Why you should swaddle your baby and how?
Everyone is familiar with those sweet newborn announcement photos with babies being all wrapped in their cozy swaddle. Swaddling, the practice of tightly wrapping up a newborn’s limbs (particularly arms) with their head out, has been a common newborn practice for generations. But what is the importance of swaddling? Do you have to swaddle your baby? And how do you swaddle for effective newborn sleep? This post will answer all those questions and more.
What Are the Benefits of Swaddling?
Swaddling provides comfort and support to your sleeping child. It can mimic the womb and provide deep pressure that is calming to your infant. Swaddling and placing your child on their back prevents their startle reaction from waking them.
Other benefits include:
Temperature regulation: A swaddle provides an excellent way to keep babies comfortable and warm, but remember to check on them to ensure they are not overheating as that is a risk factor for SIDS.
Improved Sleep Patterns: Swaddling combined with movement and sound can be used to calm fussy babies and even promote longer and deeper sleep (Day 2015).
Easier to Handle: Because newborns have limited control over their bodies, swaddling can make it easier to manage them during feedings, diaper changes, and when holding them.
When to Swaddle?
Swaddling is most commonly applied during the first few months of a baby's life, typically from birth up to around three to four months of age. This timeframe aligns with newborns adjusting to life outside the womb and still developing control over their involuntary movements.
The best times to swaddle are during…
Bedtime and Naps: As part of their sleep routine, you can swaddle your baby to help prepare them for a great night’s sleep.
Fussy Moments: Because swaddling is so calming, swaddling a fussy, discontent baby can help them settle quicker.
During Changes/Feeds: To help prevent the distraction of the baby and the flailing of limbs, partial swaddling can help make changes and feeds easier.
How to Swaddle Your Baby?
Sometimes swaddling can be confusing, but here are some helpful tips to keep in mind if using a blanket:
Lay out flat a soft, breathable blanket that is big enough to wrap around your baby and turn the blanket to have a point at the top then fold the top point down.
Lay your baby down so their head is above the folded portion.
Hold down their left arm next to their side and fold the left side over to tuck between their right side and their right arm.
Fold the right side across their right arm and over to the left side.
Tuck the bottom under their feet and tuck the excess blanket into one of the sides
Surprisingly, some of our favorite swaddles are not blanket swaddles though. Some of our favorites are those with a zipper or velcro for ease of putting on and staying on. For a list of some of our favorite ones please refer to the Nested to Rested Sleep Consulting Amazon Storefront.
Things to consider:
Be sure hips have plenty of room to move up and down as swaddling too tight could impact hip development.
Make sure the swaddle is snug, but not too tight. It should be tight enough to not come undone and become a hazard, but not too tight that babies cannot move. You should be able to place 2-3 fingers between your baby and the blanket.
Be sure to look for signs that your baby is too warm such as flushed cheeks or labored breathing.
Always place your baby on their back when they are in the swaddle according to AAP guidelines.
Have more questions on swaddling your baby? Leave a comment below and allow us to help.
References:
Day L. (2015) The history, benefits and risks of swaddling babies. Journal of Health Visiting 3:4, 202-208. Available from: https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2015.3.4.202
McCarthy, J. (2020). Should you swaddle your baby? Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/should-you-swaddle-your-baby-201605249730
National Institute of Child’s Health Quality (2024). Health Professionals Need to Talk to Families About Swaddling https://nichq.org/insight/health-professionals-need-talk-families-about-swaddling