You saw what swaddling did for your baby in the hospital. They settled right down once the nurses wrapped them up snugly. It was so impressive you decided to try it at home. But now that the time has come, you can’t quite figure out how to swaddle a baby.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even experienced parents can find it challenging to keep the blanket in place and their baby’s arms tucked in.
If you’re struggling with swaddling, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process. We’ll also look at some benefits of swaddling and how to incorporate it into a safe sleep routine for your little one.
So grab a blanket, and let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- Swaddling is the practice of wrapping a baby with their arms tucked in to help them feel calm.
- To swaddle a baby, first prepare the blanket and place your baby down on it with their arms by their sides. Pull the left side of the swaddle across their chest. Tuck it behind them, pull the bottom up to protect their legs, and pull the right side over the baby’s chest. Then tuck the end under the wrapped fabric so it’s snug but not tight.
- Swaddling mimics the feeling of being in the womb and helps cut down on crying, keeps the baby warm, and lessens their Moro (startle) reflex. It also helps a baby avoid inadvertently scratching their face.
- You can begin swaddling a baby right away. However, do not swaddle your baby during breastfeeding. A swaddle will make it harder for them to understand nursing cues.
- Stop swaddling when your baby is showing signs of learning to roll over. This typically happens at two to three months.
What Is Swaddling?
Swaddling is a traditional practice of wrapping infants in a blanket or cloth with their arms tucked in to help them feel calmer and secure. Parents have been swaddling their babies for centuries, for good reason. When done correctly, it’s been proven to promote better sleep patterns in newborns.
Benefits Of Swaddling
Better sleep isn’t the only benefit of swaddling. When swaddled, your newborn also:
Gets A Sense Of Security
When swaddled, babies feel more secure. That’s because the snugness of the swaddle mimics the coziness of their time in the womb.
Stays Warm
Swaddling also helps babies stay warm without using extra blankets (which is a no-no, as loose blankets are a suffocation risk).
Is Soothed
When snugly wrapped in a swaddle, a baby experiences a soothing light pressure on their body. This can reduce the effects of overstimulation and calm colicky babies so that they can relax into better and longer sleep.
Doesn’t Startle As Much
Swaddling dulls a baby’s Moro reflex, a natural reflex that causes them to startle themselves awake. With fewer middle-of-the-night wakings, your little one will have better sleep overall.
Stays On Their Back
When wrapped in a swaddle, your baby will stay in the position they’re put to bed in, which should be on their back. Always sleeping on their back helps reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Gets Better Overall Sleep
Babies who are swaddled tend to wake up less often and therefore sleep longer. More sleep is not only good for your little one, but it’s good for you, too.
Doesn’t Scratch Their Face
You may have noticed that your baby has razor-sharp fingernails. Since newborns haven’t yet learned how to control their arms, swaddling keeps their arms tucked in and prevents them from accidentally hitting or scratching themselves.
Doesn’t Cry As Much
Here’s another benefit you’ll appreciate: Because a swaddled baby feels more relaxed and soothed, they also cry less. Fewer tears means less stress for you.
Swaddling is especially effective for premature babies since it helps promote oral feeding skills and can reduce pain. NICU nurses often swaddle babies.
However, the benefits of swaddling aren’t just for babies born early. It’s a simple way to help nearly any newborn adjust to life outside the womb.
Risks Of Swaddling
While swaddling is generally considered safe and beneficial, parents should know the possible risks.
Hip Dysplasia
Newborns tend to look frog-legged. That’s because their hip joints are still developing. If you force your little one’s legs to be straight in their swaddle or wrap them too tightly, you could inadvertently cause hip dysplasia.
To prevent this, always swaddle with their legs slightly bent. Keep your baby’s hips loose, so they have a full range of motion.
Once you’ve wrapped your baby, check to see if you can get two fingers between them and the blanket. This way, they’ll have room to kick their legs, which is important for their development.
Suffocation
Start your swaddle at your baby’s shoulders. The blanket should never cover their neck or face. Otherwise, it could cause suffocation.
Overheating
Newborns often have trouble regulating their temperature. Always use thin material when swaddling your little one to help prevent overheating, and monitor your baby’s temperature to ensure that they are not too hot.
In addition, never place extra blankets or fabric over your swaddled baby. Not only could this cause them to get too hot, but it could also block their airway and prevent them from breathing.
How do you know if your baby’s too hot? Signs of overheating include sweating, flushed skin, rapid breathing, irritability, and restlessness. Feel your baby’s chest or back for their core temperature. If these areas feel hot, they may be overheating.
You should also be alert to signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, fewer diaper changes, or sunken eyes.
Now that you know the benefits of swaddling correctly and the risks of doing it wrong, let’s talk about how to swaddle safely so that you all can get better sleep.
Safe Sleep And Swaddling
Every parent wants their baby to sleep longer. But even more importantly, you want them to sleep safely. Here are some tips for practicing safe sleep guidelines while swaddling your baby.
Never Use A Weighted Swaddle Or Blanket
Steer clear of weighted swaddles. Weighted swaddles and blankets are dangerous for babies, as they can place too much pressure on baby’s chest and lungs.
Put Baby To Bed On Their Back
When you put your baby down for bedtime or naptime, always place them on their back. This is because newborns don’t have developed enough head and neck muscles so that they’d be able to change position if their breathing is blocked.
Sleep On Flat, Firm Sleep-Safe Surfaces Only
Babies should also only sleep on flat, firm surfaces, such as a crib mattress, a bassinet mattress, or a travel crib mattress. If your baby falls asleep anywhere else, such as a bouncer, swing, or car seat, move them as soon as possible onto a safe-sleep surface.
Ensure Room Temperature Is Safe And Optimized For Sleep
Check the room temperature in the nursery to keep your baby comfortable: 68 to 72 degrees is ideal. Be sure to use a quality thermometer to monitor the room temperature in baby’s room.
Dress Your Baby For Safe Sleep
Along with the swaddle, you want to make sure your baby is wearing appropriate clothing for the temperature in the nursery.
Your baby should be dressed in one layer more than what you would be comfortable in (and this includes the swaddle). Also, be sure to skip the hat when putting your baby down to sleep, as hats can cause overheating.
Opt for onesies or footies made of lightweight, natural, breathable material like muslin or cotton.
Keep The Crib Bare
The saying goes: Bare is best. When putting your baby down to sleep, be sure there are no loose blankets, pillows, or toys in the crib, as these are suffocation hazards. The only things that should be in the crib are a mattress, a fitted sheet, and your baby.
Room Share; Don’t Bed Share
Share a room with your baby, not a bed. Bed sharing is dangerous and poses a suffocation hazard for the baby and an increased risk of SIDS.
Room sharing, on the other hand, is highly encouraged. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room sharing for the first year. This decreases the risk of SIDS by up to 50%, making frequent feeding easier. On top of that, it’s great for bonding.
Keep Your House Smoke-Free
Avoid exposing your baby to cigarette smoke as much as possible. If you do smoke or someone in your household does, it’s a good time to quit. Exposure to smoke can increase the risk of SIDS.
Try A Pacifier
Pacifiers help babies sleep better thanks to the calming effects of non-nutritive sucking. They can reduce colic, help with self-soothing, and decrease the risk of SIDS. It’s important to choose a pacifier that is sized correctly and does not have anything attached to it.
Breastfeed If You Can
If you’re able to breastfeed, the AAP recommends that you do it exclusively for at least six months, as breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS.
By following these practices, you’ll help keep your baby safe.
What Type Of Blanket To Use
Not every blanket is safe to use as a swaddle. You’ll need a few that are right in both material and size. Generally, families will have between two and four swaddles on hand.
Material
Choose a lightweight blanket made from breathable fabric. Cotton, bamboo, or muslin are great options.
If you use a heavier blanket, getting the swaddle tight enough will be more challenging, and your baby might overheat.
Size
Look for a blanket that’s at least 40 inches square. That’s a bit larger than a standard receiving blanket. If you try to use one that’s too small, you won’t get a tight swaddle, and your baby will easily wriggle out of it.
Tip: Let your baby’s size guide you when choosing the right size. It takes less material to swaddle a 5-pound baby than it does for an 11-pound one.
Special Swaddling Blankets
If you prefer, you can purchase a swaddling blanket specifically designed for this task. They often have features like Velcro tabs or snaps to make swaddling easier.
Read the directions for these blankets carefully and follow them as you wrap your baby. The steps may differ from the process below, depending on the design.
How To Swaddle A Baby
Now that you know about the benefits and risks of swaddling, let’s talk about how to swaddle a baby. It’s a simple, five-step process.
But before you begin, there’s something important you have to do first: check their diaper. There’s nothing worse than getting your little one all swaddled and then realizing you smell something fishy.
When that happens, you must completely undo the swaddle to take care of business, which can be frustrating, especially when you’re first learning how to swaddle a baby.
So check their diaper, and apply some Liniment or Diaper Rash Cream 123 to keep their skin soft and smooth.
Then, it’s time to swaddle. Here’s what you do:
1) Prepare The Blanket
Spread your swaddle blanket down on a flat, firm surface. Your bed or the couch works well. The blanket should look like a diamond. Then, take the top corner and fold it down part way.
2) Place Your Baby On The Blanket
Lay your baby down on their back in the center of the blanket. Their shoulders should be even with the fold at the top.
3) Pull The Left Side
Straighten your baby’s left arm and gently hold it by their side. Then, working quickly, take the left corner of the blanket over the left arm and across their chest.
Roll your baby slightly to the left side, and tuck the blanket underneath their body. Then, put them back onto their back.
4) Protect Their Legs
Look at your baby’s legs. Make sure they’re slightly bent, almost in a frog position. Without straightening their legs, bring the bottom corner of the blanket up and tuck it loosely behind the right shoulder.
Now, recheck your baby’s legs. They should have room to move and kick under the blanket. If they can’t, your swaddle is too tight. If that’s the case, undo this step and try it again.
5) Pull The Right Side
Next, you’re going to gently straighten your baby’s right arm and place it by their side. Take the right side of the blanket and pull it over this arm and across their chest to the left. Tuck the remainder of the fabric behind your baby into the blanket to hold it taut.
6) Keep Practicing
At first, your swaddles may not hold. Your baby may wiggle an arm out, or the blanket may slip down. That’s OK! It takes practice to perfect the art of swaddling.
Just keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it.
And if the method above doesn’t work for you or your baby, don’t worry. You can always try a different swaddling technique.
When To Start Swaddling Your Baby
You can start swaddling your baby soon after birth. However, be sure to undo the swaddle and opt for skin-to-skin contact when breastfeeding. This helps you and your baby learn and respond to breastfeeding cues.
Also, it’s best to swaddle when your little one is calm or sleepy. This way, the soothing effect is heightened.
When To Stop Swaddling Your Baby
All good things must come to an end, even swaddling. But when should you stop wrapping your baby?
Most experts agree that once your baby shows signs of rolling over, it’s time to stop. Typically, this happens between 2 and 3 months of age.
As we said, if your baby were to roll onto their stomach while swaddled, they could suffocate. They simply don't have the neck strength to lift and turn their head to breathe in this position.
Don’t take any chances. Once your baby can roll, it’s time to stop swaddling.
Now that your baby has outgrown the swaddle, you’ll want to get them a sleep sack.
A sleep sack is a wearable blanket that’s safe for your little one. With sleep sacks, babies’ arms and legs are free, allowing them a full range of movement. A sleep sack should be used until your baby is one year old.
Swaddle Your Baby Like A Pro!
Now that you know how to swaddle a baby, you’ll be doing it like a pro in no time. And who knows, you might even get some extra sleep because your baby feels so snug and cozy in their blanket.
Remember to always keep safe sleep guidelines in mind when swaddling, and put your baby down on their back when they’re wrapped.
And, of course, check that diaper before you begin. Mustela’s diaper change skincare products can help keep your baby dry and comfortable while they sleep.
Happy swaddling!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the 2/3 finger rule when swaddling?
The two or three-finger rule is the guideline used for determining if a baby’s swaddle is too tight. Essentially, if you can comfortably slip two or three fingers between the swaddle and your baby’s chest, then the swaddle is properly snug but not so tight as to restrict breathing.
How many hours should a newborn be swaddled?
For the first few weeks, a newborn can be swaddled between 12 and 20 hours per day according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. They should only be swaddled for napping and sleeping. During their awake time, babies should have a full range of movement.
What’s the 5-3-3 rule of baby sleep?
The 5-3-3 rule of baby sleep is a nighttime method of sleep training where a baby sleeps for five hours, is awake for three hours, and then sleeps for another three hours.
It’s best for babies between four and six months of age, when they are developing their circadian rhythm and learning to fall asleep independently.
