New parents often learn how to swaddle their newborn from the nurses in the hospital. Yet I still get so many questions about it!
Swaddling is not new.
People have been swaddling their babies for centuries. It has become more popular in America since the Back to Sleep campaign. The AAP supports swaddling as an effective technique for calming infants and promoting sleep.
Why swaddle?
A mother’s womb is secure and comforting and swaddling recreates that environment for newborns. There are really two reasons for swaddling. One is to calm a fussy baby. The other reason is to help a baby sleep better. The snugness of a swaddle can calm the Moro reflex. The Moro reflex is an involuntary reflex in newborns where they feel like they are falling when you place them on their back. They will throw both arms out and then usually cry. Imagine if you felt like you were falling while you were trying to sleep! This is why having arms swaddled tightly can muffle that feeling and help babies feel more calm. This reflex typically goes away between 3-6 months, which is also the age range where most babies will learn to roll over and the swaddle needs to be weaned anyway.
How to swaddle
Swaddling is safe as long as you follow the AAP guidelines of having your baby alone and on their back when swaddled. I really prefer to use a swaddle that has the velcro tabs so you can keep your baby’s arms very snug inside. Some babies like their arms up while swaddled, some like them down by their sides and some like them crossed over their torso. Sometimes you have to play around a bit to find the swaddle your baby likes best. Legs should always be loose to prevent hip dysplasia. Swaddling will allow healthy hip development if the legs are able to bend up and out at the hips.
When to stop
When your baby starts to roll from back to stomach, it is time to stop swaddling. It usually takes a baby anywhere from just a few nights to a week or so to adjust to being out of their swaddle.
I have a whole lesson on swaddling in my online infant course, Happy Baby Sleep School!
While swaddling is not mandatory if you take my course, I sure do think it can help a newborn sleep better so I encourage it! And we know it is safe, if done correctly. The lesson on swaddling also includes information about weaning out of the swaddle as well!
Happy Baby Sleep School will teach you so much beyond swaddling too! I discuss daytime sleep including naps and wake windows, an ideal environment, how to get longer stretches of sleep during the night, how to calm a fussy baby, the four month sleep regression and so much more!