(Closed) Mama-To-Be Gift Guide: SwaddleDesigns Review & Giveaway Ends 10/3

Swaddling was a life-saver in those first days as a new mom for me. Buddy loved it! Afterall, they are pretty squished in the womb so why wouldn't they love it?! The key to a good swaddle starts with the actual swaddle blanket. The material and the size are absolutely key. SwaddleDesigns has two amazing swaddling blankets that are must-haves for every new parent. They were the first company in the US and many other countries to introduce the large, square swaddle blanket design they are known for today.

The Swaddle DUO is a gift set consisting of the Ultimate Receiving Blanket, and the Marquisette Swaddling Blanket. I chose the adorable Pastel Pink Cute & Wild Duo Gift Set for this review. What better way to help prepare new parents for swaddling their infant? Both premium cotton swaddle blankets are very different, and are the perfect combo to help prepare new parents for every environmental temperature. They are also the two blankets that SwaddleDesigns is best known for, and will help keep your baby comfortably warm.

The Ultimate Receiving Blanket is made of lightweight premium cotton flannel and is the white blanket with pink circles and the decorative edge in this set. The material is meant for for moderate to cooler environmental temperatures. The premium preshrunk domestic cotton material is high quality, non-piling, and washes like a dream. It's also very soft. I had a few of these blankets for Buddy and I absolutely LOVED them. He was a December baby and I found this to be the perfect weight of material for swaddling during our cooler California weather at night.

The Marquisette Swaddling Blanket is a very lightweight openweave cotton blanket and is the white blanket with trees and birds in this set. This blanket is intended for use in warmer environmental temperatures. The texture is somewhat rough and feels like a muslin material, but is made from premium quality yarns. It will soften more and more after each wash and it definitely a better choice than the flannel in some some environmental settings, such as the warm spring and summer days and nights.

Both of these blankets are an amazing choice for new parents. These very large, perfectly thin, soft, square blankets will make you want to give away most the others you received as gifts. I'm serious about that too. Most swaddle blankets are tiny, and you don't have enough material to wrap and tuck to finish a real swaddle! But these...these are wonderful, and will be your absolute favorite. They allowed me to feel safe knowing that my son was safe and secure, and warm at night. It also eased my mind about the real risk of SIDS, which is unfortunately a reality that we don't know everything about. But, we do know enough to be aware of circumstances like being too hot, or too cold, that MAY contribute to this horrible fate. Keep reading for more information from SwaddleDesigns about that. While out and about, I used these to lay Buddy down to play in hotels, at friend's houses, or anywhere that was too dirty for him to touch (oh geez, that means ANYWHERE for me!). Because of their large size, these will drape over a stroller or car seat to block the sun, keep out the windy weather, or create a darker environment for sleeping. They are also nice and lightweight for using as a nursing cover in a pinch!

Swaddling is a great way to keep your baby warm, cuddly, and safe during sleep. What I also love about these is that there is a tag sewn into the side of each blanket with illustrations to remind you how to swaddle your baby. For an in-depth look at how to swaddle, information regarding sleeping environments and the benefits of swaddling, check out the How To Swaddle page.

 Lynette Damir, the CEO, Creative Director, and founder of SwaddleDesigns (oh, she's also an RN!) created The Goldilock’s Guide to help new parents remember the importance of keeping baby comfortably warm. For more information on the SwaddleDesigns Goldilocks Guide, check out the Safe Sleep page.

“The SwaddleDesigns Goldilocks Guide™ ~ baby should not be too hot, or too cold, but just right ~ comfortably warm.”

SwaddleDesigns provided me with lots of great information regarding the importance of proper dressing in different climates when if comes to your baby. As you may already know, it is important to make sure your baby does not become too hot or too cold, especially while sleeping. Please read the following information from SwaddleDesigns.

Studies have shown that both overheating and overchilling increase the risk of SIDS as stated in the International Journal of Epidemiology 1996. SwaddleDesigns strives to help new parents care for their baby by providing accurate and up-to-date information, so parents may make informed choices. SwaddleDesigns Safe Sleep Program includes recommendations from the AAP and the NIH as the company strives to increase awareness of Safe Sleep practices and help parents reduce risk of SIDS.  

According to leading SIDS researchers, both overheating AND overchilling are risk factors for SIDS. In addition, it’s important for parents to understand that when baby is too cool during sleep, baby will use valuable energy to stay warm instead of growing and thriving. Over the past few years some juvenile product companies have over focused on overheating as a SIDS risk factor, and there has been a lack of balanced conversation regarding insufficient thermal insulation – the danger of baby being too cool - as a risk factor for SIDS. It is time for a balanced information where parents are educated and reminded of their important responsibility to make sure baby is not too hot or too cold, but comfortably warm. 

The pregnant Mama-To-Be's perspective (my sister-in law!):

As a new mom, having the Swaddle Designs receiving blankets has been wonderful. They are made with high quality fabric and as an added bonus they come in a variety of styles. The blankets are large but lightweight so they can be used in various seasons and environments. On a more candid note, as a first time mom, one of my main goals is safety and this product definitely lends itself to that! I feel comfortable wrapping my baby in something that is light and breathable; I have no worries about this product covering her face if she wiggles about. I highly recommend this product!

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Price: The SwaddleDuo is available in 17 styles with an MSRP of $38

The Verdict: Love them and highly recommend this set and this company to all new parents. They have your child's best interest at the heart of their company and their products are simply beautiful.

Buy It!
Check out SwaddleDesigns.com for this product and so much more!

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One winner will receive their choice of Pink or Blue SwaddleDuo in the Classic Peace Love Swaddle style!

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Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.