The Snoedel Infant, Newborn or Preemie Baby Sleeping & Bonding Aid Blanket

Helps Babies Fall Asleep More Quickly! The Snoedel (sounds like Snoodle or Snoodel) is a sleeping and bonding aid developed by a mom. Snoedels are handcrafted in the United States with 100% cotton flannel fabric and 100% cleaned and combed wool. With the addition of the special natural wool, the Snoedel is better able to absorb and retain your scent. For times you can't be near your child, you can fulfill his or her need for your presence with this unique stand-in. Just place the Snoedel for three or four consecutive nights on mother's or father's bare skin to allow it to absorb body scent. Then position the Snoedel in your baby's bed so that the baby is able to smell your scent which is slowly released. When held or placed near a newborn or infant the scent is slowly released to comfort the baby, thus improving sleep, aiding in bonding, and soothing a baby’s crying or distress. To refresh your scent on the Snoedel, rub it against your bare skin at least twice a week. Snoedel helps promote falling asleep more quickly and reduces baby's fear of being alone. It's in wide use in hospitals, and is particularly comforting to preemies who often are separated from parents right after birth.

The very first Snoedel was created by a Dutch woman inspired by the birth of a friend’s premature infant. The Dutch word “snoedel” means “snuggle”. The body is 100% cotton flannel, the head is stuffed with pure clean and carded sheeps wool; Snoedels can be safely machine washed and dried. After being washed, a Snoedel should be re-infused with the parents’ scent. Recent research suggests that just an hour after birth a newborn can locate his mother’s nipple by sense of smell. In addition to bringing comfort and reassurance, the sense of smell is one of the first things that bond a baby to its parents.

Snoedels bring comfort as “Aromatherapy of the very best kind – the scent of a mom”. They are designed specifically to absorb and retain a mother’s or father’s scent. Then when held or placed near a newborn or infant the scent is slowly released to comfort the baby, thus improving sleep, aiding in bonding, and soothing a baby’s crying or distress. A parent (preferably the mother) should sleep with the soft Snoedel for a couple of nights prior to giving the Snoedel to the baby. Snoedels can be “infused” this way before the baby is born, especially if a premature birth is anticipated, so that the baby can be given the Snoedel soon after birth when taken from mom and placed in an incubator. Position the Snoedel in baby’s bed so that the baby is able to smell the parent’s scent, which is now being slowly released. We recommend laying the Snoedel in the corner of the crib or positioning the Snoedel so as not to interfere in anyway with the baby’s breathing for at least the first 3 months of age.

Snoedel has been used for over fifteen years in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to comfort hospitalized babies on ventilators, heart monitors and other medical equipment. Instead of being totally isolated from the touch of their parents, babies in the NICU have the comfort and scent of their mother near him, slowly being released through the accompanying Snoedel, to ease the separation and continue the parent-to-baby bonding process. Babies feel more comforted and secure, especially as medical procedures are done, from the unique smell from their parent’s scent captured in the 100% natural Snoedel doll fibers.

A preemie “is out in the world before he or she should be, and this causes tremendous stress. Using the scent of mom or dad is one step to counteract that stress, by creating a comfortable environment that gives them a sense of who they are.” The Snoedel is in conformity with the provisons of the Safety of Toys Directive (CE Mark) and can be sterilized for a hospital environment. All Snoedels are handcafted in the United States by caring women, mostly mothers themselves, who give great attention to detail and the quality of their work. We are proud to say that every Snoedel is made with love! Can be machine washed in warm water. Handcrafted in a blend of premium quality 100% natural materials. 100% cotton flannel and pure Dutch sheep cleaned and combed wool. Approximate size 18" x 18". Handmade in USA under “newborn-safe” conditions, environments free of tobacco and perfumes. (shipping weight 1 lb)