Swaddling your baby
By Claire Burgess, Family Consultant
Swaddling is often mentioned in the world of newborns and it can be hugely beneficial for some babies when they are first born.
Why should I swaddle my baby?
Swaddling is commonly used with the newborns for the first 3-4 months to help them with the transition from the womb, where they are lovely and cosy, to the big wide world which can make them feel quite vulnerable. The act of swaddling is thousands of years old and it is practiced with newborns becuase it helps to make them feel secure and contained, and helps to prevent them from waking up due to the startle (or Moro) reflex which is when their arms just fly up!
Some of the other benefits to swaddling can be that it helps with things such reflux, colic and overtiredness/stimulation to name a few. When a baby feels that they are contained, like when they are being cuddled, it is reassuring and calming for them.
There are so many products for swaddling, how do I choose?
There are lots of different ways to swaddle - so many products on the market and all are slightly different. Some with the traditional pose of arms down by baby’s side and others which allow for arms to be slightly more free with arms in a more up by their face pose. You may find that you have to try a couple of versions in order to find the right one for you and your baby.
My baby doesn’t like being swaddled, what do I do?
Some babies appear to not enjoy being swaddled and this can be due to the method or product that is being used. Some babies are happy to have their arms by their side for swaddling, others prefer to have their arms up under their chin or either side of their head. Here are some of the options you might want to consider (there are lots of brands on the market but these are some examples):
Another thing to consider is when using the swaddle to help your little one to settle to sleep, is whether you are putting the swaddle on a little too late, when they have got over tired, and then finding that they are fighting the swaddle? Looking for your baby’s sleep cues is helpful in then knowing when your little one is getting ready for a sleep and when to start the wind down for the nap or night-time sleep, then looking to put them in the swaddle at this point.
How do I make sure that I swaddle safely?
It is very important to follow the Lullaby Trust guidelines regarding swaddling safely (click here) - you don’t want baby to get too hot or for the swaddle to come loose and for baby to go under the blanket. Never sleep a swaddled baby on their side or tummy. Take care to ensure that the swaddle is not too tight and that baby’s legs are able to go into a frog-like position.
There are specific swaddle blankets (if you want to swaddle in the traditional manner) which are breathable. When swaddling, the blanket needs to be around the body, not the head or neck - these must be kept clear and free. The specific swaddle wraps or swaddle sacks are designed so that they are secure and do not come loose, which can be a preferable option to using a blanket which can work loose.
How long should I swaddle my baby for?
Babies can be swaddled from birth through to approx. 3-4 months. This is often known as the 4th trimester and it is when the baby’s nervous systems are adjusting to the outside world. It is important that you stop swaddling around the 3-4 month mark as this is often when a baby will start to show signs of rolling to their side or even trying to get over to their tummy. If you see your baby trying to do this then you must stop using the swaddle straight away and move to using a baby sleeping bag where their arms are free to move. If your baby is not showing signs of wanting to roll by 4 months then you still need to look at moving them out of the swaddle in any case - the startle (moro) reflex will have reduced or gone by this age and so you should be looking for them to be in a sleeping bag by this point.
How do transition my baby out of their swaddle?
If your baby is a swaddle lover, it is important to start the transition to a baby sleeping bag over a couple of weeks (this must be before they are showing signs of wanting to roll or are 4 months old).
Some ways to start this transition are:
Start with nap times. During nap periods start to swaddle with one arm out of the swaddle for a day or two and then look to swaddle with both arms out. You can still swaddle them around the tummy which will give them the same feeling of security, but the arms are free to move. Once you have achieved this then you can move to a sleeping bag for their day and night-time sleep.
There are swaddles on the market which turn into a sleeping bag by unzipping or undoing the poppers in the arm sections, again look to release one arm at a time and it is best to do this at nap times to start with.
The main things to remember about swaddling are that a swaddle can help a baby transition from womb to the outside world, it can help to prevent the Moro reflex from waking baby up as well as helping with other common baby ailments. As long as you make sure that you follow the Lullaby Trust guidelines and swaddle safely, it can be a great way to help your baby transition to the big wide world and into a restful sleep pattern :).
Read our other blogs on sleep here:
Is your baby sleeping like a baby?
Tricky sleeper? Sleep associations – the sleep habits we want to create!
For more information about sleep and newborns you might be interested in our video guides - click here to find out more!
Don’t forget that we offer parent consultations should you need support with anything from sleep to behaviour and so much more! Details of the packages we offer can be found here.
We also have a podcast - ‘Newborn to Teen and Everything in Between’ - listen here.
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