Drafts & Crafts

March 23, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

More and more research is being done on swaddling so I wanted to create a quick blog post about what I think is important to know and why we loved the Ollie Swaddle for our newborn.

**donated product from The Ollie World

I wanted to cover a brief post on swaddling because I had a ton of questions about it as a new mom. It is becoming a somewhat controversial topic as more and more research is being done on swaddling. This is some information I have learned from when I was in the hospital with Winnie and from doing my own research online. So what is swaddling? It is wrapping your newborn in a somewhat tight blanket or swaddle to mimic the tight feeling of a mother’s womb. Since baby’s are so comfy and snug in their mama’s belly, people swaddle so their baby is cozy and may sleep longer stretches without flapping around and waking themselves up.

Swaddling can be safe and effective for newborn babies, but there are important factors to keep in mind. Research shows it is safest for babies to sleep on their backs. Only swaddle a baby who can not move and is sleeping on their back. Once a baby can roll over, it is no longer safe for their arms to be held down. Make sure the swaddle is loose enough around the legs that the baby has plenty of room to move their legs and hips. You do not want the babies legs to be “tied” down or held straight all night because it can damage their hip growth. You can see in the above pictures that Winnie still has plenty of room in her Ollie swaddle to froggy her legs out.

It is safest to get a “swaddle suit” (like The Ollie Swaddle), rather than just a blanket. Hospitals in the US no longer swaddle babies in blankets, they use a velcro swaddle vest. This is why we love The Ollie Swaddle that Winnie is wearing in the above photos. A velcro swaddle is safest since there are no loose ends that the baby could get stuck on or suffocate on if it becomes loose in the night. The Ollie Swaddle is breathable and made from a patented sweat wicking material. The swaddle is designed to wick any moisture away from the skin to keep baby warm and dry. At 2 months of age, we began to keep Winnie’s arms out of the swaddle so she can move more. I personally like to keep her swaddled because I know she is warmer all night without using loose blankets in the crib. We will eventually transition her into a sleep sack of some type. If you have any questions, never hestitate to call your pediatrician to ask about safe sleeping practices. If you have any questions about The Ollie Swaddle, check out their awesome website that has helpful information from doctors and doulas! I would love to hear about your swaddling journey so please comment if you would like to share!

Keep in touch,
Dani

February 25, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

With recently having a baby and several friends due around the same time, I felt inspired to share what I would like to call some Labor & Delivery Visitor Etiquette. 

This post came to me in an organic way, thankfully, I did not have any bad experiences with hospital visitors. I thought I would share what I think is appropriate when visiting a new mama or family for the first time after they have a baby incase anyone is unsure or needs some friendly tips. If you are around my age, then you know plenty of couples in their 20’s and 30’s who are having kids! And even if you are not around my age, everyone knows someone who is having a baby- a family member, a neighbor, a coworker, so this is pretty relevant stuff if you ask me! Let me start by saying, anyone who is visiting someone in the hospital should be a family member or relativity close friend. Visiting a new mother is a personal experience, I mean within the last 24-48 hours she gave birth to her tiny human! IT IS A BIG DEAL! To keep in short and concise, here are some pointers.

Do’s

• check with the mother first to make sure it is OK that you visit
• ask if they would prefer a certain time
• bring something- my main suggestion is FOOD. ask what their favorite place is or get something yummy!
• wash your hands right when you get in the room
• don’t over do your visit
• ask if you can get them anything on the way. I forgot chap stick one time and just wanted some Burt’s Bees!
• if you visit the home, ask if you can do anything. Remember, just folding some laundry can be a HUGE help
• be mindful of the mother breastfeeding (espeically if you and your husband go to visit, it may be something that a women is not comfortable learning or doing in front of others)
• pick something up for the new mom or make her lactation cookies. Most people bring something for the baby, but I think its extra special to bring a little something for the mama. After all, she did just push a baby out or have her abdomen sliced open!

Dont’s

• don’t visit with young children (mainly wild toddlers, some hospitals have a no children, except siblings policy)
• don’t hog the new baby and hold he/she for too long
• don’t offer advice or tell the parents they should be doing something a different way
• don’t go if you have been any type of sick in the past 7 days. newborns immune system can not handle anything!

If you are out of town

• send something, I recommend food over flowers. (I LOVE flowers, but when you get a few in the hospital it is just a pain to carry them all out)
• text message a friend or family member to congratulate them and let them know that you are thinking of them, that way they can respond at their earliest convenience.

These suggestions may seem like common sense, but it is nice to just be mindful when visiting anyone in the hospital or at their home. I have heard some crazy stories from friends who’s mother in laws just come in and start giving their opinion and let’s be honest, no one wants to hear that! I would love to hear if you have any ideas!

Keep in touch,
Dani