Swaddling has stood the test of time as a great way to make a newborn baby feel safe and contented.
This practice, which has been around for millennia, involves wrapping a newborn baby nice and snugly in a thin sheet or blanket. Archaeological records indicate that swaddling may have been around in many cultures for more than 6,000 years.
Swaddling is a proven technique which has excellent results when it comes calming a restless or crying baby.
A newborn baby has the previous months safely and tightly cradled inside the mother’s dark and warm womb. For the first few months of life in the outside world a baby has very little control over the movements of its arms and legs, and many movements are involuntary.
After birth there are so many things surrounding a newborn which can make it feel insecure, anxious and unsettled – these include the suddenly abundance of lights, sounds and items to touch. There’s also the sensation of suddenly having so much wide and open space around.
Swaddling will reduce a baby’s involuntary movements and instil calm. It reduces the chance that the child’s startle reflex will upset or awaken them, and is even believed to extend the little one’s REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Staff in most hospitals will swaddle a baby immediately after birth.
Swaddling a newborn baby is very simple to carry out and some mothers find it beneficial until the child is several months old. Many paediatricians recommend that parents should stop swaddling when a baby starts attempting to roll over, which is usually around three to four months of age. Professional advice says a baby should not be swaddled beyond the age of six months.
There are many swaddling blankets available to buy which make it easier to swaddle a baby – you’ll find these for sale in most baby care stores in the high street or online. Prices range from around £10 to £30 depending on the quality of the product.
They are available in a range of shapes, materials, colours and sizes, and some come with handy Velcro attachments. Many parents opt just to use a simple receiving blanket to swaddle their babies – these work just fine.
The swaddling wrap is a variation on the traditional blanket – these are usually made of soft organic cotton and come with self-fastening straps to make a baby feel really comfy and safe.
Let’s take a look at the key steps involved in swaddling a baby.
- First of all spread out your thin receiving blanket or shawl onto a flat and level surface in a diamond shape.
- Now fold down the top corner of the blanket and place your baby on top of it, with your little one’s head and shoulders above the fold.
- Next take one side corner and wrap it very snugly over your child, making sure that the baby’s arm is laid flat against her side. Tuck the excess blanket around and under the opposite side.
- Pull the bottom (feet) corner up and over the feet towards the top of your baby’s shoulder. Make sure the little one’s legs are not too tight.
- Finally, bring the final corner over to the opposite side of the baby, across the chest area. Again, make sure that the baby’s arm is flat against her side and wrap the excess blanket snugly around the back. You can then tuck the end of the blanket inside a fold. Some mothers choose to use a nappy pin to secure.
You may need to repeat the process above is you little one wriggles and loosens the blanket after a period of time. You should also take care not to wrap up your baby for too long as it is vital for the child to have plenty of swaddle-free time to enable the development of muscles through physical movement.
It’s vital to ensure that no part of the blanket or wrap covers any part of a baby’s mouth. You should also take room temperature into consideration and be sure it is appropriate for the swaddling, and not too hot. Some medical experts have warned that air flow and overheating may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
It’s worth experimenting with a few different sized blankets to find the most that works best for your little one. It’s also worth trying out a few types of materials such as flannel or a thin, breathable knit. You can also try out various initial positions for your baby when you start the swaddling procedure – some mothers opt for placing their baby slightly off centre on blanket and then start wrapping with the short side first.