Swaddling
Nurturing the Nurturer postpartum doula insights
What Is Swaddling?
Swaddling simply means tightly wrapping up baby in a wrap in such a way that makes them feel secure, like being back in their Mum’s belly, all warm and comfy. You can swaddle baby from day 1, for naps and nighttime sleep; it helps keep them feeling compact and cosy and may even deter the jolting startle reflex.
Why Swaddle Baby?
Swaddling creates the snug, familiar, soothing feeling a baby experienced in the womb before being born. It makes baby feel safe, because in the last few months before birth, baby didn’t have much space in the womb and could only make small movements.
Babies can be swaddled anytime they are fussy or seemingly crying for no reason (no dirty nappy and you know they’re not hungry because you just fed them, etc.). Being swaddled is like receiving a big hug, that snug, swaddled feeling can help keep baby calm, especially when combined with other baby-soothing techniques, such as swaying and making a loud ‘shh’ sound. When done correctly swaddling can also help baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Mothers have been swaddling their babies for thousands of years. Whether you’re a new parent or a veteran, you could probably use the extra sleep that swaddling your baby will provide.
Unfortunately, swaddling your baby might seem like somewhat of an art form. Wrap this, tuck that. It can feel confusing, especially when you’re up for a 3 a.m. feeding. Learning and practicing the art of swaddling your baby will help you get more sleep. It will also help your baby feel more secure and comforted, just like they were in the womb.
You might be thinking that swaddling your baby every time they go to sleep (which is a lot) seems like a lot of work, but there are many benefits to swaddling your baby. Here are some you and your baby will experience:
Swaddling protects your baby against their natural startle reflex, which means better sleep for both of you
It may help calm a colicky baby
It helps eliminate anxiety in your baby by imitating your touch, which helps your baby learn to self-sooth
It keeps their hands off their face and helps prevent scratching
It helps your baby sleep longer and better
It helps prevent SIDS by keeping unnecessary items like pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals out of your baby’s cradle
It keeps your baby on their back while they sleep
How to swaddle your baby
If you’ve never swaddled a baby, it might seem like a complicated process. But it doesn’t have to be. Practice the following steps a few times and you’ll be a pro.
Spread out your swaddling blanket on a soft, flat surface. Arrange the blanket in a diamond shape with the bottom of the diamond pointing toward you.
Fold down the top edge of the blanket. This should create a loose triangle shape. Set your baby with his feet pointing toward you. His shoulder should be just below the fold in the blanket.
Arrange your baby’s right arm next their body with their arm slightly bent. Pull that same side of the blanket up and over your baby’s right arm and body, then tuck it underneath your baby. Your baby’s left arm should be left free.
Fold the bottom of the swaddle blanket up over your baby’s feet. If the blanket is long enough, tuck it behind their shoulder.
Complete the swaddle by pulling the remaining side of the swaddle up and over your baby’s remaining arm and across their body.
Learning how to swaddle a newborn is a skill that takes practice. With a little patience (and the right blanket!), you’ll get the hang of it. Just be sure to use safe swaddling techniques, and you’ll be a wrapping baby like a pro in no time.
Safety tips
Although swaddling comes with numerous benefits, you need to make sure you’re doing it right to avoid danger or discomfort for your baby. Follow these safety tips:
Don’t wrap too tight. Swaddling your baby tight enough that they can’t move their hips or legs may limit the development of the hip. Aim for a tight enough swaddle that will hold your baby’s arms firm, without completely immobilizing their entire body.
Always lay your baby down on their back after swaddling.
Stop swaddling your baby as soon as they can roll over.
Don’t double up on blankets when you swaddle. The extra thickness could cause your baby to overheat. It can also dislodge easier, which adds to the risk of suffocation.
Swaddling your baby is a great way to get them to sleep better. When your baby sleeps better, so do you. Once you learn how to swaddle a baby, you’ll know how to do it in your sleep (literally)!
Some parents might wonder: Can swaddling cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)? The answer is: Not directly. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, swaddling allows baby to sleep more soundly (which is why parents swaddle in the first place); but decreased arousal has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS. A 2016 Paediatrics journal study reports that the recommendation to avoid having baby sleep on their side or stomach is especially important when babies are in a swaddle. So if you’re swaddling, make sure baby is on their back, and when they’re old enough to roll in their sleep, it’s best to stop swaddling altogether.
Still, swaddling may sound a bit counterintuitive. Paediatricians advise against giving a baby under 12 months a loose blanket or having any plush materials in their cot. This is among the reasons it’s essential to practice safe swaddling techniques.
What If My Baby Doesn’t Like to Be Swaddled?
Keep in mind that most babies resist swaddling—or so parents think, that’s because when babies were in the womb, their resting position was with their arms up by their faces—so when a parent tries to bring their arms down by their sides, they may resist. But this doesn’t mean a baby doesn’t like to be swaddled.
Even if you have your doubts, it’s worth giving the traditional swaddle technique a try. Learning how to swaddle a newborn before baby even arrives—so you can start a routine right away.
If a baby is resisting provide gentle but constant pressure on baby’s arm to straighten it. After a few seconds, the baby’s muscles will relax, and it will be easy to get their arms straight along their sides,” she says. If baby still seems to prefer an arms-up position, you can try swaddling with their arms free or try a swaddle sack that positions their arms in an upright way. The latter option may still help quell the startle reflex.
Some newborns and babies may be content on their own with no swaddling at all. But the fussier baby is, the more a swaddle may become an indispensable calming tool. Don’t give up if baby doesn’t stop crying immediately.: A swaddle may initially make a baby cry more, not less, but once you follow it up with other calming techniques, such as swaying, shushing and other soothing motions, they will likely calm down more readily than if you hadn’t swaddled them.
When to Stop Swaddling Baby
As babies get older, their need for a swaddle will diminish. That’s when you’ll start wondering how to stop swaddling.
Do this by starting to swaddle baby with one arm up and out of the swaddle. If they start to fuss and won’t sleep, they still need the swaddle, she says. But if baby takes to the one-arm swaddle for a week, they’re ready for Operation Swaddle Transition. Slowly wean baby by swaddling them with the second arm out. Regardless of baby’s preference, if they start to roll over (or actively attempt!), it’s no longer safe to use a swaddle, and it’s time to transition away from its use completely. (Sleeping facedown or with loose blankets can increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS) Baby may need to get accustomed to this new sleeping situation, but these are signs that they’re growing and ready to sleep freestyle like a big kid!