Swaddle 101

Why Swaddle

Bringing your beautiful newborn baby home from hospital is the most exciting and scary experience in your entire life. The wonderment of this tiny creature that you and your partner have created and watch grow in your belly for 9 months is now here in front of you.

From day one you and your little one need to continue the routine you started in the hospital and wrapping is an important part of this process because it helps the baby feels safe and contained just as they were in your womb.

It can take a little one a long time to get used to their new world and by wrapping them snugly you are helping to stop the Startle Reflex which happens as a response to any sudden movement or loud noise. Your baby may throw their arms out, fan their fingers, extend their legs and then quickly pull their arms back into their body in an ‘embrace’ position.

This reflex can contribute to suddenly waking a sleeping baby, making it difficult to resettle them back to sleep. Firm wrapping of the baby helps minimise this response, preventing the jerky movements from waking the baby unnecessarily, leading to a more settled baby.

Benefits of Swaddling

There are many benefits to swaddling, some of which will be more apparent in some babies than others.

Reduces Incidence of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

Research has indicated that babies that are swaddled have lower incidence of SIDS babies because they are less likely to be put in the unsafe tummy position to sleep. Swaddling also helps to keep a baby on their back.

Swaddled Babies Sleep Better

Studies have shown that babies sleep better when swaddled, wake up fewer times during the night and get twice as much REM sleep than infants who are not swaddled. This means you get more sleep too!

Can Help Make Breastfeeding Easier

When a baby is wrapped in a swaddle its movements are contained which can help in focus and latch on. You can use a wrap over your shoulder to cover you and the baby while feeding so that they are not distracted by what is going on around them, which helps baby focus during the feed.

How long to swaddle?

How long to swaddle is completely up to you and your baby. We recommend that parents stop swaddling their babies by three or four months of age. At that time, most full term infants are used life outside of the womb and no longer crave the constriction of a swaddle, however many babies are still happy to be swaddled up to six months of age.

Routine Routine Routine

In those early weeks you may feel like nothing you do is working and the baby simply won't respond to anything you do. Remember that routine is your best friend and swaddling is a key tool of yours to assist in feeding and settling your baby.

It's inevitable that these days will happen so take a deep breath and don't be too hard on yourself. Persevere with wrapping as it will build a magical bond between you and your baby as you massage, touch and talk to him as you go through the wrapping process.

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