park has twelve rides, three oceanfront eateries, a mini-golf course, and smaller attractions like arcade games that will keep the kids busy for an entire day. One of the highlights of Belmont Park is the wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper. Other thrilling rides such as Control Freak, Beach Blaster, and bumper cars are a hit with preteens and teens. The best part is that Belmont Park has free parking and admission; you just pay for the rides you sit on.

Old Town State Historic Park

The Old Town State Historic Park in San Diego has many carefully preserved structures and historic buildings dating from the 19th century. The park commemorates the early days of San Diego and its Mexican heritage. Located in the Old Town neighborhood, you can see adobe structures, colonial buildings, and schoolhouses at the park. Along with buildings, this historic district is home to authentic handicrafts and delicious Mexican cuisine. Visitors can listen to Mariachi bands, attend street performances, and participate in cultural festivals like Cinco De Mayo, Dia de Los Muertos. December is a great time to visit Old Town, you can see holiday lights as well as parades. Other attractions include the Visitor Center in Robinson-Rose house, the Seeley Stable and Livery which has horse-drawn carriages, wagons, and liveries, and the Colorado House which houses the Wells Fargo museum. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm from Monday to Friday. Free street parking is available near Old Town.

Cabrillo National Monument

Located at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula, the Cabrillo National Monument is a must-visit attraction while in San Diego. It was here that Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s expedition landed in the San Diego Bay on 28th September 1542. This was the first European expedition to reach the West Coast of the country. Cabrillo named the bay San Miguel which was later renamed to San Diego. At the monument, visitors can see a replica of the original statue of Cabrillo donated by the Portuguese government. The Visitor Center has movie shows and exhibits relating to Cabrillo’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean to the coast of California. Other things to see include the old coastal batteries and Old Point Loma lighthouse which has been converted into a museum. From the park, you can see exceptional views of the San Diego skyline, the bay, Coronado Islands, and even Tijuana in Mexico.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Located inside Cabrillo National Monument, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a historically significant building and deserves a special mention. The lighthouse is one of San Diego’s oldest monuments. It was built in 1855. It served as a beacon for ships navigating the waters of San Diego Bay. The lighthouse was in commission for a short period after which it was deactivated when the new lighthouse was built closer to the shore. The lighthouse complex was converted into a tourist attraction and opened to the public in the 1930s. It is now a prominent landmark in the city. On a tour of the lighthouse, you can see the keeper’s living quarters, logbooks, service equipment, turning mechanism, and the original Fresnel lens.

Sunset Cliffs National Park

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a 68-acre park along the Pacific Ocean in San Diego. The park has expansive ocean views, coastal cliff formations, sea caves and arches, and coastal sage habitat. The extensive and rugged coastline is popular with surfers and beachcombers. The park is one of the most popular places in San Diego to enjoy breathtaking sunset views along the Pacific. Visitors can also see gray whale migrations along the coast. The park also has many hiking trails and connects with Point Loma Ecological Reserve. 

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

This historic church was the first Franciscan Mission in the Spanish territories. It was founded in 1769 and is a national historic landmark. The current mission church was restored in 1931 and largely stands as a revamped model of the old structure. On a visit to the mission, visitors can see the bell tower with 5 bells, a baptistery arch, original sidewalks, and wooden lintels above the doorways. One of the mission bells has been preserved in its original condition and dates back to 1802. A small onsite museum displays artifacts and information from colonial times. The mission garden is home to California’s first European cemetery and has hibiscus, succulents, olives, and avocado trees.

San Diego Museum of Art

At the San Diego Museum of Art, visitors can see beautiful artwork from Spanish and Italian Old Masters, South Asian paintings, and American paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum collection is nationally renowned and the museum receives hundreds of visitors every day. The museum also hosts many cultural and educational programs for children and adults including Culture and Cocktails, Film in the Garden, and Art After Hours. The museum is a must-visit for art patrons. 

Little Italy

Little Italy is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in San Diego. It is very walkable and has many attractions including a thriving food scene. Visitors can try unique dishes such as stuffed artichokes, fava bean spread, and fish tacos in Little Italy. This part of downtown San Diego has a rich history. It was settled by Italian and Portuguese immigrants and has roots in the tuna fishing industry that once flourished here. The neighborhood has art galleries, furniture, and design stores, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and cafes. The small, beautiful Amici Park is a great place to go for a stroll while in Little Italy.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a coastal state park located in La Jolla. The park consists of over 2,000 acres of the Pacific coastline north of La Jolla, The reserve is located on a plateau and has several high cliffs and coastal bluffs. From the park, visitors are treated to stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. This park is home to the rare and endangered Torrey Pine trees which are found only in certain parts of the California coastline. The park also has a lot of wildlife including bobcats, foxes, rabbits, and more. You can also spot grey and blue whales during the migration season. Must visit attractions at the park include the Pueblo-style Visitor Centre and the beach hiking trails.

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove perhaps has the best beach in San Diego. This beautiful attraction has seaside coves, sunning sea lions, gorgeous sunset views, and soft pale sand. The beach is lined by palm trees and the clear water is a beautiful turquoise. The low surf and shallow gradient make this beach especially popular among families. There are plenty of adventure and ocean activities at La Jolla Cove. Visitors can go sea kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. At night, La Jolla is alive with beach bonfires and parties. There are also several restaurants along the La Jolla shores. Other activities include going on a coastal walk, exploring the tide pools, checking out the murals, and touring the historic district.

Coronado Island

Coronado Island is located in the San Diego Bay a ferry ride away from downtown San Diego. This resort city is a popular city escape for visitors to San Diego. The historic Hotel del Coronado has beautiful wooden Victorian architecture and is worth a look. You can take a stroll on the Old Ferry landing and people watch. You can also relax by the waterfront or build a sandcastle at the beach with the kids. You can eat fresh seafood and authentic California cuisine on the island. Coronado Island also has many specialty shops, art galleries, a Farmer’s Market, and the popular Coronado Museum of History and Art. The island is a perfect day trip from downtown San Diego.

Legoland California

Legoland California theme park located in nearby Carlsbad is a must-visit when in San Diego with kids. The theme park has over 60 rides and attractions that keep children of all ages happy and engaged. The theme park also has a water park for hot and sunny days. The theme park is a perfect place for Lego fans. Kids can see everything shaped and built like Lego bricks. Kids can drive actual lego cars and play in Lego play areas. Plan an entire day for the theme park as there are lots of things to do and the expensive entry ticket deserves a full day’s worth of time.

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego is a must-visit amusement park for those who love wildlife and marine life. Kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by seeing the many animals in their natural habitats. The theme park has many learning opportunities. Kids can know more about the different animal habitats, dietary requirements of animals, scientific classification, and more. Visitors can spot sharks, stingrays, penguins, dolphins, and otters in the oceanarium and marine mammal park. The theme park has many shows including Orca encounters and sea lion shows. SeaWorld San Diego also houses rescued animals and provides them with a safe place to stay. Along with animal exhibits and interactions, SeaWorld also has thrilling rides and roller coasters for kids. 

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Balboa Park has many museums but the San Diego Air & Space Museum is particularly interesting to many visitors. The museum outlines the evolution of human flight and displays many rare artifacts and models. Visitors can see reproductions of the Wright Brothers gliders, North American rocket planes, rocket engines, flight simulators, and Boeing satellites. The museum has a dedicated play area for kids and a 3D/4D movie theatre where visitors can watch shows like the Legend of Apollo. The museum is a must-visit for aviation and space enthusiasts.

This article originally appeared on PCH1 Road Trip and has been republished with permission.

Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Reviewed: All you need to know about the miracle worker!

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Looking for an in-depth baby merlin magic sleepsuit review? Need to know when to stop using merlin’s magic sleepsuit? You have come to the right place. Read our magic merlin sleepsuit reviews to decide if this is the best for your baby. 

Welcome to the world of sleepless nights! If you are looking for Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit Reviews, then I think you are utterly, utterly, sleep-deprived, and looking for anything that will make your baby sleep!

We get it, we have been there with both our kids and now finally they sleep through the night and I’m not a zombie anymore! 

Did the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit play a part in that? Read below to find out!

Dotted Globe contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full Disclosure here. Thank you!

Should you buy Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit? 

If you hate reading long detailed baby merlin magic sleepsuit reviews and are just looking to know whether you should buy it or not then here is the answer, in short. 

The thing I love most about the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit is that it is the perfect transition product between swaddling and sleeping unswaddled. 

I would definitely recommend it for that phase when they keep breaking out of the swaddle but the startle reflex (Moro reflex) is still there. 

The Magic Sleepsuit comes in cotton and microfleece versions  – I bought the cotton one for my son and then the microfleece one for my daughter and I am completely satisfied with the products.

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It did not overheat my kids which is a concern for many parents. Neither did it have any impact on their developmental skills. 

Will it make babies sleep through the night? That depends on a combination of many factors as I mention below. 

My kids did require some combination of sleep training even with the sleepsuit, hence I would not recommend it solely for making babies sleep through the night. 

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit in cotton and here to buy the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit in microfleece.

Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit In-depth Review

Here’s everything you need to know about our experience with the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit. 

In this magic merlin sleepsuit review, I discuss the pros and cons, magic sleepsuit negative reviews, as well as information about the sleepsuit including what age should it be used and when to stop using it.

Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is a swaddle transition product. 

Babies love to be swaddled as it gives them a feeling of security, this is normal for most infants. 

They have a strong startle / Moro reflex from birth till 3 to 4 months. You will notice this as flailing arms especially while sleeping. 

When unswaddled, the Moro reflex can cause babies to wake and their sleep gets disturbed. 

Swaddling gives babies a womb-like feeling and restricts the movement of arms and legs thus calming infants and making them sleep better.

Read over 3000 reviews for the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now.

However, some babies start getting out of swaddle blankets before the reflex is really gone. 

Both my kids did this quite early at around 1 month – or maybe we were really bad at swaddling them! 

Anyway, they kept taking arms out of the swaddle, and hence I started using the Summer Infant Swaddle Me initially. This is a velcro swaddle and works perfectly – it is very difficult to get out of the swaddle.

However, then both our kids started rolling onto their tummies quite early around the 3.5 months mark but could not rollback. 

This is very scary as their noses can get trapped and causes anxiety for many parents.  

I did try getting my kids to sleep without swaddling but they wouldn’t have any of it. 

So I started searching for something that would help them transition out of the swaddle but still be safe to sleep in. The answer: Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit!

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What is the Magic Sleepsuit? How does it work?

As I mentioned above, the Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is a swaddle transition product that replaces swaddling. 

It is like a sleep sack or wearable blanket but it has arms and leg holes. 

It is also lots thicker compared to sleep sacks and gives the feeling of being swaddled to babies. 

It is weighted and doesn’t easily allow babies to roll over.

When we started using the sleepsuit instead of the swaddle, both our kids loved it. 

They could move their arms and legs and did not have to ‘fight’ the swaddle but the sleepsuit was still cozy enough to calm the startle reflex and give a good night’s sleep. 

More ever, they could not roll over in the weighted sleepsuit and slept soundly on their back. According to most magic sleepsuit reviews, several parents have experienced this.

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version.

Can it overheat the baby?

The magic sleepsuit is weighted plus quite thick. One of the common complaints is that it overheats babies. 

We did not experience this with both our kids. 

I was always more cautious with my son since he is always feeling hot and sweats buckets. For him, I dressed him in a thin cotton onesie, kept the temperature cool, and checked frequently for the first few days. 

I always monitored at night over our Infant Optics Video Baby Monitor and ensured that he is sleeping comfortably.

We have read some instances of overheating and I would always recommend monitoring carefully at regular intervals in initial days.

Can the magic sleepsuit be used for naps?

Yes, the magic sleepsuit can also be used for naps. In fact, the product website suggests trying it for naps first. 

We could not do this since we urgently needed to stop our daughter from rolling over at night.

How easy is it to change diapers with the sleepsuit?

The way the sleepsuit is constructed, it has two zipper tabs in the front which go all the way down to the waist. 

After unzipping both, I can remove my baby girl from the sleepsuit in under 15 seconds and quickly change her diaper if needed. 

However, we almost never needed to change diapers at night since I size up for night diapers and add the Sposie Diaper Liner to keep her dry.

How much does the sleepsuit cost?

The Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit in yellow color and small size cost me less than a family meal when I purchased it via Amazon. 

Click here to check the current price of the magic sleepsuit.

What sizes does the sleepsuit come in? At what age should you buy one?

The sleepsuit comes in two sizes: 3-6 months and 6-9 months. 

The 3-6 months is for babies between 12 to 18 pounds while the 9-12 months size is for babies between 18 to 21 pounds. 

I recommend buying the 3-6 months size when your baby first starts getting out of swaddles. 

I bought the 6-9 months size for my daughter instead of the smaller size because she was already 4 months old, however, the smaller size would have fitted more snugly and been more comfortable. 

Ideally, the sleepsuit has to be quite snug to perform its function well. If I had to buy it again, I would buy a smaller size.

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version.

Where to buy merlin sleepsuit? Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version.

What colors does the magic sleepsuit come in?

The sleepsuit comes in really nice pastel colors. 

The cotton sleepsuit comes in 4 colors: a light baby blue, cream, baby pink, and yellow.

The microfleece version comes in 3 colors: light blue, baby pink, and a nice gender-neutral yellow. 

The cotton cream version is the only color I’m not a fan of, the rest all are great choices. Check out the colors in cotton now.

Should you buy the Merlin’s Magic sleepsuit in microfleece or cotton?

As per the product website, the microfleece and cotton sleepsuits are structurally the same. 

They have the same inner lining and fill. They are equally thick and about equally weighted. 

They provide an equal amount of warmth to the baby and equally dissipate heat. 

Only the outer fabric is microfleece for one and cotton for the other, which according to the product website, seems to be just a cosmetic difference.

That said, some use the cotton magic merlin sleepsuit in summer and microfleece in winter.

Do you need to buy more than one sleepsuit?

I recommend buying just one sleepsuit, to begin with. 

It is not worth buying more than one before you know if it works for you.

We could easily manage with just one. It did get dirty with all the frequent night feedings and occasional diaper accidents but I washed it immediately and it was ready for the night.

How to wash the baby magic sleepsuit?

Both the microfleece and cotton versions of the sleepsuit can be washed in a machine. 

I machine washed my cotton one in cold water/delicates cycle and then as per the instructions laid out to air dry. 

As per the product website, the cotton one should be air dried while the microfleece can be sun-dried. 

However, the sleepsuit does take a lot of time to dry. 

I have occasionally put it in the dryer on a gentle cycle and it dried quite well. There was no damage to the shape or the fill, nor any other adverse effects.

Get the magic merlin sleep sack. Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version.

Will it make a baby sleep through the night?

Ah, the million-dollar question. 

When I bought the baby magic sleepsuit, I was in awe of reviews which mentioned ‘love this sleepsuit. My son / daughter slept for 8 hrs straight and woke up in the morning.’ 

Of course, I hoped for the same miracle. But no such luck! 

Both my kids were up at their regular schedule and demanded to be fed. I believe that they were just hungry and needed it!

So if you are looking for something that makes a baby sleep – the sleepsuit can be a hit or a miss! 

If the startle reflex is the only thing waking up your baby then the sleepsuit might be the miracle you are looking for. 

However if your baby wakes up because it is hungry or because of negative sleep associations, then the sleepsuit won’t make it sleep longer. 

For healthy sleep habits, I recommend the book On becoming Babywise. 

It’s the gold star for getting kids to sleep well and parents have had success getting 2-month-old babies to sleep through the night. 

I followed the book advice at about 3 months and had both our kids sleeping through the night at 5.5 months of age – just about the time they transitioned out of the sleepsuit.

Overall, I think the word Magic is used in the product name to play on the hopes of sleep-deprived parents and actual personal experiences can vary quite a bit.

Is the magic sleepsuit useful for forming healthy sleep habits?

While the sleepsuit wasn’t enough for making my daughter sleep through the night, it did play a role in making her sleep on her own. 

I had formed the habit of laying her down drowsy but awake and she used to fall asleep on her own but only if swaddled. She needed her movement restricted so she could fall asleep. 

When we transitioned to the sleepsuit, she had lots more freedom but she started associating the sleepsuit with ‘its sleep time’ and started falling asleep as soon as she was in the suit.

The main difference between swaddles and the magic sleepsuit is that baby’s hands are free for it to self soothe and learn to sleep on their own. 

Babies who use pacifiers or binkies or loveys are free to touch, play, or reach them unlike when swaddled. 

They can move their heads comfortably as well as legs. This allows the babies to fall asleep as they naturally would while at the same time providing a secure environment.

Is the Merlin’s Magic Baby Sleepsuit good for traveling with a baby?

Well as a traveling family who keeps moving all over the country, you knew I had to discuss this!

As it happens, the Magic sleepsuit is an essential part of our travel gear. 

The sleepsuit does take up space, what I ended up doing was rolling it and packing it in a large packing cube – we have the Travelwise packing cubes. 

That saved up a lot of space and the sleepsuit fluffed back up immediately when I unpacked it.

The baby sleepsuit was quite useful when we traveled. We visited New Orleans and San Antonio during that time frame and I packed the sleepsuit for both trips. 

The hotel room and hotel crib was new to our daughter but bundled up in the cozy sleepsuit, she fell asleep on her own even in the new environment. 

Is the sleepsuit good for sleep training?

The magic sleepsuit is really a helpful product for sleep training your baby. 

Though, again, if you are looking to sleep train and form healthy sleeping habits, I would recommend the Babywise book far more than the sleepsuit.

Here’s why I love the Babywise book: It taught me to create a dependable sleep routine for both my kids. 

Ours is: wear a night diaper and pajamas, then the last feeding of the day in our nursery rocking chair, then pack our daughter in her SwaddleMe / Merlin sleepsuit while still awake, place her in the crib, read Goodnight Moon baby book, sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, kiss her good night, and then turn off the light. 

That’s it – she sleeps on her own after that without any crying. 

The routine is small enough to be completed in 5-6 minutes and simple enough that I can do it anywhere – I just need to pack her sleepsuit and the Goodnight Moon book if we are traveling. 

The Babywise book taught me to layer sleeping cues by creating a routine so that by the last cue, she knows it is time for her to sleep and starts yawning. And let me tell you, it works!

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version. Click here to buy my recommended baby sleep book On Becoming Babywise to get your baby to sleep through the night faster.

Can the Merlin’s Sleepsuit be used to sleep on tummy?

The answer is a big, big no. The sleepsuit is designed only for sleeping on the back. 

The sleepsuit restricts babies’ movement and so you should never, ever place a baby on its tummy in the sleepsuit. 

If a baby who previously slept well in the sleepsuit, suddenly starts rolling over then it is time to say goodbye to the sleepsuit. 

Transitioning out of Merlin’s sleepsuit

When to stop using merlin’s magic sleepsuit? Well, using merlin sleepsuit and rolling over is the key!

We used the sleepsuit for a solid 45 days before our daughter started to roll over in it. 

The first few days she could roll over only on her left side, so instead of keeping her in the crib center, I kept her near the edge so that there was no place to roll over to her left. 

That worked for about two days, and then she started rolling onto her left side too. 

So off came the sleepsuit! 

But her startle reflex was completely gone and she took to sleeping without the sleepsuit like a duck to water. 

At 5 months of age, she sleeps unswaddled, rolls onto her tummy which has become her favorite sleeping position, and goes to sleep. 

She can roll back as well and so it is completely safe. We did not have any issues with the transition.

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version. Click here to buy my recommended baby sleep book On Becoming Babywise to get your baby to sleep through the night faster.

Are there any cheaper alternatives to Merlin’s Sleepsuit?

As I mentioned before, Merlin’s sleepsuit costs equivalent to a full family’s meal. That is quite a significant amount. 

There are other similar products which cost quite less however they do not have similar awesome reviews as the magic merlin sleepsuit reviews. 

While most of these products are also advertised as miracle sleepsuits that help babies sleep better, most of them are just some forms of wearable blankets for bigger kids including toddlers. 

The Swaddle UP performs the same function as the sleepsuit but it does not have the separate legs feature which can be a deal-breaker.

There are only 3 notable exceptions. 

One is this sleepsuit by CribCulture but it cost about the same as Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit. Besides, it did not have as many fantastic reviews as the magic sleepsuit. 

The second is the JK Unicorn sleepsuit while the third was the Royal Baby Sleepsuit. Both are quite cheap but lack reliable reviews – if you buy them, it is at your own risk. 

That’s why I recommend purchasing the tried and tested Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit, it is definitely worth its price.

While we were able to use the sleepsuit only for 45 days, it was worth every penny spent. 

I had complete peace of mind in that critical phase when she could roll onto her tummy but then ‘got stuck’. 

Also, how much mileage you can get with the sleepsuit varies from baby to baby. 

Some babies roll over when they are 8 months old and can use the sleepsuit for much longer. 

Not to mention, the Merlin’s Baby Magic Sleepsuit is one of the most wanted baby products and you can easily sell it for a good price on Craigslist or over FB Marketplace.

Overall the sleepsuit is a quality product. When brand new, it smells clean and fresh – no weird chemical smells. 

The zippers are of excellent quality and never get stuck. There are covers over the zipper so that they don’t scratch the baby. 

I would definitely recommend it enough to put in on your Baby Registry.

Click here to buy the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit now in Microfleece. Click here to buy the cotton version.

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