Creator of the SwaddleKeeper

Kim Stolte, R.N. — Creator of the SwaddleKeeper

After watching parents try diligently to learn how to swaddle correctly, she decided there must be an easier way for parents to swaddle their newborn! For parents that are often sleep deprived and learning so many new tasks, the additional task of swaddling properly is frustrating. That's where the design for the SwaddleKeeper evolved, making swaddling simple.

The second feature of the SwaddleKeeper came from watching parents, siblings, grandparents and friends handling the newborn. The statements, “be careful of their head and neck” and “hold their heads” was frequently heard when handling the newborn. The tension during transfers from one person to another and even during the cradling of the newborn was eliminated when the SwaddleKeeper with Newborn Head Support blanket was used!

Kim has facilitated a parenting support group as a volunteer for New Parent Services in Hood River for the last 7 years. The group consists of weekly gatherings primarily for moms and babies, in addition to get-togethers for Moms, Dads and Babies at least once a month in the evening. Seeing new parents learn from each other and make new friends with so much in common is always a joy and a great motivation to keep the group going. Since our community doesn't have a 'breastfeeding clinic' that parents can go to, making home visits for breastfeeding questions is one of her favorite roles. Knowing that the first few days with the adjustments of birth recovery, lack of sleep and feeding the baby can be challenging, she provides encouragment and resources to help whenever a parent requests. Her goal is helping families adjust to their new roles as parents!

Kim has worked as a Labor, Delivery and Postpartum nurse in Hood River for 9 years. She has also worked in Portland, Oregon at Oregon Health Sciences University, Providence St. Vincents Hospital and Silverton Hospital. At Hood River Hospital she has contributed to many committees that focus on safe staffing, patient safety, decreasing painful IV starts, policy and procedures and cesarean section drills for doctors and nurses. She is the primary contributor to the educational bulletin boards in the labor and delivery department that encourages education of her fellow RN's about current research, policy/order/medication changes. She is a neonatal resuscitation instructor, preceptor of new RN graduates and a full time employee.

Kim graduated from the College of Marin School of Nursing in Kentfield California. She grew up in Colorado and Montana. She lived in California for 9 years. In 1998 she moved to Hood River, Oregon. She is the mother of three boys, Eric 18, Adam 16 and Owen 8.

A note from Kim:

I hope you enjoy the SwaddleKeeper with Newborn Head Support Blanket. It has been a joy designing and sewing this great product.

I want to thank my mother for being an avid sewer and teaching me to sew as a young girl. She was also essential in the design and production phase of the SwaddleKeeper! Thank you to my sister who is the web designer and web-master!

Kim Stolte, R.N.