Swaddle Designs Review & {GIVEAWAY}

3rd up in the Baby Extravaganza event is.....

Just a little background about SwaddleDesigns:

SwaddleDesigns was founded by Lynette Damir, RN, Designer and Mom in 2002, and SwaddleDesigns was the first company to introduce the large square swaddling blanket to the US and many countries around the world. SwaddleDesigns is known for their premium quality fabric, fabulous colors and prints, decorative edge, and the innovative 123 Swaddle® instructional label that helps new parents master the art of swaddling. SwaddleDesigns blankets come in a variety of weights and are perfect for many uses such as a privacy throw for breastfeeding moms, a tummy time play mat, a cover over the stroller as well as swaddling.  

Between having 3 kids & being a mother/baby nurse I have come to love this company. After swaddling babies day in and day out I know what blankets I like and don't like for swaddling. And let's just say I love Swaddle Designs blankets. They're just the right size & they even include instructions on the tags. 

And I must say I'm completely in love with their new chevron line 

(just wait until you see Hudson's nursery & you will see)

Can I just say, Hudson may just NEED this!

But Swaddle Design's isn't just about swaddling blankets. They also burp cloths, bibs, apparel, towels, washcloths & fitted crib sheets.

They were so kind to send Hudson one of their fitted flannel sheets 

in pastel blue with brown mod circles.

I had tried several of their blankets in the past with the other two, but never their crib sheets.
I was very impressed, such high quality! Very soft & comfortable. Most definitely something you won't mind up against your baby's delicate skin. Can't wait for Hudson to have the chance to lay on it.

And I love all the coordinating items to go with it...

Not only do I love Swaddle Designs products but I love their Safe Sleep Program that they support!

Let me share a tad about their Safe Sleep Program.

SwaddleDesigns Safe Sleep Program strives to educate new parents and caregivers using the most current research to increase awareness of safe sleep practices and to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Many medical experts recommend a sleep environment of 65-70°F or around 20°C. The Ultimate Receiving Blanket is an appropriate weight for this temperature range for most babies. Because every baby is unique and because no blanket can naturally regulate a baby’s temperature, it is important for caregivers to dress their baby based on to the current temperature of the room and their unique baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing the baby in no more than one more layer than you are wearing to be comfortable in the same environment. It’s important not to overdress or underdress baby for sleep. Signs of overheating include sweaty back or neck, damp hair, rapid breathing or heat rash. If baby feels sweaty, remove a layer of clothing. Sometimes baby’s hands or feet feel cool due to their immature blood circulation which is considered okay as long as their chest, tummy and back are warm, not sweaty or cool. 

And now SwaddleDesigns would like to offer

ONE OF MY FOLLOWERS
the chance
TO WIN
THEIR CHOICE OF FITTED SHEET 

**Giveaway open to US & Canada Residents ONLY**

**Please use the Rafflecopter Form below to Enter!!**

Swaddle Designs Review & {GIVEAWAY}

So, I'm sure everyone has seen the game, Angry Birds, by now and know the craze it has produced. Angry Birds is the fastest growing brand in the world with over 600 million downloads. Boys, girls, men, women, grandmas, and grandpas all LOVE playing Angry Birds. In fact my 2 year old loves playing it. 

Everywhere you look you see it so of course it only makes sense to have baby related products as well. Well, recently Rovio chose SwaddleDesigns to manufacture Angry Birds Baby items. 

Just a little background about SwaddleDesigns:

SwaddleDesigns was founded by Lynette Damir, RN, Designer and Mom in 2002, and SwaddleDesigns was the first company to introduce the large square swaddling blanket to the US and many countries around the world. SwaddleDesigns is known for their premium quality fabric, fabulous colors and prints, decorative edge, and the innovative 123 Swaddle® instructional label that helps new parents master the art of swaddling. SwaddleDesigns blankets come in a variety of weights and are perfect for many uses such as a privacy throw for breastfeeding moms, a tummy time play mat, a cover over the stroller as well as swaddling.  

When Emma & Maddox were infants they LOVED to be swaddled which of course meant they slept better. And anyone that has been through restless nights with a newborn wants their child to sleep better. Because a better sleeping better baby equals less sleep deprivation for the parents. 

And not even to mention the safety of swaddling. 

Let me share a tad about their Safe Sleep Program.

SwaddleDesigns Safe Sleep Program strives to educate new parents and caregivers using the most current research to increase awareness of safe sleep practices and to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Many medical experts recommend a sleep environment of 65-70°F or around 20°C. The Ultimate Receiving Blanket is an appropriate weight for this temperature range for most babies. Because every baby is unique and because no blanket can naturally regulate a baby’s temperature, it is important for caregivers to dress their baby based on to the current temperature of the room and their unique baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing the baby in no more than one more layer than you are wearing to be comfortable in the same environment. It’s important not to overdress or underdress baby for sleep. Signs of overheating include sweaty back or neck, damp hair, rapid breathing or heat rash. If baby feels sweaty, remove a layer of clothing. Sometimes baby’s hands or feet feel cool due to their immature blood circulation which is considered okay as long as their chest, tummy and back are warm, not sweaty or cool. 

And now that Summer is upon us it s very nice to have a lightweight swaddling blanket such as their Marquisette Swaddling Blanket which now comes in their Angry Bird collection. Swaddle Designs was so generous to send us one to try out. 

And even though my kids are now too big to swaddle I LOVE this blanket. It's lightweight enough that I can throw it over Emma on these cooler nights. 

When Emma was an infant The Swaddle Designs blankets were my favorite. After the first few weeks I always found that the typical swaddling or receiving blanket just wasn't big enough to obtain a tight swaddle.

But the SwaddleDesigns blankets are best known for their larger than typical receiving blanket size. And they're square in shape. So, they help make the perfect snug as a bug swaddle. 

Plus they make it SO SIMPLE to swaddle with easy to follow instructions sewn on the edge of every blanket.  Check out their simple instructions HERE. 

Oh yes, because it's as simple as 1-2-3. 

I must say that the #1 question in Mother/Baby (remember I'm a nurse) is "How do I wrap my baby like that". Well, even though I love to show my parents how to it would make it so simple if the instructions were on EVERY blanket. And with The Swaddle Designs they are. 

Swaddle Designs also sent us one of their Short Sleeve Body Suits 

How stinkin' cute is that!?!? 

Not only can Momma & Daddy LOVE Angry Birds, the little one can sport it as well.

But wait, they have so much more, in fact they even have an adult size swaddle blanket, how funny is that.

And I'm in LOVE with their new colors for 2012. I so wish I had a baby right now to wrap in this lovely blanket. 

And now SwaddleDesigns would like to offer
ONE OF MY FOLLOWERS
the chance
TO WIN
THEIR CHOICE OF BODYSUIT SIZE and
bird OR Marquisette blanket

**Giveaway open to US & Canada Residents ONLY**

**Please use the Rafflecopter Form below to Enter!!**

Miracle Blanket Review & Giveaway---CLOSED

When Maddox was a newborn he slept through the night at just 4 weeks old which is unusual for an exclusively breastfed infant.  However, I definitely hope to duplicate this with Emma.

I honestly can't tell you exactly what we did but I sure plan on trying it again. 

And one of the things that I DID DO was to swaddle Maddox nice and snug.

The art of swaddling can be a bit difficult to get "just right" so they're nice and snug but luckily there are great swaddling blankets out there like the Miracle Blanket.  And they make it so easy even the Daddy's can do it correctly.

Plus the Miracle Blanket is guaranteed to stop Colic!  (This alone should be a selling point)

A little background:

An exhausted father’s frustration gave birth to the Miracle Blanket® — ecstatic customers named it after sleeping for the first time in weeks! Michael Gatten decided he wouldn’t settle for another colicky baby.

Following exhaustive research, cutting, stitching and testing the design on his then four-week-old son, Michael created a simple and incredibly effective solution that greatly enhances the age-old technique of swaddling. Before he knew it, Good Housekeeping Magazine® got a hold of his creation, gave it the coveted “Thumbs Up!” and the rest is history. In 2002 Michael Gatten formed AMB Enterprises, now Miracle Industries, LLC., to produce and distribute the Miracle Blanket® which is now used around the world by 100s of thousands of parents, hospitals, pediatricians, midwives, nannies, NICU nurses, Maternity Ward Nurses, day care facilities. Sales have spread throughout the United States , United Kingdom , South Africa , Switzerland, Mexico , Canada , Australia , New Zealand as well as Japan , Korea, China and the Philippines, Scandinavia and Germany to name a few.

As a mother/baby and pediatric nurse I strongly support swaddling

and

With so many facts supporting swaddling why wouldn't you too?

• FACT: Medical research showing the incredible efficacy of PROPER swaddling has been done using a snugly wrapped blanket with arms down at-the-sides.
• FACT: Babies are not coordinated enough to self-soothe (ie. suck hands) reliably until 14-weeks. Swaddling is a substitute during this time to prevent awakening from the Moro Reflex.
•  FACT:  PROPER swaddling has been shown in clinical studies to calm a fussy, colicky baby while helping baby sleep safer, netter, deeper and longer. 
• FACT: PROPER swaddling has been shown in clinical studies to reduce SIDS by as much as 30% even over back-sleeping babies without swaddling.     

Miracle Blanket was so generous to send us a natural beige blanket to review.  One of the greatest things that I found was that their design uses no knots, buttons, straps, velcro, snaps, or zippers.  So, there is nothing to scratch your newborn plus there's no confusion where to snap or velcro.  I will definitely be recommending the Miracle Blanket to all my friends & patients parents. 

Often times I have parents call me to their room because their newborn won't stop crying.  After simply swaddling their baby the newborn tends to drift to sleep easily.  So, of course their next question is how do you swaddle?

Well, the Miracle Blanket makes that 10x easier. 

Not to mention that many receiving blankets are just too small to achieve that perfect swaddle.

Swaddling can truly make the world of difference in whether your little one sleeps or not.

My Miracle Blanket will be going in to the hospital bag 1st thing!

Where to Buy: Head to THEIR SITE for a store locator (see left column)
Retail Price: $29.95
Target Age Group: 0-4 months
Wanna Win One???
Please leave a separate comment for each entry or they won't count 

Mandatory

**Be/become a public follower of my blog then head over to Miracle Blanket & tell me something you've learned (MANDATORY)

Extra

**Like Miracle Blanket on Facebook & leave them a wall comment

saying Houghton Happening's Sent you (2 EXTRA)

**Follow Miracle Blanket on Twitter (2 EXTRA)

**Head over to Miracle Blanket & watch the video then come back & tell me something you've learned

(1 EXTRA)

**Head to their site & subscribe to their newsletter (see left column) (1 EXTRA)

**Blog about this giveaway & leave me a link (3 EXTRA)

** Enter my other current giveaways (1 Entry per)

Giveaway ends 1/26 at 11:59 EST

Winner will be chosen via random.org & will have 48 hrs to respond.

I was given the above mentioned product(s) for my review & host of this giveaway.

I was in no other way compensated.The product itself didn't persuade my personal beliefs or views.

I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The views & opinions are purely my own.