Tag Archives: swaddling

SwaddleMe is the Best Swaddle Blanket for first time parents

Posted by on April 9, 2013 Comments Off

Congratulations on your first baby! I’m sure you are excited and maybe a little overwhelm sometimes when you think about the challenges of raising a little one. Well, as parent the best advice I can give is to educate yourself to become the best parent that you can be.  That is why you are searching and learning about the best swaddle blanket that is out there for your baby.

Swaddle ME swaddle blanket First, all newborns are swaddle in receiving blankets at the hospital. Upon delivery, a nurse will wrap your wonderful bundle of joy in a blanket to keep them warm from the coldness of the outside warm. Just think, the baby has been tightly squeezed inside the mother wombs for sometime. The act of wrapping the baby recreates the womb experience while keeping him warm. A receiving blanket is typically smaller than a swaddle blanket because newborns are typically smaller, but they serve the same purpose of wrapping your baby.

My son was born 5 weeks ahead of schedule and I didn’t get a chance to go through the usual baby classes, so I was not prepared for a lot of things and swaddling was one of them. The nurses were nice and taught us how to swaddle our son. We eventually got the hand of it.

But, when we went home and tried swaddling past the first week, it became clear to us that swaddling will be challenge with our son. After swaddling our son, he would move around and eventually the swaddle will loosen. His arms will stick out and he gets uncomfortable. We were always afraid of over tightening our swaddle because it might to restrictive and be uncomfortable again.

Well, through all the try and error, we went with the Summer Infant SwaddleMe because we found the Swaddle Me to be easy to use. It was easy to put the baby in the SwaddleMe and quickly swaddle him before he is able to escape. We found that we could use the Velcro flaps or wings as markers to tell us how tight we wrap him. It provided some consistency. Lastly, it was easy enough that my husband could help out with the swaddling.

First time parents should look at the SwaddleMe as their swaddling solution because it truly is Simple as 1-2-3 to use.

Graco Receiving blanket review

Posted by on January 31, 2013 Comments Off

Graco Receiving BlanketGraco is well known for making popular car seats, strollers and combination of the two called travel systems. They make quality products for babies, so when I found out that they are selling receiving blankets I wanted to check them out.

The first observation is that these receiving blankets are soft to the touch and are made of 100% cotton flannel. This 4-pack set has various color designs ranging from giraffes to circle patterns. These receiving blankets are 30”x40” in size and great for newborns, but if you were thinking about swaddling your baby with these blankets when after the first month, then you might want to looking into other swaddle blankets by Aden and Anais or Swaddle Designs. They make blankets that are as large as 47”x 47”.

These Graco receiving blankets can be easily machined wash and dry without any problems. The colors do slightly fade with washings, but it adds a broken in look to them. The flannel does loose some of its softness, but they are still great for wrapping your baby. Muslin fabric swaddle blankets tend to stay softer even after multiple washing.  But, what makes these blankets great is the pricing. It’s relatively affordable for a pack of 4 that you can easily rotate when they get dirty.

With any receiving blanket, your baby will eventually out grow them or you want to train them to sleep un-swaddle. But, these Graco receiving blankets are versatile and can be used for other useful things like a towel, wipe, blanket, shade covering or for whatever comes to your mind.

How swaddling can help with a colic baby?

Posted by on January 15, 2013 Comments Off

Colic babyA colic baby is generally described as a frequently crying baby and they cry for long durations. The cause of the crying can stem from wet diapers, being hungry, not being comfortable or improper temperature, but are usually beyond these common issues for all babies.  Many pediatricians have started stressing the 5S to help comfort babies and their colic tendencies. The 5S are Swaddling, Side (or Stomach) position, Shhhhhh, Swinging, and Sucking. Swaddling is the first step in soothing a baby because it will try to remind a newly born baby of their time in the mother womb. A swaddle baby will be tightly wrapped (but are still comfortable) in a swaddle blanket to keep them warm and cozy. The compression of their body into a restricted space will conjure up good memories. This will hopefully relax and calm an anxious baby who is not use to the cold world that they arrived in.

The 2nd S is for Side or Stomach holding of the baby. Some babies find this position more comfortable for resting then sleeping on their back. Try various positions to hold your baby until they get comfortable and can fall asleep in your arm. My son loves it when I hold him up and he rest his head on my shoulders, but this will vary depending on the baby.

3rd S is for Shhhhh as in the noise you make when you want to quite down. I made a recording of me Shhhhh so my throat doesn’t hurt so much from Shhhhh to long and my son doesn’t know the wiser.  I think the background noise is another tool that calms him down and the regular rhythm of the Shhhhh adds familiarity to his nap and sleep routine. My son also likes classical music as it is another great tool to signal to your baby that they need to rest, calm, and be prepared to sleep.

The 4th S is for Swinging or rocking a baby in the certain rhythmic motion. These motions along with sounds like Shhhh adds to the familiarity of sleep time and is great for signaling to the baby what time it is. The motion also reminds them of their time in the womb because mom would be walking back and forth and baby would move around in the amniotic fluid like a water-slide.

The 5th S is for Sucking on items like a pacifier or other items. The sucking motion reminds the breastfeed baby of their connection with their mom. It provides security for them knowing they are not too far away from their mom.

By combining the 5S most parents will have some success in reducing the colic of their baby and swaddling is the 1st step that parents need to take! With a less colic baby, parents can have some sweet dreams of their own at night.

Who makes the easiest swaddle blankets to swaddle a baby?

Posted by on January 8, 2013 Comments Off
Easiest Swaddle Blanket to use for your babyI understand parents who are swaddling challenge with traditional square swaddle blankets. My husband tried with our first son numerous times, but we realized swaddling was not his forte and started looking for alternative methods that we can safely and easily swaddle our son. The good news is there are a lot different swaddle blanket designs that make swaddling easy!
The top three easy swaddle blankets that are easy to use are the Woombie, SwaddleMe, and Halo sleepsack. I listed the three different types swaddle blankets in order that is best for your baby base on their size and age.
The Woombie is a cocoon style swaddle sack for your newborn that makes swaddling as simple as pulling up a zipper. The Woombie with its stretchy fabric will wrap around your newborn like a sleeping bag. It will keep them warm and comfortable like a traditional swaddle but without all the worry of the swaddle coming loose. You can read more about the Woombie from an earlier review. The cocoon style swaddle is great for all preemies and little babies, but bigger babies might find the sleeping back too tight, especially around the neck opening. My son has a small neck and it got a little uncomfortable for him as he got bigger, so we transitioned to another swaddle. A drawback of the zipper is then whenever we tried to unzip, it would always wake up my son.
Swaddle ME swaddle blanketAfter 2 weeks, my son was swaddle in a SwaddleMe blanket. The SwaddleMe design looks like a pouch with two wing flaps to wrap around your baby. This design is easier for bigger babies compare to the Woombie because you have more room to place the baby in swaddle sack. Also if your baby is a little active with their legs, it is easier to get them inside without much of a struggle. You can read more about the SwaddleMe from an earlier review. Overall, the SwaddleMe allows for comfortable and easy swaddling of bigger babies with their unique wing flaps that wraps around the babies arm and chest. These wings are held securely together with Velcro straps that maintains a tight swaddle. However, the Velcro sound when you release the baby from the swaddle could easy wake up a sleepy baby.
Variety in Halo SleepsacksAfter 2 months, we switched our son to an even bigger swaddle sack by Halo. This swaddle sack is a combination of the Woombie and SwaddleMe. The Halo sleepsack has a sack that you zip up to secure your baby in and then it has Velcro wings to secure a nice swaddle. It’s easy to use and necessary at this point to use because my son is so active and strong now that he can easily extract himself from the other swaddles. You can read more about the Halo Sleepsack from an earlier review. Overall, the Halo sleepsack is a great transition swaddle blanket for babies who are almost big enough to go swaddle free. The Halo sleepsack can transition into a wearable sleeping blanket that will give babies the freedom to use their arms while keeping them warm.
Try the easy to use Woombie, SwaddleMe, and Halo swaddle blankets for your newborn and you will enjoy the benefits of a longer nights sleep for your baby and yourself.

Best Swaddle Blanket for your 2013 baby

Posted by on January 3, 2013 Comments Off

Aden and Anais 2013Moms who are expecting a little one in 2013 should try Aden + Anais muslin swaddle blankets and bring a pair with you to the hospital! These swaddle blankets are the best you can find because of their safety benefits, the comfort & quality of material, and the versatility. I got a 4-pack as baby shower gift and I love using them.

When my son was born, I realized swaddling a newborn can make them safer when they are sleeping in their cribs alone. A swaddle baby will help babies sleep on their backs and reduce the likely hood of SIDS. A swaddle baby will reduce the effect of moro reflexes which startles a sleeping baby and keeps them from having long sleep times. A swaddle baby will be more comforted because the swaddle is a blanket that will keep a baby warm like the time he was in your womb. But over zealousness in swaddling with thick and multiple blankets can be detrimental for babies as they can overheat. Signs of overheating can be found in wet blankets from sweat and babies’ temperature rising above the normal 97 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit range. Aden + Anais’ swaddle blankets are finely weaved muslin cotton, making them very breathable. The breatheability of muslin cloth will keep infants warm enough without the fear of incubating them. This makes muslin swaddle blankets great for hot and dry climates and reduces the risk of overheating. If babies are not warm enough, multiple muslin swaddle blankets can be used to further insulate the baby. Being able to use multiple swaddle blankets makes it more versatile for environments with big temperature swings between night and day.

The versatility of Aden + Anais’ swaddle blankets can be found in how lightweight and compactable they are. You can easily fold a full size blanket (47” x 47”) into any small pocket and take it with you wherever you go. This flexibility is an added bonus, especially if you are a parent on the go. Traveling with a baby could be tiring enough, but having to carry extra weight will tire you even more.  Travel light and you can use them as a nursing cover, burping cloth, wipes, and for shade. The versatility is only limited by your imagination.

Aden and Anais 2013 swaddle blanket reviewThe material quality is great, as the cloth is as soft a swaddle blanket you can find anywhere. The softness will help comfort your baby and will not irritate your baby’s soft skin. The swaddle blanket has great elasticity for better and easier swaddling of the baby. The fabrics are very durable and after multiple washing you will notice the swaddle blankets will get softer. You will be using these blankets for a long time without any worries of needing to replace them. The price you will be worth the investment because of its durability and versatility.

Aden + Aneis 100% muslin swaddle blankets are great quality swaddle blankets fit for all babies. The swaddle blanket will help parents comfort their newborn and the reward will be extra hours of sleep for both.

American Baby Company Receiving Blanket Review

Posted by on November 13, 2012 Comments Off

American baby organic Receiving BlanketSwaddling a baby has been practiced for generations and is enjoying a strong revival because parents are realizing the numerous benefits swaddling baby can provide. A swaddle baby will be kept warm and comfortable during the cold winter. The cozy feeling will remind a newborn of their time in the mother’s womb, which will calm and soothe babies who show signs of colic. Additionally, swaddling a newborn will help them sleep on their back, which is recommended sleep position of American Pediatric Association. With all these benefits, parents just need to find the right swaddle blanket.

The American Baby Company is a wonderful organic receiving blanket that can meet the swaddling needs of all parents. The fabric for the blanket is extremely soft and stretchy. The softness you can feel upon the touch. The stretchiness makes it great for swaddling because you need a little pull to create a nice wrap around your baby for them to be securely tucked in. For those who like teddy bears, then you will find a treat with this receiving blanket. On one corner of the blanket you can find a cute teddy bear. The bear embroidery does get rough after some washes, but the cotton fabric overall is durable and soft after multiple washes.

The color of the blanket is mocha and this neutral color makes it great for mixing and matching with other items you might have to dress your baby in. The color does not fade with multiple washing and can be machine washed and tumbled dry in most dryers. This make cleaning the blanket convenient for busy parents.

This is a 100% organic cotton fabric. So, parents do not need to worry about the potential of harsh chemicals being used to prepare the blanket. No chemical, pesticides were used in making of the materials that went into this wonderful swaddle blanket.

On disadvantage that I noticed about this product is the size. It’s a good 30×40”, but 30×40” is relatively on the small side when compared to other swaddle blankets that are on the market. If you have a bigger baby, then this receiving blanket might be too small and your baby would easily out grow the blanket in a month. There are some swaddle blankets that go as big as 47”x47” that are also made with high quality cotton.

The major plus about this blanket is it’s relatively affordable for an organic swaddle blanket. Priced at $9.99 on Amazon, it’s the most budget friendly blanket you can find. After reading more into the company, we found out why. The blanket is actually manufactured outside of America and that is why we think it’s affordable. Even though it is made overseas, the swaddle blanket is still a top quality product that is great for swaddling your baby.

Overall, the American Baby Company receiving blanket is a great buy for parents who are looking for an affordable organic swaddle blanket for their little one.

What does your little one wear under the SwaddleMe?

Posted by on July 8, 2012 Comments Off

This question is often brought up because parents are worried they may be overheating or not providing enough warm to their newborn in the SwaddleMe blanket. But, with the proper care and attention parents can rest assure their newborn is fine.

Typically, babies can be dressed in a onesie, pants, and socks before they are swaddle in the SwaddleMe blanket. But, if you noticed your baby’s onesie is wet from sweat then you need to regulate the room temperature because the baby is probably too warm. You can try swaddling without the socks and pants as these extra insulations are not needed. If your baby’s onesie is still wet from sweat, then you might want to try a different version of the Summer Infant SwaddleMe blanket. There is fleece and a thinner cotton SwaddleMe blankets. The fleece is great for providing the extra keeping babies warm during the winter and when room temperature might drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. For those hot summer days, use the thinner cotton SwaddleMe blanket. If the onesie is still wet from sweat, then dress the baby only in a diaper before swaddling him in the SwaddleMe.

If changing the outfits they wear underneath do not help, then adjust the room temperature to a slightly cooler value then before.

Here are some other tricks to help you monitor your baby’s temperature:

1. Touch the back of their neck as this is a good spot to gauge warmth or coldness.

2. Touch the baby’s hands for coldness

Keep up the swaddling because it has a lot benefits!

How to swaddle your baby?

Posted by on June 10, 2012 Comments Off

To swaddle a baby is to wrap the baby in a blanket that will restrict the movement.  The key is restricting the movement of the baby.  By limiting the baby’s movement, the baby will be less startle when it sleeps and have uncontrolled reflex movement. A startle baby will naturally wake up in response to the non-comfortable situation. The restricted movement will help keep babies sleeping in the supine (baby’s back on bed, facing up) position. This has shown to reduce the occurrence of SIDS.  Lastly, the restraint in movement brings comfort to babies as it reminds them of their time in the mom’s womb where movement was restrictive.

To begin swaddling you will need the proper equipment. Please see the Top 5 swaddling blanket list for the best swaddle blanket that fits your baby and you. Once equipped, you will need to lay the blanket down a flat surface unobstructed by other items the baby can grab and potential fall on top of your baby.

Lay down the swaddling blanket in a diamond shape.  Fold the top tip of the swaddle blanket down.  Then length of the fold should result in a fold crease that is longer than your baby’s shoulders.  You do not want the edges to rough up your baby. Additionally, the edge makes it easier for babies to loosen themselves out of the swaddle. Place your baby on top of the swaddle blanket with the shoulders slightly below the folded crease. Hold the right arm steady, but keep the arm bent in its natural and comfortable position.  You can hold the arm to the side or on top of the chest.  Try each position one at a time and see which position your baby prefers.  With one hand holding the left arm, bring the left portion of the swaddle blanket over the arm and body of the baby.

From Swaddle Love by R. Moya

Next, hold the two feet down, but keep them in a natural bent position. In this way, the baby’s kicking won’t hinder your from swaddling the him or her. Pull the bottom portion of the swaddle blanket up and over the shoulder. To get snug fit, tuck the swaddle blanket over the back shoulder and in-between the bottom portion of swaddle blanket.

Swaddle Step 3

From Swaddle Love by R. Moya

Then, with one hand hold the left arm in a natural, comfortable position. With the other hand, pull the left portion of the swaddle blanket over the arm and body of the baby.  Pull the left portion over until you get the right tightness to for your baby.

Swaddle Step 4

From Swaddle Love by R. Moya

Viola, after these steps your baby should be completely swaddle and ready for longer naps, less crying, and feeling more comfortable.

Buy now from Amazon

How mothers keep their baby warm

Posted by on June 6, 2012 Comments Off

More parents are worried that their babies are too cold and than too hot. If babies are too cold they might be in danger of hypothermia. But if they are too hot, what is the impact of the thermal stress? Sudden Infant death Syndromes (SIDS) has been linked to as a potential hazard because of too much covering can escalate a fever, or babies may slip beneath the cover and loose their way to release excess heat.

A study review by CJ Bacon and colleagues from the Department of Child Health Medical School in the University of Newcastle tracked 649 babies from the age of 8 to 26 weeks to answer the question, “How mothers keep their baby warm? The research group detailed room temperature, clothing, and bedding used by night and night. They also tracked the outside temperature during the winter and summer times to see potential trends.

The sample size did not find any correlation between excess swaddling to SIDS, but the rate of SIDS occurrence is below the sample size of this study. But, they found mothers tend to insult their baby more during the winter and when the room temperature is low. Additionally, mother’s also used thicker swaddling blankets and duvets during these colder temperature ranges.

When newborns are heavily insulted, at least 50% three of some or all of their bedding covers at night and at least a quarter was reported to have sweated during the same time.

Temperature and insulation graph

Overall, the study did found babies who were expose to warmer temperature with more clothing, swaddling, or bedding cover exhibited more thermal stress as indicated by their sweat found on their garments. But, these high temperatures may be tolerable under normal circumstances, but other factors like insufficient cooling if head is covered is a potential danger.

Why parents need to properly swaddle their newborn

Posted by on May 6, 2012 Comments Off

Parents are probably all familiar with the benefits of swaddling like lowering occurrence of SIDS, better warm, improve sleep, calming and soothing for babies.  But parents, may not know that if they are improperly swaddling their newborn there could some potential harms.

There is a condition called Hip Dysplasia that is becoming a more common with newborn babies according to pediatricians. Hip Dysplasia is the misalignment of the femur head to the hip socket. The rise in Hip Dysplasia coincides with the growing popularity of parents swaddling their newborn. Hip Dysplasia is the result of parents who are swaddling their newborn too tight around the hip and are restricting the natural frog motion of the newborn’s leg. Thus, the hip and femur head will be misaligned with continued improper swaddling.  Hip Dysplasia can be corrected by using a Pavlik harness for newborns or by surgery for older kids.  But parents need to learn to properly swaddle their newborn to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Below is a video by Dr. Price and he goes over what parents need to do properly swaddle their newborn and some cool swaddling techniques to prevent the occurrence of Hip Dysplasia.  Watch the video and learn from Dr. Price (International Hip Dysplasia Institute – IHDI).