The DockATot Grand Review: Is it a Sleep Miracle Worker?

Written by Nia Chauvin

When you journey into motherhood, from the moment you get pregnant you’re plunged into the world of pillows. From the Snoogles that you need to get any sleep while pregnant to the nursing pillows once your baby is born, pillows of every form are seemingly a necessity in your day-to-day life as a mother. So why not continue this trend into toddlerhood? I’m sure you’ve heard of the DockATot Deluxe, the hot new baby item all new parents are putting on their registry. But there’s another DockATot product out there, one that you can use once your little one grows out of The Deluxe: The Dockatot Grand.

What is a DockATot Grand?

The DockATot Grand is for babies and toddlers ages 9 months to 36 months. It’s the same familiar shape as the Deluxe, but larger. It was created and crafted with safety and comfort in mind. The fabric they use is breathable and, (a big one for me), eco-friendly. I try to keep a “green home” especially when it comes to sheets and mattresses, so that’s an important box that DockATot checks off for me. And, super bonus: it’s easily washable, because”¦kids, am I right?

How I use the DockATot Grand: Co-Sleeping with a toddler

People talk about the dangers of co-sleeping with an infant, but we often don’t hear about the dangers of co-sleeping with a toddler. A two-year-old heel in your eye socket at 3 in the morning, a headbutt in the middle of your REM cycle, and even a swift jab of a tiny knee, leaving you on the floor for the rest of the night. Parents: take caution.

If only there was a pillow that constrained an active co-sleeping toddler. Boom. DockATot Grand. I had seen the Deluxe for newborns and infants, but I had no idea that there was a DockATot for toddlers up to 36 months. It was discovered at a time of sleep deprivation because my two year old apparently practices his WWE stunts in his dreams. All that to say the discovery of the DockATot Grand came at the right time.

Keep in mind that it’s a pillow, not a miracle maker. But with that said, sleeping (a crucial part of being a human and what I have been deprived of for 2 years) has been so much better since using the DockATot. So, I call it a borderline miracle worker. Sleep has improved for everyone and that is priceless.

Other Uses for the DockATot Grand

If you’re like me, you want to get the most out of your money.

We got the DockATot when our son was 2 years old, but I can see utilizing it from the time he was even 6 months old. I remember when my son was this age and learning how to sit up on his own (and then dive bombing head-first into the floor). I would put pillows around his body to cushion the fall, but the DockATot would have come in very handy during this time.

Additionally, mimicking the mother’s womb doesn’t necessarily end when your child grows out of newborn-dom. Your little one still wants to feel secure and snug when they sleep. The DockATot provides cushioning around a toddler’s body to give a cozy hug to your baby when they’re sleeping, known to reduce wake-ups throughout the night. Though it’s not recommended to go inside your child’s crib, it’s a great way to transition your child into a big-kid bed by giving it a more cozy feel.

Is the DockATot Grand portable and good for travel?

This is my wheelhouse, and I must preface this by saying that I am an absolute minimalist when it comes to traveling. I take only the necessities and saying that I pack light is an understatement.

With that said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend flying with the DockATot Grand. Though it comes with a travel bag with handles, it is just very big. It would cost a lot to bring on a plane. If the destination is driving distance, it would really depend on if you have the room in your car. Parent’s with a little more space to spare in their car would happily toss this in to give their child familiarity sleeping away from home. It beats an uncomfortable hotel crib for sure.

So what I’m trying to say is that before you purchase the DockATot with the intent of it being a travel item, grasp it’s size (48in x 24in) and make a decision from there.

Around the House

Though it’s not a super travel friendly item, it is portable around your house. Kids often take there DockATot out to the family room while they watch a movie, or lie in it to read books, along with it’s primary use in the bed. It’s lightweight for your little one to drag from room to room (and thankfully machine washable for when that happens), so it’s portability for the home is great.

Final conclusion about the DockATot

When it comes to sleep and promises of improving it for me and my toddler, my first reaction is, “take all my money!!!” It has helped with our sleep, but the price tag (at around $300) is pretty steep. It’s certainly not in everyone’s budget, but if it is, this will help with sleep and comfort for your little one. If you get it early on in your child’s toddlerhood, you can really get good use out of it to ensure you get your money’s worth. All in all, I’m very happy with it and my son loves his “special bed”.

Check Current Prices on DockaTot Here!

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