The first month of life with a newborn is a haze of sleep deprivation. I’ve been there and done that—three times. But I’ve found there are several techniques to calm your infant so you can all go back to sleep. One of them is swaddling. Something else I’ve learned is that swaddling (or re-swaddling) in the middle of the night is more difficult than it sounds. Enter: the Ollie Swaddle.
Hindi Zeidman, the founder of The Ollie World, developed the Ollie Swaddle to promote safe sleep for babies of all backgrounds and temperaments. Not only does the Ollie Swaddle grow with your baby, but it also allows them the necessary flexibility for development.
Maybe your baby has reflux or colic. Maybe they only sleep when you hold them close. Maybe no other swaddles have worked for them, and you’re at your wit’s end like Hindi was. Sleep is so important—for both you and your baby. And the Ollie Swaddle might be the thing that makes a difference.
Hindi’s Story
Hindi Zeidman found herself a single foster to mom to an infant named Oliver. Baby Oliver came to her with the label of “failure to thrive” hanging over his head. He had been exposed to drugs in utero and struggled to eat and sleep.
Hindi had previously worked with drug- and trauma-exposed babies, and she knew the importance of swaddling. But none of the swaddles on the market worked for Oliver. They wouldn’t contain him or he overheated. She set out to create the Ollie, and once he started using it, baby Oliver gained weight and met developmental milestones.
Startle Reflex Reducer
Babies have this fun thing called the Moro reflex, which is one of many natural reflexes for an infant. You may know it as the startle reflex. It appears in varying degrees in infants, usually peaking at 1 month old and disappearing by 12 weeks.
A baby experiencing the startle reflex extends his arms, legs, and neck before rapidly bringing his arms together. He may also cry loudly. This reflex occurs when an infant is startled by a loud noise or sudden movements or feels the sensation of falling. Sometimes, it happens for no reason at all.
When Mom or Dad puts them to bed, many babies will startle themselves awake. I know. I’ve been there. It’s agonizing having just rocked your little one to sleep only to have them scream and cry as soon as you put them down.
Here’s how the Ollie Swaddle can help.
"Not only does the Ollie Swaddle grow with your baby, but it also allows them the necessary flexibility for development."
How Does the Ollie Swaddle Work?
The Ollie Swaddle helps reduce the startle reflex by securely containing a baby’s extremities. Its staggered loop design ensures the proper snug fit around your baby’s torso for their size. Many swaddles don’t allow for proper hip joint flexibility which can cause issues down the line, such as hip dysplasia. But the Ollie has a freer bottom, allowing for proper hip joint movement.
Swaddling mimics the sensation of being in the womb, which helps regulate an infant’s central nervous system. By snugly wrapping your little one, they are less likely to startle awake. Swaddling also keeps babies warm by regulating their body temperatures.
While swaddling is not necessary for every baby, it can be particularly helpful for babies born addicted to drugs or babies with neurologic problems, reflux, or colic.
The Ollie Swaddle for Reflux and Colic
Oftentimes, babies with colic or reflux have tons of overstimulation in their environment. Swaddled babies are less prone to unexplained fussiness because swaddling regulates the nervous system. They feel more secure and calm, which also aids in the digestion process.
I wish I had known about the Ollie when my second son was diagnosed with reflux at 2 months. Swaddling definitely helped him, but as Hindi noticed with Oliver, my son couldn’t be contained. He often kicked himself out of the blankets, which created an unsafe sleep environment—something The Ollie World tries to avoid at all costs.
Safer Sleep with the Ollie
The Ollie Swaddle is meant to be placed below the shoulders for safety and developmental purposes. For safe sleeping practices, you never want fabric near your infant’s neck and face. For developmental purposes, your infant’s shoulder joints need to be secured in a way that causes no downward pulling or constraints while they sleep.
To ensure the swaddle stays below their shoulders, secure the elastic loop below your baby’s feet. The elastic loop also makes for quick, middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
Moisture-Wicking Material
Another safety feature of the Ollie is the moisture-wicking material, similar to workout clothes. By pulling sweat away from the skin, it evaporates quicker rather than staying trapped between the skin and the fabric. This prevents babies from overheating or developing rashes, which can occur if moisture remains for long periods on sensitive skin.
Moisture-wicking materials also promote warmth by pulling moisture away from the skin that would otherwise lower body temperatures in cold conditions.
Moisture-wicking fabric is made by spraying a residue that pulls perspiration away from the body. Unlike many of these fabrics whose residues deteriorate over time, Ollie’s thread is patented. It’s woven with special fiber guaranteed to keep its integrity for the fabric’s lifetime.
TOG Rating
TOG stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade” and determines the thickness of a fabric. The higher the TOG rating, the warmer the fabric will be, and vice versa.
The Ollie’s TOG rating is 0.8, which is on the lighter side. This means that the Ollie is made from a single layer without padding.
The Ollie is suitable for a variety of environments depending on what your infant wears beneath it. The Family Sleep Institute provides a guide on how to dress your baby for sleep based on room temperatures and TOG ratings. You should also always confer with your pediatrician about safe sleep practices, including what your infant should wear to sleep.
Use It to Transition
Once a baby can roll from back to front, it’s usually time to stop swaddling. However, because of its one-size-fits-all design, you can continue to use the Ollie at this stage as a transition swaddle. Rather than wrapping your baby’s arms inside the swaddle, keep one or both arms out.
The Ollie Swaddle’s design is based on an infant’s developmental needs rather than their height and weight. At 30.5 inches in length and 28 inches in width, you can use the Ollie until your child outgrows it or no longer wants or needs a swaddle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are used in the Ollie Swaddle?
According to the Ollie World website, the Ollie Swaddle is made from a “custom blend material made from 85% polyester and 15% spandex.”
How do I wash my Ollie?
The Ollie is washer- and dryer-safe. Secure the velcro hook and loop tabs and wash in a delicates laundry bag on a delicate cycle. Dry on low or no heat.
