There is nothing more precious in life than seeing your newborn
As a part of your new commitment to this tiny human, you set out to read all of the books and articles you can get your hands on. But what you notice quickly, is that while reading about babies is one thing, actually taking care of them is entirely different.
After all, a lot of parenting is accomplished through trial and error. And discovering what works best for your
To make this journey into parenting a little bit easier for you—and a whole lot less intimidating—we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on swaddling.
In it, you’ll find everything you need to know about swaddling and simple swaddling instructions that anyone can try at home.
What is Swaddling?
Swaddling is an age old practice many parents use to safely and securely wrap their
Interestingly enough, parents have been swaddling babies for hundreds of years. And it’s all thanks to a startle reflex babies have at the time of birth. This startle reflex—called the Moro reflex—can affect your
If you’ve ever noticed your
In fact, in some babies, the Moro reflex can even be overactive, causing them to exhibit these signs more often than would be considered normal. And this can be very unsettling to babies who have this issue.
Fortunately though, swaddling helps to reduce or even eliminate the Moro reflex in young babies while they’re wrapped up, which in turn, allows them to rest without the constant interruption of being startled.
Swaddling Benefits
There are many benefits to swaddling your
For starters, swaddling infants:
- Puts the
baby in a similar position to that in the womb - Helps them feel safe and cozy
- Regulates the
baby ’s temperature - Allows them get more restful quiet sleep for longer periods of time
- Helps to calm infants
Furthermore, swaddling prevents your
As if that were not enough, swaddling can make it easier for nursing mothers to breastfeed their child, especially late at night. And a sleeping
Is Swaddling Safe?
Swaddling is very safe for your
Of course, safety concerns are always at the top of every parent’s mind. So, it’s only natural to question whether or not swaddling is safe for your
To alleviate your concerns, keep the following in mind when swaddling your baby :
- Always ensure that no portion of the blanket is ever in contact with your
baby ’s mouth, nose, or eyes when they are swaddled. - Be sure that the swaddling blanket is securely wrapped around your child so that it will never come loose.
- Avoid wrapping the blanket so tightly that your
baby ’s arms and legs are forced into unnatural positions, their circulation is cut off, they can’t breathe properly, or their hips are displaced. - Always use a lightweight blanket or sleep sack to swaddle your
baby so they do not get overheated. - Transition away from swaddling your
baby once they can roll over onto their stomach easily, typically around 2-4 months of age. - Once your child is too old to be swaddled in a blanket, consider using a sleepsack to enjoy many of the same benefits of swaddling.
Swaddling Instructions
While swaddling a wiggly newborn may seem difficult at first, with a little practice, you can certainly master the art of swaddling your
As a matter of fact, there are several different ways to do it correctly, so you can experiment a bit and determine which swaddling techniques works best for you.
To help you get started on your swaddle skills, here are 3 different ways to swaddle your
A. The Triangle Swaddle
- Fold a swaddling blanket into the shape of a triangle and lay it flat on the floor.
- Place your
baby face up in the center of the blanket with their shoulders resting just below the top fold of the blanket. - Take your
baby ’s right arm and gently place it along their right side. Then, fold the right side of the blanket across thebaby ’s chest and tuck it underneath them, making sure to leave thebaby ’s left arm free. - Next, fold the bottom of the blanket up over the
baby ’s feet and tuck the end of the fabric into the top of the blanket near the center of thebaby ’s chest. - Lastly, take your
baby ’s left arm and gently place it along their left side. Then, fold the left side of the blanket across thebaby ’s chest and tuck it underneath them.
B. The Diamond Swaddle
- Lay a swaddling blanket flat on the floor so that it makes a diamond shape in front of you.
- Pull the top pointed corner of the blanket down a couple of inches then lay it flat on top of the blanket.
- Place your
baby in the center of the blanket with their shoulders resting just below the top fold of the blanket. - Take your
baby ’s right arm and gently place it along their right side. Then, fold the right side of the blanket across thebaby ’s chest and tuck it underneath them, making sure to leave thebaby ’s left arm free. - Next, take your
baby ’s left arm and gently place it along their left side. Then, fold the left side of the blanket across thebaby ’s chest and tuck it underneath them. - Lastly, fold the bottom of the blanket up over the
baby ’s feet and tuck the end of the fabric into the top of the blanket near the center of thebaby ’s chest.
C. The Sleepsack Swaddle
- Place the
baby inside the sleepsack and close the zipper. - Take your
baby ’s right arm and gently place it along their right side. Then, fold the right wing of the sleepsack across thebaby ’s chest and tuck it underneath them, making sure to leave thebaby ’s left arm free. - Lastly, take your
baby ’s left arm and gently place it along their left side. Then, fold the left wing of the sleepsack across thebaby ’s chest, securing it to the sleepsack itself with the snap or velcro.
Some babies prefer to not have their hands restricted when swaddling. There are special swaddle up sleep sacks that allow your
Remember, a big part of being a parent is trying out new things and seeing what works best for you and your child. There are several different ways to swaddle your newborn safely and effectively.
Feel free to try each of them out and discover which one you like most.