Posts — the Ollie Swaddle

I am excited to have the opportunity to introduce Cara Dumaplin, Founder of Taking Cara Babies. She is a Registered Nurse with 18 years experience in Neonatal ICU, Labor & Delivery, Antepartum and Postpartum Care. Cara is married to a pediatrician and is a mom to four. She is an educator and sleep consultant who helps families all across the nation. I was able to spend time with Cara and discuss some of our top questions.  1. Tell us about your background. I had been a nurse for many years when I brought my first baby home from the hospital. I believed my background in neonatal nursing and being married to a pediatrician would mean having a new baby would be...

Swaddling provides many benefits for your little one. Some of these benefits may seem temporary – like providing comfort and calm – but these can lead to lifelong benefits as your little one is growing and learning.   First, let’s talk about what neurodevelopment is.  Neurodevelopment is the growth of the nervous system – a process that begins at conception and happens all the way through the final stages of life.  Brain development is especially important in the first few years of life because synapses in the brain are being formed that will create the wiring of the brain. While large portion of this development is up to genetics, the brain will fine-tune itself according to experiences and input from the...

Top Ten Baby Items You’ll Be Thankful You Have As an expectant first time mom, it can be overwhelming (to say the least) to see all of the baby products that are on the market. There will be so many that you buy and never use, or find that they don’t particularly work for your little one or even that he has no interest in them. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our top essential items (in no particular order) and how they will make your life easier.     First aid kit – You’ll hear this one from everyone. You may even receive 2-3 of them at your baby shower, but we want to expand on what we...

  Importance of a Tight Swaddle Swaddling is not only a comfort to your little one, but it can also aid in safe sleeping—as long as proper swaddling techniques are used. One of the most important steps in using a swaddle blanket like The Ollie with your baby is ensuring that the swaddle is tight. First, let’s review the benefits of swaddling:      Improved sleep for baby and for parents      Decreases the startle reflex, in turn increasing REM sleep      Reduces colic and fussiness      Prevents over-stimulation and helps your little one feel comforted      Helps infants remain on their backs during sleep So, why is a tight swaddle so important? Safe Sleep Guidelines – If you’ve done any research on swaddling, you’ve probably...

Photo: @audreyblake_/   Importance Of A Routine For Baby When you first bring your newborn home from the hospital, any semblance of a routine that once existed is far-gone. Your new baby probably sleeps all day and cries all night. So how in the world are you supposed to introduce a routine to this tiny being? And why is a routine so important? Your newborn baby's needs aren't super complicated—yet. Eat, sleep and love. That’s about it for now, but as she grows so will her needs. Most parents find that building a routine as early as possible helps tremendously in the long run. Routine vs. Schedule When you hear the word “routine” you may relate it to a schedule—but...