With the birth of our child, we are confronted daily with the question of what is best for our baby. What can we do to ensure it develops healthily, sleeps soundly, and feels comfortable overall? You probably feel the same way! One topic for us is swaddling. You have likely heard many reasons why you shouldn't wrap your baby in a blanket before sleep:
- “My baby cries more when I swaddle it.”
- “I don't want it to become dependent and only be able to fall asleep when swaddled.”
- “It's dangerous.”
- “My baby doesn't like it.”
- “My baby should be able to put its fingers in its mouth to learn self-soothing.”
- “My baby needs to train its muscles, so the arms must be free.”
We have heard all of this too and then looked more closely at the topic. In doing so, we came across at least as many reasons that swaddling is good and even important for the baby. Don't worry, you certainly won't have to send your 10-year-old child on a school trip wrapped in a huge blanket.
The Benefits of Swaddling
#1 Swaddling Reduces the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
A study in 2007 found that swaddling can reduce the risk of SIDS. I am sure this topic is particularly important to you, and it is for us too. That’s why I mention it here as the first reason. Swaddling prevents your baby from easily covering its face with the blanket. At the same time, it limits the possibility of suddenly rolling onto its stomach. Both of these factors reduce the risk of SIDS, making swaddling important in this regard.
#2 Swaddling Calms Your Baby
Even though we as parents probably wish for this, swaddling will not make your baby fall asleep immediately. It will not calm your little one like flipping a switch. For some babies, it might work that way; if yours is one of them, congratulations. For most, it does not work immediately. Your baby may initially be a bit frustrated because its movement is restricted and may cry a bit more. Don't let this discourage you; it’s normal. Generally, it calms down quickly because swaddling reminds your little one of the snugness and confinement of the womb. This creates a sense of security, and combined with other calming elements, such as soft singing, it will surely soothe your baby quickly.
By the way: Babies can be very active during sleep. It can happen that they wake themselves up with their arms. Often triggered by the Moro reflex (startle reflex), which can be triggered not only by sounds or other disturbances but also by the transition between different sleep phases, your baby may startle in its sleep. Here, swaddling helps prevent your baby from waking itself up and allows it to find a longer, deeper, and more restful sleep.
#3 Swaddling Supports Your Baby's Neuromuscular Development
It is claimed that swaddling prevents babies from strengthening their muscles and practicing movements because they cannot move their arms. Did you know that movements at night or before falling asleep are mostly random and not consciously controlled? However, when your baby tries to fight against the blanket, its muscle movements are controlled. Only then is the neuromuscular development strengthened because your baby consciously tries to move its arms.
How to Swaddle Properly
Is your baby often very restless, fussy, and frequently wakes itself up? Then you can try swaddling. Swaddling can also help babies who cry a lot and have difficulty self-regulating.
Use a swaddle cloth or a baby blanket that is stretchy and breathable for swaddling. Your baby should be swaddled while lying on its back and must remain on its back afterward. If your baby rolls onto its side or stomach, you should stop swaddling, as the risk of suffocation becomes too great.
Swaddling Step by Step:
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Lay your baby safely on its back.
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Spread the swaddle cloth in a diamond shape in front of you and fold down the top corner.
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Place your baby on the cloth so that its neck is above the cloth. The shoulders should be at the top edge.
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Place the right arm alongside the baby's body and fold the blanket or cloth diagonally over the body. Secure the cloth under your baby.
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Now pull the bottom corner of the cloth up loosely and tuck it in so that the legs still have enough freedom of movement.
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Repeat step 4 with the left arm.
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Tuck the cloth securely under your baby while leaving about a finger's width of space for breathing. Ensure that the legs and hips can move.
It is important when swaddling that your baby's legs and hips have enough room to move, as otherwise, it can lead to misalignments (hip dysplasia).
The Right Blanket for Swaddling
For the right comfort factor, you just need the ideal blanket. Your baby should feel comfortable in it. The baby blanket should be made of breathable, pleasant, and natural materials and, ideally for easy swaddling, be somewhat stretchy. We have developed our baby knit blanket from natural raw materials for this purpose. The blanket is made of 100% organic cotton, is cuddly soft, and is available in six different colors.
How Long Can I Swaddle My Baby?
You can start swaddling right after birth, as your baby remembers the cozy snugness of the womb. You can swaddle your baby for the first eight weeks, as the risk increases that your baby will start to roll over without you noticing.
What Clothing Should My Baby Wear When Swaddled?
The swaddle blanket or cloth replaces the sleeping bag. What you dress your baby in underneath depends on the ambient temperature. I recommend breathable clothing made from natural materials. In summer, a light onesie is often sufficient, while in winter, a long pajama and socks are the better solution. Your baby is always perfectly dressed if it is neither cold nor sweating at the neck.
When Should I Not Swaddle My Baby?
In some situations, you should not swaddle your baby. Here is a selection:
- In case of fever and high heat
- In our environment
- In case of hip dysplasia
- In case of infections and illnesses
- In case of spitting up and reflux
- After vaccination
- In case of eczema and itching
- When your baby is unattended
Swaddling – Yes or No?
Even though you can do something wrong with swaddling, I recommend you try it out. If your baby is restless, it might work. Keep in mind the points mentioned above, do not wrap your baby too tightly, and always supervise it while swaddling. Then you can achieve a lot with swaddling.
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