What do you do when your newborn hates being swaddled and nothing on the market works? If you’re Liz Hilton, you invent something better. A mother, designer, and entrepreneur with a background in 3D knit technology, Liz took a very real newborn sleep problem and built a solution from scratch in her garage.
That solution became Swaddelini, a swaddle designed to contain babies while still allowing natural movement. Parents rave that it gives their baby a snug and secure fit that helps their baby feel calm and sleep longer without overheating, and many describe it as the best swaddle they’ve ever purchased. The secret is patented Hug Technology that delivers continuous comfort reminiscent of a parent’s embrace, inspired by therapeutic garments originally designed for children with special needs. Unlike traditional swaddles that lock babies in tight, the Swaddelini’s seamless, 3D knit construction helps soothe the startle reflex, calms fussy babies, and encourages longer, more restful sleep while still giving babies room to move. And practically speaking, parents love that there are no Velcro, zippers, or complicated wrapping involved.
What started as a homegrown fix for her own son has grown into a 10,000-square-foot American factory with a team of 12. In this episode, Liz shares the journey from frustrated new mom to founder and CEO, and what she’s learned about newborn sleep along the way.
Plus, just released, Holding Mother a documentary defining postpartum supportfollow @AliceCEisenman on her journey preparing for her postpartum with the help of @motherbees.studio living it out and reflecting on her experience 40 days after. Explore what postpartum support means to different Mothers and begin to ask yourself….how can I support the new mother in my life? What does postpartum support mean to me? Because when we can define postpartum support, then we can advocate for it!
Episode Highlights:
- Liz takes us back to August 2017, when her newborn son refused every swaddle on the market. With a background in 3D knit design, she did what any resourceful mom would do and built her own. We talk about what those early days looked like and how a garage invention turned into a full-scale American manufacturing operation.
- Not every baby wants to be wrapped up tight, but they still need the comfort and security of a swaddle. Liz breaks down the science behind her patented Hug Technology, why containment and movement don’t have to be opposites, and how that insight is helping thousands of families get more sleep.
- Liz didn’t just build a product. She built a workplace that her employees call the best job they’ve ever had. We talk about what it means to run a values-driven small business, manufacture in the US, and make the world a better place one swaddle at a time.
Sleep Struggles Solved + Results Guaranteed
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Transcript-Start”]
Welcome to the Kids Sleep Show podcast, where we dive into the magical world of sleep and all things parenting. Join us as we embark on a journey filled with expert advice, practical tips, and heartwarming stories that will transform your little ones into sleep superheroes and empower you to navigate the beautiful chaos of parenting.
I’m your host Courtney Zens, and I’m on a mission to change how the world views sleep and provide accessible sleep coaching resources for all families to build healthy sleep habits in their home for children and adults of all ages. As an award winning speaker, author, and pediatric sleep expert, myself and my team of consultants work intimately with families around the world to teach healthy sleep habits to children and adults. I believe wholeheartedly that sleep is the foundation for which a happy home is built so let’s sleep together.
Hey everyone, welcome to this week’s episode of the Kids Sleep Show podcast. I’m your host Courtney Zens, the founder of Tiny Transitions, and I am joined today by an amazing female founder herself Miss Liz Hilton. Welcome to the show Liz. Thank you so much for joining us and tell us what amazing product you designed several years back.
Thank you Courtney. It’s so great to be here and I am a huge fan of sleep consultants. I used them with my first baby who really really needed it. I know there’s so much information out there it’s hard to tell what is good for your baby and similarly it’s hard to tell what swaddles are good for your baby. So I was in that boat where I was a first time mom I didn’t have support husband went to work and I am alone with the baby and baby is only sleeping 20 minutes pockets here and there and it was rough.
I noticed that the SWAT swaddling kind of worked until it didn’t and he’d break free or he felt too confined and he felt trapped and so in agitated and he’d either be angry or he’d break out of it. So I thought well I might be able to fix this like if I just made like a knit tube but with um it closed for the arm pockets he probably could still move and not feel trapped but have enough comfort to go back to sleep. So I took um I’m a 3d knit designer and engineer by trade I had a knitting machine in my garage that I was using to knit solutions for office furniture compression garments and shoe uppers you name it I was knitting it.
So it took me a couple weeks I developed this prototype it was really rough I put it on Thomas and at this point he’s like 6 weeks old. I put it on and my husband and I go to sleep and we wake up the next morning we’re a bit in a panic I mean we yeah I was just saying it’s like yay oh my gosh what’s going on. I know that we hadn’t slept that long since before we had him so we run to the crib he’s there sleeping peacefully and my husband grabs my arm and he says Liz you’re going to sell a million of these.
I in that moment I’m like this is gonna be a lot of work cause I had I had a job I had a side gig I had like a lot going on. Actually wait no I didn’t have a job at that point I was still trying to get my little knitting factory off the ground but it was just in my garage at that time. So I’m an R&D girly I’m research and development so I got to work on refining it sending samples out to moms making it better and better. I eventually engineered the diaper flap which took me weeks to program but it’s brilliant because then it’s how you get to slide the arms in easily and also shimmies up over the hips so you can change the diaper without unswaddling the baby.
The feedback was great. I did a Kickstarter didn’t get funded but I did win a pitch competition which helped pay for my patent. So a year after my baby is now turning 1 and I am at the Chicago Baby Show debuting my product. It is the swaddleini.
And the swaddleini works because it’s snug around the chest and arms but the arms can still move. It’s made with an elastic at the chest and recycled nylon, cotton, and bamboo options. Babies can still move, touch their face, and get comfort without scratching.
What I love about it is there’s no seams and it doesn’t lose stretch. Once you’ve used and loved your swaddleini you can pass it on. It also works by weight rather than age which is important for safety.
We also make versions with sleeves and transition sacks and even adult versions for sensory needs. I launched it at the autism and developmental differences expo in Chicago.
One of the biggest things I learned is that timing matters. If a baby is hungry or overtired no swaddle will work. You need routines, wake windows, and proper feeding.
The 5 8 5 rule is five minutes of walking around facing out, eight minutes of rocking, and five minutes waiting before putting baby down. Consistency helps babies settle.
Sleep routines matter. Bath, dim lights, feeding, burping, swaddle, and crib. Babies learn independent sleep skills when timing and environment are right.
My biggest advice to new parents is take care of yourself first. If you cannot regulate yourself you cannot regulate your baby. Ask for help, rest, and prioritize your mental health.
We’re all better parents when rested. Sleep is not optional. It is foundational for both baby and parent wellbeing.
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. For more tips visit tinytransitions.com.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Transcript-End”]
