Why does the Miracle Blanket work so much better
than other products and blankets?
Why is the Miracle Blanket so expensive?
Why should I swaddle?
Swaddling seems so confining. Is it good for
a baby's development?
My baby squirms and seems to fight when he's swaddled.
Does this mean he doesn't like it?
Can my baby overheat because of swaddling?
How can I tell if my baby is overheated?
Can swaddling make it hard for my baby to breathe?
What is the "Rooting Response"?
What is the "Moro Reflex"/Startle Reflex?
My baby squirms and grabs while eating. Does
swaddling help this?
My baby likes one arm free to suck his thumb.
Can I still swaddle?
Can I leave both of my baby's arms free?
When should I stop swaddling?
I want to send this as a gift. Do you offer
giftwrapping?
Why does the Miracle Blanket work so much better
than other products and blankets?
The truth is that we aren't sure yet. But after talking
to hundreds of customers, we have developed one main theory:
Research has shown that the two best fussiness "eliminators"
are classic swaddling and gentle abdominal pressure. A lateral
belly wrap is a very old Irish remedy for fussiness that
is comprised of a long band of "stretchy" fabric that is
wrapped around a babies abdomen to provide a gentle, even,
lateral pressure around the baby's mid-section. Ours is
the first and only product that combines these two incredibly
effective solutions in one product. Because of the way
our
design combines the perfect classic swaddle with the even,
horizontal pressure of the lateral belly wrap, it seems
to work better than anyone ever thought possible.
Why is the Miracle Blanket so expensive?
We consider our customers part of our "family". So we want
to give an honest, straight answer to this question … even
if it means giving up a few secrets:
The main reason for the high price is that the blanket is
nearly six feet wide and the material has to be cut on a
45 degree angle to provide just the right amount of stretch
or it doesn't work as well (this is actually part of our
patented design specs). This causes a lot of waste. Regular
square blankets are cheap because they are simply a length
of fabric cut every four feet and sewn around the edges
in straight lines. As a matter of fact, according to our
mfg costs, our price should be approximately 50% higher
than it is! Several manufacturers have seen the blanket
and claimed they could make it for less. After we explained
our exacting standards and the quality of fabric we require,
we quickly find out that we are getting the best price available.
We are constantly looking for ways to get our mfg costs
down, but we WILL NOT sacrifice quality or effectiveness.
And remember: If you don't think the extra sleep is worth
every penny, call us and we'll refund ALL of your money!
Why should I swaddle?
Many experts suggest that swaddling in the first several
months eases babies through the shock of suddenly being
out of the womb by duplicating many of the sensations of
the womb. Many babies do not handle this transition well,
and some recent research suggests that this may be the main
cause of fussiness.
Swaddling seems so confining. Is it good
for a baby's development?
This question is the main reason western cultures all but
abandoned the practice of swaddling over the past 100 (or
so) years. Think about how comfortable the baby was when
she was in the womb - total darkness, almost silent, snug
fit ... very little input. Suddenly they are thrust into
a world of light where their little arms and legs flail
and flinch without control. Their little razor-sharp nails
scratch their little face and their heavy head lolls without
support. Giving your baby a few more months of some of the
snug, supporting, and warm sensations of the womb should
not be seen as an insensitive act - but a loving one.
My baby squirms and seems to fight when he's
swaddled. Does this mean he doesn't like it?
Most babies squirm quite a bit when swaddled, especially
at first. This does not mean they don't "like" it. The
fact is, very young babies don't have very much - if any
- muscle
control and their arms and legs flail without them being
able to control them. Swaddling actually helps limit this
movement so the baby can relax and calm down. If your baby
continues to squirm, and doesn't calm down after 5-10 minutes,
take him out of the blanket and give him a few minutes
to
rest and try it again. Eventually, your baby will relax
at the mere sight of a swaddling blanket.
Can my baby overheat because of swaddling?
Although it is possible for your baby to overheat, it has
been shown that swaddling alone cannot cause overheating.
However, here a few simple measures that will eliminate
this concern altogether:
1) Wrap her in the Miracle Blanket and diaper only.
2) Be sure the room in which the baby is sleeping is not
too warm. The room should feel comfortable to a lightly
dressed adult.
3) If overheating is still a concern you can wrap your baby
in the Miracle Blanket with his/her feet outside of the
foot pocket.
How Can I tell if my baby is overheated?
If your baby's tummy feels overly warm to the touch,
or he/she is perspiring, it is important to observe the
measures
mentioned above in the question, "Can my baby overheat
because of swaddling?"
Can swaddling make it hard for my baby to breathe?
The University of Washington published a study in mid-2002
that shows that this is generally not a concern - as long
as the wrap is not exceedingly tight. Swaddling works best
when your baby is wrapped "snugly" but comfortably. The
Miracle Blanket is very effective in keeping the hands
and body in the proper position. Keep in mind that most babies LOVE to be wrapped
very snugly ... it feels more like the womb.
What is the "Rooting Response"?
Infants have one talent when they are born: Finding a nipple.
If they feel something touch their face, they assume that
it may be a nipple and they will begin to try to position
their head to take advantage of the potential food source.
This is very frustrating for the baby when they are awakened
by something touching their face and they cannot find a
nipple. It is for this reason that it is important to avoid
blankets and bedding that touch your baby's cheeks while
he/she is sleeping.
What is the "Moro Reflex"/Startle
Reflex?
The Moro Reflex is the tendency of infants to startle and "jump" for no apparent reason. Nearly all babies do this
- some more constantly than others. This comes with several
different theories. One suggests that without the "all-over
support" of the fluid in the womb, the baby frequently experiences
a "falling" sensation and startles awake. This reflex can
be virtually eliminated by the sensation created by swaddling.
My baby squirms and grabs while eating. Does
swaddling help this?
One of the greatest things about swaddling (of any kind)
is how much easier it makes it for mom or dad to hold baby
still while feeding. Baby's arms are secure, he is comfy
and he is very easy to position.
My baby likes one arm free to suck his thumb.
Can I still swaddle?
Absolutely. Although you should try to get your baby used
to the feeling of having both arms inside the blanket to
avoid scratching and twitching, you can certainly leave
an arm free if your baby likes that better. If you are
a "swaddling artist" you can accomplish this with a normal
receiving blanket. However, it makes it much easier for
your baby to struggle out of the blanket. With the Miracle
Blanket you can actually leave one arm free and maintain
the total effectiveness of the blanket. Many people use
it this way, and love it for that reason.
Can I leave both of my baby's arms free?
We don't suggest leaving both arms free. When you do
this, most of the effects of swaddling are relinquished.
Baby's arms will twitch, scratch and flail. With both arms
free the only part of the baby that is (essentially) swaddled
is the belly. One arm free is usually okay because some
babies have a use for that hand - sucking. But two arms
free, pretty much, defeats the purpose of swaddling.
When should I stop swaddling?
There are many differing opinions on this. We, at The Miracle
Blanket, think 3 ½ to 4 months is a good time to stop. A
good rule of thumb is, the baby will begin to let you know
he's had enough of swaddling after a few months … this is
the best time to stop. If your baby loves to be swaddled
after 4 months, studies show that it's fine. As a matter
of fact some cultures swaddle beyond 12 months; however,
the chance of problems with "loose bedding accidents" increase
when the baby is old enough to struggle free of the blanket
and turn over on his/her own.
I want to send this as a gift. Do you offer
giftwrapping?
We would love to offer giftwrapping, but the cost of having
a shipping house giftwrap each gift is extremely high. Just
setting up the process to make it possible is extraordinarily
expensive, and the only way for us to make that happen would
be to increase the price of the blanket considerably, which
is something we definitely don't want to do. However, because
we know a large portion of the blankets we sell from this
website are gifts, we package them with that in mind: The
package we ship does not include the price of the blanket,
and we will enclose a gift note for free if you specify
one on the ordering page.
