Swaddling 101

Let’s Talk Swaddling!

What if I told you that I knew a secret that would transform your red faced, kicking newborn into a calm, quiet baby who was ready for sleep? Well, I do- and it’s no secret at all. It’s called swaddling and parents all over the world have used it for centuries. Most parents will tell you that swaddling is a pretty miraculous thing. One minute Baby is crying and flailing, and the next cocooned like a little burrito, Baby is completely calm and quiet. It’s like a little reset button in the brain has been activated so Baby is relaxed and ready to sleep. Miracle? Not really. It’s a skill every new parent can learn with a little practice.

What is swaddling and why is it such a big deal?

Swaddling is wrapping Baby up like a little burrito with arms and legs held tight to their body. This mimics Baby’s position in the womb and helps Baby calm down. Babies have an immature nervous system at birth. One sign of this is a very active Moro, or startle reflex. You’ve probably noticed that when Baby is startled, perhaps when quickly laid down in the crib, their arms and legs jerk away from their body. That’s the Moro reflex, and it’s the sudden jerking of the limbs that makes Baby cry. And once startled, the uncoordinated flailing upsets the newborn even more. A tight swaddle will hold Baby’s arms and legs against the body, quieting the initial startle reflex so this cycle never begins. This lets Baby stay in a calm state even as you lay them in the crib. This calm state allows them to fall asleep, and then helps them to stay asleep for a longer time.

Is Baby fussy after a diaper change but not really ready for sleep? Swaddling helps here too. Combining swaddling with gentle shushing and a slow back and forth swaying (think of all the conditions in the womb!) can quickly calm a cranky baby and restore peace and calm in your home.

So how do I do this magic with my newborn?

There are a couple different methods for swaddling. You can choose to use a large blanket, specifically marketed as a “swaddle blanket” and methodically wrap Baby up using the following technique:

If this is more baby origami than you would like to do, you can use a swaddle sack or a swaddle pouch. Swaddle sacks use the same basic steps as in the diagram, but it is sewn into a little bag that you slip Baby into, and then the wings are held tightly in place across Baby’s body with Velcro. A swaddle pouch is a little bag with a zipper that hugs Baby’s body from top to toes and uses compression to provide that gentle, full-body pressure that Baby finds so calming. Further down this post are links to a few of our favorite swaddle blankets, sacks, and pouches so you can explore what works for you.

Regardless of which method of swaddling you choose to use, there are a few things to remember: Make sure that Baby is just wearing a light layer underneath so there is no concern about overheating. Some swaddle sacks and pouches have an extra zipper or mesh vents down at Baby’s feet to allow for air flow and make changing a diaper easier. You should also make sure to only place Baby on their back once they are swaddled. Once their arms are tucked into the swaddle they are unable to roll themselves over, so if they accidentally end up on their side or belly they will be stuck there. The last thing to keep in mind is that as you are turning Baby into a little burrito make sure not to pull down on their legs and try to straighten them out. You want to allow their hips to stay nice and loose, like a little frog. This prevents hip dysplasia, which is when the hip socket does not align with the hip joint.

“My baby fights me when I try to swaddle him. Why doesn’t he like it?”Many babies resist getting into a swaddle, or at least it looks that way. When Baby was in utero he kept his arms up near his face and this became his default position. When we swaddle a baby we are bringing their arms down to their chests and Baby may resist what he feels is an unnatural position. This does not mean Baby won’t like and appreciate being swaddled, just that babies are used to doing things their own way. Although you can begin any time, it will be easiest for you and for Baby if you begin swaddling immediately after Baby is born. Ask any Labor and Delivery nurse to show you how to swaddle and prepare to be amazed. They have it down to a science!

“No but really, my baby fights it. How do I get him wrapped up?”Some newborns and fresh babies may be content on their own without being swaddled, but generally the fussier a baby is the more they need to be swaddled. Swaddling helps with the Soft Sensory Dysfunction that we talked about in the Colic/Not-Colic blog post. The proprioceptive input that Baby receives from the gentle pressure of the swaddle blanket sends a signal to the Central Nervous System letting it know that everything is okay. The world is big and scary and you’re a little baby in an unfamiliar body, but you are safe. If Baby is resisting you can put gentle but constant pressure on their arm to bring it down next to their body. After a moment or two Baby’s muscles will relax and you will be able to easily move his arm. Baby may actually fuss more as soon as he is in the swaddle, but give it some time and use the other tools at your disposal: swaying, shushing, or a gentle bounce.

When should you stop swaddling Baby?As Baby gets bigger and becomes more secure in his body his need to be swaddled will gradually lessen. You can slowly ease him into a non-swaddled sleeping position by starting him off with one arm out of the swaddle. After a few days, leave both arms free, so the torso and legs are swaddled. If it’s going well at that point you can stop completely. If Baby seems to need the security of a wrap, you can swaddle just his belly, with both arms and legs free. This is often made easier by using a swaddle bag that has large Velcro panels over the tummy so you can control exactly where the tightness is on Baby’s body. Once Baby is rolling over swaddling is no longer safe and it is time to transition out of the swaddle completely.

Now, go forth and swaddle all the babies!!

Swaddling 101

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