Swaddling Your Newborn

For some parents swaddling can seem like an old fashioned practice, however the reason it's old fashioned is because it has worked for so many years. Swaddling your baby can help them sleep better, reduce the risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome, and it soothes them, which leads to less crying. It is important to note that you do need to know how to properly wrap your baby, but it is not difficult to learn. Swaddling can represent what your newborn felt in the womb, it provides warmth and comfort. A newborn is not quite comfortable with this world yet and so it's important that we can provide a place where they can feel safe while they are learning the ways of this brand new world. There has been a study the swaddling has reduced the risk of SIDS, the reason for this is that if the baby is wrapped tightly they wont be able to cover their face with the blanket. By placing your child wrapped and on their back, they also have a less likely chance to roll over onto their stomachs. Keeping your child safe while they're sleeping is extremely important. If you do choose to swaddle your child, you can know that they will be safe while they're sleeping. Swaddling is also a great technique for calming your baby down. The first few times you swaddle them they are most likely going to cry and fuss, this is a new experience for them and until they are use to it they won't like it. This is a reason why many parents decide not to continue to wrap their child. However if you do keep with it, your baby will learn this as a basis for comfort and safety. After your child is use to being wrapped you can then start using adding on other techniques as well, such as rocking and white noise. Your child will recognize all of these different signs that they are comfortable, and will then be able to sleep easier and faster. Another way swaddling helps your baby sleep, is that it stops them from involuntary reflexes when they sleep. Babies often wake themselves up by doing this, so their sleep is interrupted. Newborns sleep for many hours during the day anyways, but it is better for your child if you are able to make it so your child sleeps with more continuity rather than just short naps. When swaddling your baby it is important you make sure that you are doing it correctly. If you improperly swaddle your baby by wrapping your baby's legs too tight that the legs are straightened out, it can lead to hip dyplasia. This is easy enough to prevent, it is important to make sure that you leave room for your baby to bend and move their legs. Finding out how to properly swaddle your baby is very simple; usually before you leave the hospital you are given a few tips. Swaddling is a wonderful way to calm your baby, it provides them with the same feeling they had when they were in the womb. Once your babies learn to recognize being swaddled, it can lead to less crying and longer nap times. This practice has been around for centuries, and you will find that you can make it work for you and your baby.