Babies generally enjoy swaddling because it gives them a feeling of security similar to that they had while still in the womb. However, most first-time parents need help mastering the swaddling technique.
Your baby will be most secure and at ease if you wrap them snugly but provide enough room for air circulation and free movement. When swaddling a newborn, ensure your hand can easily fit between the swaddling material and the infant’s chest.
Swaddling can help infants sleep better by creating a calm and secure environment. Trust your parental instincts; swaddling is effective for most newborns. But you should know that certain infants may struggle to sleep in this position.
During the first few weeks and months, your baby will experience rapid growth and development, and as a result, their swaddling needs will evolve. Here, we’ll examine three of the most well-known techniques and walk you through the steps to better sleeping at night.
Which Are The Best Swaddle Techniques
The “Simple Swaddle”
As your baby grows and shows signs of motor development, you can switch to a less complex swaddling method to help keep their hands safely out of the way.
Because of their improved motor skills, they will be able to rouse themselves up by swinging their limbs. This wrap can be done in a flash; more importantly, it will keep them safe and sound asleep.
The “Burrito Wrap”
If your infant’s chubby thighs and cheeks weren’t already adorable enough, you can now roll them up like a burrito. One of the simplest swaddling methods, this popular method is ideal for a bigger rectangular or square blanket.
The “Hands-Up Swaddle”
When swaddling a newborn, it’s preferable to choose a method that allows the baby’s legs and arms to remain in a relaxed, natural position rather than one that tries to stretch them out prematurely.
The ‘hands-up swaddle’ positions the infant’s arms towards their legs and the face in a frog position. When your baby is ready to extend, you can switch to a different swaddling position.
Is It Better To Swaddle Arms Up Or Down?
Arms-Down Swaddling
Swaddling infants with their arms down is a universal practice that dates back centuries. When swaddling an infant, the arms are bent at the elbow and held close to the baby’s body in an “arms down” position.
The ideal arms-down swaddle will comprise a stretchy fabric that offers newborns enough freedom of movement to nap in the ‘hands-to-heart’ pose while still being tight enough to minimize awakening from the baby’s basic startle reflex.
Advantages Of Swaddling With The Arms Down
Babies’ respirations and heart rates slow when you swaddle them with their arms down, and they sleep better (for longer) and are easier to wake up. This reduces their risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
This method has shown promising results in increasing breastfeeding success rates. It also decreases SIDS, marital stress, rates of depression, and even shaken baby syndrome.
Having Arms Free Disrupts Sleep
Your infant may have problems relaxing or startling themselves if their arms are free to wander about. One of the most irritating things ever has to be seeing a baby wake up from a startle after you’ve worked so hard to get them to nap.
Swaddling your infant with their arms down can prevent them from clawing their face in the middle of the night. Babies frequently scratch their faces when they sleep, which can be a serious issue for those with delicate facial features or eczema.
What Is The Secret Swaddle Method?
Keep your baby’s arms close, but provide enough space for them to bend and open their hips and knees for an effective swaddle. When the swaddle is properly tight, you should be able to fit two fingers between the fabric and the shoulders of your newborn baby.
What Should A Newborn Wear Under A Swaddle?
Swaddling is a tried-and-true technique for calming fussy infants. Wrapping newborns in blankets to make them feel like they are still in the womb is an age-old tradition.
Swaddling is a tried-and-true method for calming fussy infants. But it’s also crucial to remember to dress them appropriately.
Make sure you dress your swaddled baby in at least one layer beyond the swaddle. The swaddle material, the room temperature, and the seasons all play major roles in determining the appropriate layering underneath the blanket. In addition, knowing the symptoms of a baby being too cold or too hot can be helpful for parents.
When deciding what to put on a baby before swaddling, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Swaddle fabric
- Temperature
- TOG Rating
- How your little one feels and looks
- Time of year
- Humidity
Your little one needs to be at a pleasant temperature when they go to sleep so they can relax and sleep soundly.
All newborns are different, but the preceding tips can help. The safest approach to guaranteeing your baby can sleep soundly is to react to indicators that they are too cold or hot.
Warning Signs Your Infant Is Too Cold
If you see any of the following, your infant may be too cold:
- Sneezing
- Cold to touch
- Restless or fussy behavior
- Pale skin
Warning Signs Your Infant is Too Hot
Indicators that your infant may be too hot include:
- Increased heart rate
- Possible sweat around the neck area
- Anxious or irritable conduct
- Reddened skin and cheeks
In addition, you need to check that the swaddle fits the baby properly and is not wrapped too tightly.
The nursery’s temperature range of 20 to 22 °C is ideal for babies. At this point, babies may find that they are most comfortable with just one additional garment, like a vest or short-sleeved bodysuit, worn inside their swaddle.
Swaddling is one of the most effective ways to keep a newborn warm. When it gets cold at night, parents can dress their child in a bodysuit or sleepsuit. But this depends on the degree of chilliness and how the child responds to dressing.
It is normal to wear only one long-sleeved sleepsuit or vest underneath a swaddle when the temperature is milder. Swaddling a baby in a bodysuit with short sleeves and a cotton sleepsuit may be exactly the thing to keep them warm on nights when it is very chilly.
Swaddling a baby is best done with a onesie underneath. A long-sleeved onesie worn underneath a sleeper is all you need to keep a baby warm in the cold.
Some infants can keep from getting too hot in the summer by being swaddled while wearing only a diaper. Keep an eye on your little ones, dress them in seasonally appropriate clothing, and see how they react to wearing multiple layers.
Swaddle Comfort
Lack of sleep can compound the difficulties of becoming a parent. It is therefore important to figure out what your infant responds to best. Swaddling with the arms up is acceptable if your infant requests it.
One of the dangers of swaddling happens when the wrap comes free and covers the baby’s face, so pick a firm swaddle that cannot come loose. Always make sure they are sleeping safely.