Swaddling may appear outdated to some parents, yet its longevity in preventing infant distress is why it has been used for centuries.
Swaddled babies tend to cry less, get more restful sleep, and have a lower incidence of SIDS. You will need to learn to wrap your newborn correctly, but don’t worry; it’s not hard!
A newborn’s warmth and security from swaddling can be likened to their time in the womb. Since newborns are still getting used to their new environment, you must establish a safe environment where they can feel comfortable.
How Long Do You Swaddle A Newborn During The Day?
Swaddling is good for all sleep because it teaches the baby that it is time to sleep when you use it. Baby will sleep better when swaddled, especially in the first few days and nights of life.
Babies normally no longer enjoy the swaddle after they begin to roll over on their own, usually between the ages of two and two months.
Using their hands and feet is important to the maturation of their brains by that time, and they need all of their senses to take in the world around them.
This is a good time to use a sleep sack instead of a blanket or comforter. A sleep sack, similar to swaddling, is a wearable blanket you can use to keep a baby warm without adding more blankets to the cot. Do not panic if your kid is late or ahead of schedule to reach the “rolling over” milestone; every baby is different.
Is It Okay To Swaddle A Newborn At Night?
When you swaddle your newborn before bedtime, they are more likely to sleep through the night. Swaddling an infant can alleviate the “Moro or startle” reflex. Swaddling your baby at night is a good idea.
The startle reflex is an inborn primordial reflex that is a defense mechanism. Your infant gets “startled” when they react with fanned arms and an arched neck to a quick change in sound or motion. By the time a baby is 6 months old, it has usually fully faded away.
Your baby will sleep soundly all night in a swaddle. However, one potential hazard of swaddling for extended periods (weeks to months) is wrapping too tightly around the hips.
Do Babies Sleep Better Swaddled?
Swaddling your newborn before bedtime will help them fall asleep more easily and stay asleep longer. Swaddling helps ensure newborns won’t accidentally wake themselves up by flailing their arms around.
Can A Baby Sleep Through The Night Without Swaddle?
Swaddling is optional for infants. If your baby is content without getting swaddled, there’s no need to do it. You should always place your baby on his back to sleep. This holds in any circumstance but takes on added significance if you swaddle the baby.
Keep in mind that the swaddle is the only option for putting the baby to sleep. Your infant may learn to associate sleep with methods other than the swaddle if you use rocking, white noise, and a soothing bedtime ritual.
If you maintain the consistency of their other sleep associations, your baby will easily transition to sleep without being swaddled.
Always keep a close eye out for the warning symptoms of an overtired baby. Overtired babies have a considerably more difficult time falling asleep.
Keep in mind that, unless your baby starts rolling, the swaddle can stay on for a while longer. By gradually removing the swaddling blankets, you can see how your baby reacts at each step and give them time to adjust to sleeping without the blankets. You could discover that going easy on yourself helps you get to sleep faster.
Benefits Of Swaddling Your Baby
- Great Posture
How you lay a baby down to sleep will affect their posture. Hunchbacks can develop in children who sleep on their sides. Breathing difficulties due to being in this position are a severe health risk. Swaddling can help you prevent these problems.
Help your infants learn to sleep on their backs for better breathing and spinal development. Babies can learn to self-soothe by placing their hands over their hearts while swaddling.
- Less Demanding
Newborns can be demanding if their demands are always granted. For instance, you can calm them down by giving them pillows and plush animals.
As a result, they develop into picky adults. Swaddling them when they’re young can help them learn to be content. If you swaddle your baby, they will be more secure and happy without their security blankets.
- Calm Behavior
Babies are more likely to feel peaceful and well-behaved after you swaddle them. This is because it makes them feel protected and secure.
Swaddling provides a sense of calm and safety. Taking care of them causes less stress for babysitters, nannies, and parents because they rarely cry. They will become mature, peaceful, and skilled at handling difficult situations.
- Prevent Self-Harm
To an infant, everything is a potential object of exploration. They need to be in a secure area of the house. This is because they like to explore the world through their various senses, including chewing, holding, and touching.
Now if you place them in a crib, stroller, or cradle, their two hands are free to do anything they want. This may include hitting their mouth and nose or scratching their eyes and face, which can cause them to feel annoyed or cry loudly. Avoiding these unwanted movements is one of the many benefits of swaddling.
- Good Night’s Sleep
Babies should get at least 8 hours of sleep per day. The longer, the better, of course. The optimal growth of your baby’s body and mind depends on you getting over eight hours of sleep every night. Swaddled babies are more likely to fall into a deep, restful sleep.
They don’t have the startle reflex that awakens them at inopportune times. Babies are easily startled since they are so sensitive to noise and are not used to having a lot of room to move around in. Swaddling prevents or significantly reduces the baby’s startle reflex.
There will be some crying and fussing the first few times you swaddle your baby because this is a new experience for them. Many parents give up on wrapping up their children because of this.
Your infant will learn this as a foundation for security if you stick with it. Once your baby is comfortable being wrapped, you can try various methods like white noise and rocking. You may help your child learn to notice these cues for relaxation and sleep more soundly and quickly.
Swaddling is Helpful
Swaddling is a great technique for soothing your infant since it mimics the conditions they experience while still in the womb. Babies typically scream less and sleep more when swaddled, so getting them used to it is worth the effort. You and your baby will be just fine following a tradition that has been around for ages.