“You may not have known their story, but every mother who swaddle wrapped her baby or offered her child the magic of a security blanket should thank this couple. Comfort Silkie's original and beloved products opened the market place to the comfort needs of babies and their parents.”
Donna Holloran, MSW, Child Development Specialist/Parent Educator, www.babygroup.me

Greg and Jeanelle Troncone have spent their lives bringing comfort. Their comfort mission began over two decades ago with two products designed for baby comfort. Today they are considered the comfort specialists and Jeanelle is known as “The Mother of Comfort.” They create product and education about the power of comfort. They are the founders of the Do Comfort movement and the entrepreneurs of the nationally marketed Comfort Silkie line of product.

In 1987, Jeanelle was teaching expectant parents at a hospital how to birth and care for their new babies. Parents were asking her for recommendations for childcare when mother had to return to work. Realizing that this was a difficult transition for both baby and mother, Jeanelle decided to create something that could connect mom and baby. Her own children were attached to silkie items and she began to research the pheromone of “infant attachment” and comfort behaviors. It was before online medical journals were available and Jeanelle spent hours researching infant comfort response through her hospitals’ physician resource library. The research acknowledged that babies are often soothed by stroking something soft and silkie; like the edge of their crib blanket. Psychologists did not know the qualifying factor. However, Jeanelle did and the Ah-h-h moment had arrived. She knew from being around birth that the fluid that surrounds baby in the womb has a silkie feel. Babies were soothed by the silkie comfort sensation they stroked through for nine months before birth.

Comfort Silkie Company began with the Soft and Silkie Security Blanket for babies. Babies had been dragging their crib blankets around for the silkie feel of the binding. Jeanelle and Greg decided to create something for babies with just the right comfort feels. They researched all kinds of different textures and combinations of fabrics looking for the right movement, stroke-ability, and size for baby comfort response. They chose a very liquidy, soft satin backed in a napped cotton and trimmed with a satin binding. The satin binding included a loop that mothers thought was for attaching but babies would use for stroking behaviors. They researched the size easiest for babies to cuddle, stroke, and effectively use to soothe. Knowing that mother’s unique scent was soothing to baby, the design of the blanket, its size and fabrics made it easy to be included in baby snuggle time and to absorb mother’s scent. Finally, there was something safe and comforting designed especially for baby.

This was not just another baby blanket. Each aspect and detail of the design was chosen for comfort response. Fabric: Napped soft cotton flannel that feels like skin; backed in silkie satin that has a fluid sensation. Binding: Wide satin for stroking and double stitched for safety
Size: 14"x18" designed for little hands.

The Soft and Silkie Security Blanket received a patent and babies and mothers loved it. Babies picked it up and immediately began to snuggle, stroke and comfort. Mothers were happy to have their silkie night gowns back and no more dirty, big blankets dragging around.

However, store buyers didn’t get the concept right away. Jeanelle was told by a renowned marketer that “No one would ever buy this and I hope you haven’t invested any money in it.” The Soft and Silkie Security Blanket was going to take some educating and convincing to be successful in retail. Buyers were confused on whether it was a good idea to have a security blanket or not. And, “Why in heavens’ name would anyone spend money on a blanket that didn’t cover a baby?”

Greg and Jeanelle put every thing on the line and flew to their first New York tradeshow. They were armed with a notebook of research on infant attachment and baby comfort needs. The first Comfort Silkie order form had the Soft and Silkie Security Blanket available in pink and blue with two extra lines in case they added something more. The stores that ordered that fall were the first to offer the comfort blanket that has now soothed over a million babies.

Their next patented product was a unique shaped swaddling blanket designed for wrapping newborns. At the hospital, Jeanelle was having difficulty teaching new parents how to effectively swaddle their babies with the available 30” receiving blankets. The next Ah-h-h moment came in an inventive dream. After a late night call from a frantic mom who was having trouble swaddling her fussy baby, Jeanelle’s subconscious tackled the problem. She dreamt a swaddling design, woke up and sketched the idea and went back to sleep. The next morning she gave it to Greg and he confirmed that it was a design that could be produced. Its design addressed important comfort factors for a new baby: Shape: Butterfly shape with soft wings to wrap baby like a cuddly cocoon. Wraps over with baby's arms tucked over tummy to soothe. Pulls up from bottom to support baby’s newborn squatty position for comfort. Helping baby transition from womb to world. Size: Swaddles newborn to 16 pounds

Jeanelle went to see her patent lawyer with the new design. He had told her on their first meeting a few years ago “Go home, honey, and raise your family. Most patented items never get marketed. You have no idea how much money it would take to make this successful.” The parents and babies who have been comforted by the Comfort Silkie products over the years are glad she didn’t listen to his advice.

Greg and Jeanelle were pioneers in the baby comfort field.
Comfort Silkie products went on to win the much coveted Juvenile Products Manufacture Award for innovation and design. They also received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval which identifies the finest products marketed. Comfort Silkie became a marketplace leader and industry favorite.

All the while, they were raising six children in their lifestyle company.
Greg had closed his business partnership in construction technology and joined Jeanelle in building a family business. They split the business responsibilities along their lines of strength. Greg heading up the left brain tasks of day-to-day business and overseeing production. Jeanelle overseeing the right brain aspects of product design, marketing, and public relations. They enjoy working together and joke that together they make a full brain.

Jeanelle did not plan on becoming a full time business woman with her creative ideas. With the long hours of a growing company she didn’t want her own children to grow up without the mothering comfort she could provide. She decided to homeschool her six children as part of her business day. Family business took on a whole new meaning. Greg and Jeanelle devised a school plan and curriculum that allowed them to enjoy raising and educating their children. The reward was been a close knit family and older children who have become successful adults. Some of their children are now apart of the Comfort Silkie team.

The Comfort Silkie company continued to grow and add product.
Over the years they realized that we never outgrow our need for comfort. More products were added for all ages and everyday comforts. Jeanelle continued her education and research on the power of comfort. She began working as a Comfort Therapist and an innovator in the power and psychology of comfort. Her comfort techniques and skills enrich the lives of premature babies to aging seniors. Today, the Comfort Silkie lines include soothing items for birthing mothers, breast cancer and cardiac rehabilitation.