News & Press

Go Mama Go Designs of Alexandria Va., has released a new swaddling blanket. The Snug & Tug is made from breathable cotton and is long enough to "grow with baby." The Snug & Tug is triangular and features a full body pouch and Velcro fixtures to ensure the baby is snug all night long.

Benefits of swaddling;

Swaddling is thought by some to send a signal to a baby that it’s bedtime. Suzi Sweeten’s infant son John quickly learned to associate being swaddled with the need to sleep.

Swaddling blanket vs. receiving blanket;

If the benefits are so numerous, why don’t more parents swaddle their babies? The truth is, it’s tough to learn how to swaddle a baby properly using a standard blanket. The blanket must be tight enough to stay fastened and make the baby feel secure, and yet loose enough so that the infant doesn’t become overheated.

Once a baby starts moving around, he often kicks off his blanket, and a loose blanket in the crib can increase the risk of SIDS. According to Mike Gatten, creator of the Miracle Blanket, Medford, Ore., “receiving blankets become too small very quickly—usually by 2 weeks of age” and therefore aren’t effective in swaddling a baby.

Now a wide variety of specially-made swaddling blankets designed to overcome the limitations of traditional swaddling are available. These blankets may be shaped to fit a baby’s body, long enough to wrap around his body, and might have Velcro fasteners to prevent an infant from pulling the swaddle loose.

What a difference swaddling makes. Seriously, its one of those things that I just didn't get, didn't know about, before I had kids. And, as I watched the nurses in the hospital swaddle my tiny one up, I thought, "what on earth are they doing?!" There's no way a baby can be comfortable smushed up like that.

I didn't pay attention. Didn't watch or listen closely to the whats, the whys and the hows. We came home, and he cried. All night. Every night. My husband, who obviously paid much better attention than I, swaddled. And practiced, and swaddled some more. And he slept better. But after a few hours, the tiny one was wailing again. Yup. Smart enough to break free. And, of course, stubborn me, I didn't want to learn. Until my husband returned to work. And I didn't know how to swaddle. I read books. And I practiced. And I practiced. And I practiced. Again. Again. Again. You know, I don't think I ever swaddled my first son right. We thought he was a great sleeper, all the same.

But with my second, I had a swaddling blanket. A good swaddling blanket. So I knew what to do. I knew how to do it. And, swaddled, my second tiny one was a great sleeper. See, I learned that the secret to a great sleeper is a good, solid swaddle.

My kids are a little old for it. But I'm so glad that I've found an fun, strong, well-made swaddling blanket to gift to my friends. The Snug & Tug is a swaddling blanket with style and strength. Available in 3 color combinations, the Snug & Tug was designed specifically for swaddling. Its shape, triangular, makes it easy to use. It has an extremely strong velcro closure. And you can tell it was created by moms--the velcro won't snag your other items in the laundry, there's a safety spot to fold your velcro tabs!

The Snug & Tug by Go Mama Go Designs is a flawless, wiggle-free swaddle wrap that is breathable and beautiful. We love their adorable packaging…perfect for a shower gift (needs no wrapping)! Created for selfless, hardworking mamas; the ladies at Go Mama Go want you to be a happy well-rested mom. The Snug & Tug was designed to provide a longer and sounder night’s sleep for your newborn baby, ultimately leading to a more restful and happy you!

To improve quality of life for new parents, Go Mama Go Designs introduces Snug & Tug—specifically designed to facilitate the swaddling process and help new babies sleep longer and sounder through the night. It’s triangular shape and unique combination of three crucial components (full body pouch, opening that creates a secure double wrap and strategically placed Velcro) ensures that the blanket does not come undone while the baby is sleeping. Retails for $45 plus shipping. For local stores, visit www.gomamagodesigns.com.

A new mother recently asked me how she might get her newborn to sleep long enough so that she could sleep. If only I knew. This question brought back memories of holding my newborn son and rocking him to sleep at whatever time he needed. To him, the concept of day and night meant nothing. Watching the sunrise together was memorable and beautiful, but I was exhausted. Some moms suggest car rides are the trick while others say try running the vacuum cleaner. A sleep deprived mother will try almost anything. My doula taught me how to swaddle my baby in a blanket which really seemed to calm him down, but I just couldn’t seem to get the knack of it. Unfortunately, my doula was not available to move in with us.

There are, of course, many products on the market that try to solve this sleep challenge. We bought my son a teddy bear with a heart beat. No luck. I tried the wedge which props the baby on his side. Unsuccessful. I even remember buying a video of cute animals yawning and gently falling off to sleep. I found myself watching wide awake and green with envy while these carefree animals look forward to a night of peaceful bliss. This was not a positive experience. Somehow we made it through and the nights gradually grew longer and longer.

Five years later, I find myself searching the internet for the latest greatest product to send my desperate friend as a gift to help her and the baby sleep. There are stuffed animals with soothing sounds and lavender scents and even one that projects light to make stars on the ceiling. None of these seemed quite right. Then someone told me about a swaddling blanket called Snug & Tug created by two local moms. This super soft blanket with the combination of Velcro and a full body pouch is like swaddling for dummies. Wow! Where was this product five years ago?

About a week after receiving her package in the mail, my well-rested friend called to say thank you and also to find out how to get this heavenly blanket for some moms who were offering cold cash for hers. It worked! Start spreading the news! www.snugandtug.com Locals can find the Snug & Tug swaddling blanket at KBaby in Georgetown. Sweet dreams!

Manufacturers have caught on to this concept, and several swaddling blankets have been produced with special designs that far exceed the average receiving blanket. Go Mama Go Designs of Alexandria has created the latest swaddling blanket — the Snug & Tug. The first thing you'll notice about these blankets are the eye-catching designs, but there is more to the Snug & Tug than meets the eye. My friend, Natalie, tested out the Snug & Tug on her 2-month-old against two other swaddling blankets she has: the "SwaddleMe Blanket" and the "Miracle Blanket." Natalie gave the Snug & Tug high marks.

Pouch is bigger than the pouch on other blankets, so the entire baby fits into pouch.

Velcro™ helps keep baby swaddled (the Miracle Blanket has no Velcro)

Placement of Velcro allows for adjustment depending on the size of baby and the tightness of swaddle (SwaddleMe blanket has Velcro, but patches are small so not much adjustment is possible).

"Wings" of the blanket are long so they wrap around entire body (SwaddleMe only wraps around half of the body; Miracle Blanket wraps around twice).

Fun colors/patterns (SwaddleMe comes in solid colors, Miracle Blanket has some patterns).