When baby Sophia turned blue and stopped breathing on her first day home from the hospital, mother Katerina Trani rushed her to the hospital. “Swaddle her and put her on her back,” instructed the doctor, after examining the infant and finding no permanent damage.
The lack of oxygen had put Sophia at a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and swaddling was a way to keep her safe.
Although Trani tried to follow the doctor’s orders, she found it impossible to swaddle the baby in a receiving blanket.
“I couldn’t do it right, and now I know from many, many interviews with parents and my research that a lot of people can’t do it right,” Trani said.
The infant was crying, the mom was frustrated, and something had to be done.
Katerina and her husband Sid Trani studied existing products, looked at risks, worked on prototypes, and ultimately developed the Loving Baby Swaddle Blanket.
“The challenge was to design a blanket that would conform to baby’s body without restricting growth or breathing and without using the excess fabric, pockets, snaps, arm straps, buttons, zippers or Velcro that other blankets feature,” they say on their Web site.
Swaddling, a custom in Biblical times and still in Eastern and tribal cultures, is considered a natural way to protect and nurture a newborn, and its popularity is growing in the United States. The Tranis knew that effective swaddling eases the baby’s transition from the mother’s womb to the world. It also helps regulate temperature, prevents babies from being bothered by their own startle reflex, reduces symptoms of colic, increases REM sleep, and makes the baby feel warm and secure.
Using the blanket is simple. Laid flat it is shaped like an inverted triangle with half circles at the top and bottom, and two extra flaps on the outside. Wrap the left side snugly around the baby, tuck the blanket under the bottom, and fold the right side over snugly. Then tie the two remaining flaps. Purchase of the swaddling blanket includes illustrated instructions and options for weaning the baby out of the blanket.
Wendy Brant, a mom Trani met at a tradeshow, had an infant, Cameron Ryan Brant, who would not stop crying but she did not want to try swaddling. The baby’s grandmother, Joska Levy, intervened.
When the technique worked, Brant came to Trani and bought two of the blankets from the show.
“I never would have believed this,” Brant said. “I have three children and this is the best product I have ever had.”
Another user, who has moved from Danville to Arizona, described the process as a “burrito wrap.”
“Being a new mom is tiring enough, and trying to swaddle a new baby successfully can be stressful,” she said. “This blanket takes away all the worries and stress new moms can encounter.”
“The babies love it. You can see it in their faces,” Trani said. They stop crying and drift off to sleep, a sure sign they are happy. Plus she said swaddling has reduced SIDS deaths by 50 percent in recent years.
Sid Trani, an entrepreneur and inventor, is responsible for the design of the blanket. He also has helped create medical devices for heart and brain surgery, a laser machine, a blood count device and an insulin inhaling device. Without his expertise, the product would have been nothing but wishful thinking, Katerina said.
Sophia Trani is now 7 years old and has a younger brother, Mattie, who is 5, plus an older brother, Antonius, who is 19. All are thriving, said Katerina.
In addition to being the mother of three, Katerina Trani is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, currently earning her Ph.D. in natural health sciences. She works with all kinds of clients, from abused and neglected children to grandparents. In addition to all her other activities, she remains passionate about swaddling.
“Every baby should be swaddled,” she said.
To learn more, visit www.lovingbabyinc.com. Call 560-0066.
“Receiving blankets are like scrub boards,” Katerina Trani said. “The swaddle blanket is like the washing machine. It makes life easier.” CharStyle:endbullet>n
Loving Baby Swaddle Blanket donations
Katerina and Sid Trani believe that every baby should be swaddled and have donated their Loving Baby Swaddle Blanket to the following organizations:* “Viva Las Vegas” Silent Auction School Fund Raiser
* Triplets, Moms and More: Silent Auction
* 23rd annual Primo’s Run for Education
* Mothers of Twins Club Silent Auction
* Kaiser Health Fair
* Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek NICU
* Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children’s NICU
* K.I.D.S. Kids in Distressed Situations Inc.
To receive a donated blanket for an auction or event, contact the Tranis at 560-0066 or e-mail them at info@lovingbabyinc.com.
