My name is Lynette Damir, and I am a mom, a registered nurse and an entrepreneur.
This is how I introduced myself when I took the stage at the Inc 500 in 2009.
I often get asked the question, “How did you start your business?”
The question comes from various people with various back grounds…women interested in starting a business or someone with just an idea, interviewers, seasoned business owners or new team members.
The answer comes from my heart…So, I thought the best way to start my blog would be to answer that question, share a bit about myself and my passions, and later, I’ll share the leap of faith I took to move the business forward and the roller coaster ride I’ve been on since.
I’ve been a registered nurse for many years, and I am passionate about helping others.
I founded SwaddleDesigns with the desire to help new parents calm and comfort their newborns.
I did not start my company because I could not find a product for myself. I started my company to help others. I’ve made it my mission to help make the transition into parenthood easier for new parents, and the transition from the womb to the world more peaceful and gentle for babies. I share a common mission with Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block. We both want to help new parents prevent sleep deprivation, exhaustion and get more sleep.
When I started SwaddleDesigns in 2002, I had been visited families with new babies in their homes and saw that the new parents were sleep deprived and exhausted, and often, too often, the baby was crying in the bassinet flailing its little arms and legs. The moms were teary eyed, and the Dads’ faces were strained.
I let them know I was there to help. I would pick up their baby and soothe her or him by shushing and rocking…and then, I would look for a blanket in which to swaddle the baby. But… I couldn’t find an appropriate blanket. The blankets the parents had were too thick, or too small, or satin backed or just not appropriate for swaddling.
Sometimes, the parents had “borrowed” a few of the cotton flannel blankets from the hospital. These blankets quickly became too small as their baby grew. However, I would swaddle their newborn baby with the flannel blankets, and baby would calm down and get sleepy. The parents were delighted and asked me to show them how to swaddle.
Home after home I visited, I would hear the same requests for help… “Please show me how to swaddle.” “I know the nurses showed me at the hospital, but I can’t remember how.” “I learned in class, but that was forever ago.” Over and over, and again and again, I would hear the request to show the parents how to swaddle. I even heard it from a few new pediatricians as well… “Please show us the secret of the hospital nurses. Show us how to swaddle.”
It became clear to me that I had identified two issues. First, the parents did not have the right kind of blanket to swaddle with, and second, they did not know how or could not remember how to swaddle.
My desire to help drove me to….(more next time).
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