In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper Review

Lightweight organic cotton sleep sack that has a large age range, but may need to be sized down and may not be good for colder climates
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burt's bees baby beekeeper swaddle and sleep sack review
Credit: Burt's Bees
Price:  $25 List
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Manufacturer:   Burt's Bees Baby
By Abriah Wofford ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 18, 2021
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 11
  • Baby Comfort - 40% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 40% 8.0
  • Durability - 20% 7.0

The Skinny

Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper is a lightweight sleep sack made from GOTS certified organic cotton. With the three available sizes, these sleep sacks can clothe your baby or toddler from birth up to 18 months. We appreciate that Burt's Bees makes a simple and affordable product with features such as organic cotton, soft fabric, and reverse zippers that make it much more user-friendly. If you are looking for a basic sleep sack that will fit into a tight budget but doesn't sacrifice quality, the Baby Beekeeper is a good choice.
REASONS TO BUY
Soft fabric
Organic cotton
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Very lightweight
Runs large

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Awards Best Value Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award   
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Soft fabric, organic cotton, easy to useEasy to use, Velcro free, quality materialSecure wrap, soft material, hip friendlyEasy to use, reverse zipper, can swaddle arms in or outUser-friendly, soft fabric, 2-way zipper
Cons Very lightweight, runs largeLots of wrapping, layers might get warmLoud Velcro closure, more steps to swaddleLoud velcro, lower qualityStretchy fabric doesn't swaddle as tightly, less durable
Bottom Line Lightweight organic cotton sleep sack that has a large age range, but may need to be sized down and may not be good for colder climatesAn escape-proof swaddle that is a bit more time-consuming with lots of wrapping, but is free of snaps, zippers, and VelcroBudget-friendly swaddle with a hip-healthy design, but not as simple to use and the Velcro is loudA simple hybrid swaddle perfect for beginners, but the quality is not excellent and the Velcro closure could wake a babyUniquely shaped swaddle is good for arms up sleepers, but does not offer alternate positioning
Rating Categories Burt's Bees Baby Be... Miracle Blanket Ergobaby Swaddler HALO SleepSack Swaddle Love to Dream Swadd...
Baby Comfort (40%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (40%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
Durability (20%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
4.0
3.0
Specs Burt's Bees Baby Be... Miracle Blanket Ergobaby Swaddler HALO SleepSack Swaddle Love to Dream Swadd...
Style Sleep Sack Swaddle Wrap Velcro Swaddle Zippered Transition Swaddle with Velcro Zippered Swaddle
Material GOTS Certified Organic Cotton Cotton Cotton Cotton Cotton and Elastane
Zipper Direction Reverse NA NA Reverse Two-way
TOG rating 0.5 Not Listed 0.5 1.5 1.0
Age Range 0-18 Months 0-14 Weeks 0-3 Months 0-6 Months 5-18.5 Lbs.
Available Sizes Small, Medium, Large One Size One Size Preemie, Newborn, Small Newborn, Small, Medium
Washing Instructions Machine wash cold and tumble dry on low Machine wash cold, tumble dry low Machine wash, tumble dry low Machine wash with like colors. Close fastener strips before washing Cold wash cycle, use garment bag. Do not tumble dry or line dry in direct sunlight.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Burt's Bees is a company that mainly produces personal care items. It was started in the 1980s by duo Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby who each left their busy careers in search of a slower pace of life. Settling down in rural Maine, and finding his niche as a local beekeeper, Burt started saving excess beeswax and Roxanne developed recipes to make products such as candles and lip balm. Today, Burt's Bees prides itself on having a socially and environmentally conscious ethos and has expanded its line of products to include makeup, hair care, and baby clothes.

Performance Comparison


burt's bees baby beekeeper swaddle and sleep sack review - although we purchased the correct size, the burt's bees baby...
Although we purchased the correct size, the Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper felt a bit large on our 12-month-old tester.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Likes


The Beekeeper is a great product for babies and toddlers who have outgrown the swaddling stage. It keeps loose blankets out of the crib but is roomy enough around the legs to keep a blanket-like feel. We love that it is made from GOTS certified organic cotton and has a super soft hand feel that is gentle on the skin. Although it is lightweight, the material feels durable and the stitching is clean, leading us to believe that this sleep sack will wear well over time.

burt's bees baby beekeeper swaddle and sleep sack review - this lightweight sleepsack is good for babies who tend to overheat...
This lightweight sleepsack is good for babies who tend to overheat or families that live in warm climates.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This wearable blanket earned one of the top scores for ease of use thanks to its perfect combination of simplicity and useful features. A reverse zipper that runs from top to bottom adds an element of convenience to diaper changes and also keeps the zipper out of the baby's face during the night. A large pull tab makes it easy for parents to run the zipper up and down, and there is a small pocket that keeps the zipper tucked away from little fingers. The Beekeeper comes in a variety of cute prints and is affordable enough that you can buy a few to rotate through the week without missing out to wash day. Many users note that this sleep sack has a lot of extra fabric near the feet, making it particularly good for tall kids.

Dislikes


For babies that tend to run warm, the Beekeeper is good for offering a cozy blanket-like feeling without adding too much extra insulation. However, for most babies, we feel that it is too lightweight to be used on its own. This is especially true if you live in an area with a cooler climate. The version we tested has a TOG rating of 0.5 and feels similar to heavy t-shirt material. On its own, this TOG rating is recommended for rooms between 75°F-77°F. If the nursery is any cooler you should plan to layer accordingly to keep your toddler warm. Burt's Bees has a heavier-weight version of their sleep sack that has a 1.5 TOG rating that may be a worthwhile addition to your winter rotation.

burt's bees baby beekeeper swaddle and sleep sack review - the weight, height, and age range are listed next to the size of...
The weight, height, and age range are listed next to the size of each sleep sack.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The other common complaint about this sleep sack is that it runs very large. We had help from a 12-month-old tester and although he fell within the age and weight range for a size large, the sleep sack was too big for him. He could easily pull his arm in through the armhole and then pop it back out through the neck hole so he was wearing the sleep sack toga style. Needless to say, if this is the case with your child, we recommend sizing down to achieve a proper fit, for the sake of comfort and sleep safety. Luckily, Burt's Bees offers their wearable blanket in three different sizes, you can choose the best fit for your child.

burt's bees baby beekeeper swaddle and sleep sack review - the burt's bees baby beekeeper can become an essential part of a...
The Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper can become an essential part of a bedtime routine with your little one.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Conclusion


We have used and loved many products from the Burt's Bees Baby line, and the Beekeeper wearable blanket is no exception. The soft fabric, helpful ease of use features, and quality construction make this a sleep sack we highly recommend, even if you're not worried about the price. The fact that all of this is offered at a lower than average price is why the Beekeeper earned a Best Value award. Once you find the proper size, we think the Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper will become a staple in your nightly routine that you and your baby will love.

Manufacturer Video



Abriah Wofford
 

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