Young parents have many questions regarding swaddling. First of all, they are interested in whether it is necessary to swaddle a newborn. In practice, many difficulties arise with the swaddling technology itself. In addition, there are many ways to implement your plans. In this article we will tell you how to properly swaddle a baby and look at several important nuances of swaddling.

To swaddle or not?

The question of whether it is worth swaddling a newborn should be decided by parents alone without advisers. This is important for at least the reason that all children are different, and their little one may either need swaddling or categorically resist it. Therefore, it is most reasonable to ask this question after childbirth, when the child’s character and temperament will become completely obvious to both the mother and the rest of the household.

In the maternity hospital they don’t ask much - they swaddle all babies without exception simply because it’s customary, it’s been that way for decades. In modern maternity hospitals, where there are rooms where mother and child stay together, the question is not so categorical: the new mother can decide for herself what to dress the child in - a diaper or rompers and a vest.

After discharge from the maternity hospital, this issue is entirely within the competence of the mother and father. Of course, they can ask the opinion of grandmothers, who will unanimously say that swaddling is necessary, and also ask a pediatrician. A doctor may recommend swaddling, but only in certain situations, for example, if a baby has hip dysplasia. The swaddling itself in this case will also be special - therapeutic.

But no one can understand better than a mother whether a baby needs swaddling. If the baby is worried, often wakes up, waves its arms, is frightened by its own splashes of limbs, cries, try swaddling. It is possible that the baby will be more relaxed and will begin to sleep better, because in the last months of pregnancy it was crowded in the mother’s womb, the baby is accustomed to the cramped space and the constant touch of the walls of the uterus.

In this case, the diaper creates familiar conditions for him, since the big world still frightens the baby. A diaper that is pleasant to the touch will give additional peace of mind, since a newborn learns the world mainly through tactile sensations.

If a child suffers from colic and often cries due to a bloated tummy, you can also try using swaddling, but not tight, but loose, so that the baby can take a more natural fetal position in the swaddle (with legs tucked in and arms brought to the chest).

There are children who from the first days desperately fight for personal freedom, wriggling out of the swaddle by all available means. If you see that the diaper is causing inconvenience to the child, try to put him to bed without it - in a shirt and pants. It is possible that this is how your newborn will be calmer.

Arguments about the dangers and benefits of diapers should not be taken seriously. Usually they are pseudo-scientific. Interested mothers who are faced with the question of swaddling can, of course, familiarize themselves with them, but they still need to make a decision based on the personal convenience and comfort of the baby. Opponents of swaddling point to the following circumstances:

• a child in a diaper grows up depressed, dependent, infantile, because his will and need for freedom are mercilessly destroyed and suppressed by his parents;
• in a diaper, children grow slowly and lag behind in physical and mental development;
• babies wrapped in diapers sweat more and are more likely to suffer from diaper rash and prickly heat;

• swaddling is difficult and troublesome, and washing diapers and drying them is doubly difficult - you need a lot of space, and besides, the diapers need to be ironed;
• Washing diapers requires more washing powder;
• the sense of beauty is not cultivated, because diapers do not have a wide variety of colors, designs and accessories;
• Swaddling disrupts proper blood circulation in the baby's limbs.
• it is almost impossible to entrust swaddling to the child’s father; if the mother needs to go out somewhere, most men cannot master the intricacies of swaddling techniques;

Most of these arguments, from the point of view of medicine and science, have no basis and belong to the category of myths, for example, the statement that swaddling slows down development and impairs blood circulation. And with regard to infantility, one should not take the arguments at face value; after all, many revolutionaries, political leaders and generals grew up in diapers, because before another option for supporting a newborn was not even considered.

Supporters of swaddling present their arguments:

• the transition from the tightness inside the uterus to the big world is best done with the least stress for the baby, which is what a diaper helps with, imitating the conditions familiar to the baby;
• during the first months there is no need to spend a lot of money on buying baby vests and onesies - the child grows out of them very quickly, and the diaper is of such a size that it will last for several months;
• diapers are easier to wash - a washing machine can easily do this, and sliders sometimes need to be washed by hand;
• in a swaddle, babies sleep sounder and longer;
• swaddling is necessary so that the legs are straight;
• diapers made from natural fabrics rarely cause allergies, unlike bright clothes with textile dyes or disposable diapers.

It must be said that even for supporters of swaddling the evidence base is not so smooth. For example, crooked legs can never be straightened with diapers, with the exception of prescribed therapeutic swaddling for dysplasia, and the duration of sleep depends on completely different factors.

Therefore, only mothers and fathers themselves must choose whether to swaddle their child or not. The famous doctor Evgeny Komarovsky claims that swaddling in itself does not bring any particular benefit or harm. But it may simply be convenient or inconvenient for a particular family in general and the baby born in it, in particular.

If you decide to swaddle your baby, it’s really not that easy, but difficulties arise only at the very beginning. Having learned to wrap a baby once, a woman usually never loses the acquired skill: with the second or third child, the swaddling pattern automatically pops up in her memory, and her hands remember well what and how to do.

How to choose diapers?

If you decide to swaddle, you need to make sure that everything you need is available and in the right quantity. Mothers of the Soviet period had little choice: thick diapers for winter and light, thin cotton diapers for summer. Modern parents have an incredibly large choice of this type of children's products, and therefore questions arise about which ones are needed, how and for what their different types can be used.

When choosing diapers, you need to consider their functionality. Answer yourself the question of what you are going to use them for. If only to secure the baby’s arms while sleeping, then you can get by with only thin diapers, especially if you still plan to put the baby’s undershirt and rompers under them. If swaddling in your case should replace clothing, then you need both thick and thin diapers.

For naked play, massage, and air baths, reusable waterproof films are useful, and for normal, long sleep at night without diapers, reusable absorbent films are useful.

Let's talk about the different types and calculate how many diapers your newborn might need.

• Calico diapers- These are natural cotton thin diapers. They are pleasant to the baby's skin, useful for swaddling under flannel diapers in winter, and for separate swaddling in summer. Can be used as a sheet for a baby's crib. Regardless of the time of year, you will need about 7-10 pieces.

• Thick flannel diapers- they are also made from natural cotton fiber. They are useful for swaddling in winter because they are warm. Additionally, they can be used as a towel after bathing. Unlike towels, they are softer and more pleasant for the baby’s delicate skin, and also perfectly absorb moisture. You need to have at least 5 such diapers.

Knitted diapers- an excellent option for growth. Due to the elasticity of the knitted fabric, the products stretch, and therefore are useful for swaddling from the first days to six months and even longer, if the need arises. You may need up to 5 of these products, although you can do without them if you need to reduce the cost of diapers.

Reusable diapers They are expensive, but you don’t need more than 1-2 of them. You can massage on waterproof diapers, since traces of vital activity can be easily removed from them. They are a two-layer “construction” made of soft fabric and a layer of oilcloth. On absorbent diapers you can sleep all night or play and crawl for a long time. They are three-layered, there is a membrane inside that absorbs urine and does not release it to the surface.

• Disposable diapers sold in packs. The name fully reflects the essence - each is used only once. If urine or feces gets on a diaper, it is thrown away; the product cannot be washed. For the first time, one package is enough, and then you yourself will understand whether you need them in principle.

Fur diapers- these products are also called winter ones. If necessary, they can easily be transformed into an envelope, which will be useful for a walk in the cold season. The inner layer is made of natural wool. For a child born in late autumn or winter, one such envelope diaper is enough. Also, when unfolded, the item can then be used as a warm blanket.

• Velcro and fastener diapers- an excellent option for those who cannot master the pattern of swaddling a baby, but are determined to swaddle. There is no need to invent anything with them, just put the child in it and fasten the Velcro or fasteners in the right places. The diaper does not tighten the baby's body; it is practically impossible to fasten it incorrectly. Such models are disposable and reusable, thin and dense.

If funds allow, purchase 2-3 pieces - in the first days, while the swaddling technology is still under study, they can be of great help.

When choosing diapers, be sure to make sure that they are made from natural fabrics without an abundance of textile dyes that can cause allergies. Pay attention to the size and how easily the fabric absorbs water. The diaper should not be rough; place it on your cheek - the fabric should be very soft and pleasant. The seams along the edges of the product must be of high quality, the threads should not fall out. This is a mandatory safety requirement, because a dropped thread can get into the baby’s respiratory tract and cause serious consequences.

The diaper should not contain seams in the center, and the edges should be soft, otherwise they will rub and injure the baby's delicate skin. Pay attention to the strength of the fabric: it will require frequent washing and ironing, the diaper must be reliable and durable.

Now a few words about sizes. Sometimes a mother can’t quickly learn how to swaddle her baby correctly just because her diapers are too big or too small. This is often faced by women who decide to sew diapers themselves.

Let us remind you that for comfortable and proper swaddling, products must have certain dimensions:

• Thin diapers- 0.9x1.2 m (optimal), products with dimensions of 0.9x1.0 m are more often found on sale.
• Thick diapers- 1.1x1.2 m (optimal), 0.9x1.2 m or 0.75x1.1 m are usually available for sale.

If you do not plan to use disposable diapers systematically or at all, stock up on a package of gauze diapers; they can be purchased at any children's store or pharmacy.

Swaddling methods and algorithm of actions

Swaddling a baby requires the mother to strictly adhere to the requirements and rules of hygiene. Therefore, the procedure should begin with bringing the baby’s skin to the appropriate condition. In the maternity hospital, upon discharge, the baby will be swaddled in a “column” - neat, even and beautiful, placed in an elegant discharge envelope, and handed to the happy father. When the newborn is turned around at home, repeating such a “column” most likely will not work, and there is no need for it.

Before you swaddle your baby, you need to decide on the type of diaper - either disposable diapers or gauze diapers. Any of them can be put on easily and quickly on a previously washed and dry baby. A rectangular gauze diaper is placed lengthwise between the legs of a boy and a girl. A triangular diaper with a wide corner is passed between the legs, and the side corners are wrapped around the hips and fixed in front.

Now is the time to start swaddling your baby. Choose a convenient method and get down to business.

Closed swaddling (classic)

This method is considered the most common; it is what expectant mothers are taught in courses at antenatal clinics, and it is what is usually shown to women in labor in the maternity hospital. The method is not complicated, and therefore after 1-2 days of mother’s torment, a clear understanding of how this should happen usually comes.

Lay out the diaper so that its widest part is high and its smaller sides are wide. Place the baby on a rectangle of fabric so that his head is above the edge of the diaper.

This swaddling does not involve covering the head.

• take the child’s left hand and place it on his chest, holding it with one hand;
• With your other hand, tuck the left edge of the diaper over the handle and then over the right side. The hand thus becomes fixed;
• take the baby’s right hand and, in the same way as the left, place it on the chest directly on the layer of diaper that is already fixed; use the right edge of the diaper to secure the second hand, bringing it behind the baby’s left side;
• after both arms are wrapped, with both hands take the bottom edge of the diaper, which is still free - the task is to close the legs. Straighten it, pull it slightly towards you, throw it over your legs and lift it to your chest;
• Place the right side of the bottom edge, which we raised, behind the baby’s back, and pass the left side over the left shoulder;
• Tuck the remaining “tail” into the fold that has formed on the chest.

Using the classic method described above, they also do tight swaddling, but they try to fix the arms more tightly. You can also place the handles along the body when swaddling tightly. It is important not to overtighten the diaper, otherwise blood circulation in the extremities may actually be impaired. Modern pediatricians do not recommend tight swaddling. On the one hand, it allows you to securely fix the baby so that he does not pull his arms out at night, but, on the other hand, with tight swaddling, the baby often becomes hot and uncomfortable, and therefore sleep may be disturbed due to these factors.

With handles

The so-called “swaddling with handles” is also a type of classic swaddling. This method allows babies not to wave their arms or pull them out of the swaddle, but at the same time the limbs are not constricted, as with tight swaddling.

This method is especially loved by many mothers:

• lay the diaper vertically and lay the baby down;
• Tuck the top edge of the diaper inward to create a “pocket”;
• Place the baby’s hand in this resulting “pocket”, and then bring it to the baby’s tummy along with the diaper fabric;
• wrap the child’s other hand in exactly the same way;
• Hold the handles with one hand, and with the other, straighten the lower part of the fabric and wrap the legs, fixing the diaper under the baby’s knees.

If you put the diaper not in a rectangle, but in a diamond shape, you can make swaddling with handles in another way, which will differ only in that the fabric will pass under the baby’s armpits.

Wide way

Very often, wide swaddling is confused with loose swaddling. Loose means that the baby is swaddled “half-heartedly”; the swaddle only slightly secures the arms so that the baby cannot swing them; inside the swaddle, the baby can move his limbs and bend his legs towards his stomach.

Wide swaddling is a method that allows the baby to be in a position with the hips spread apart. This is important for certain conditions - hip dysplasia, subluxation and dislocation, as well as for the prevention of corresponding disorders in congenital weakness and underdevelopment of the hip joints.

Properly carried out wide swaddling can reduce the load on weak joints, giving time for cartilage and bone tissue to become stronger and more reliable. For a healthy baby, a mother can also choose this method if both the child and the mother like it. There won't be any harm for sure. Let's try to swaddle the baby like this:

• lay out the diaper and fold it twice to make a four-layer square;
• take the corner of the top edge, move it down - you get a “pocket”;
• unfold the rectangle with the flap facing down;
• fold the diaper in half again, you should get a tight strip in the middle;
• Place the baby in the center, the strip should go between the legs;
• Wrap the corners of the fabric “structure” around your legs, then spread them slightly and fix the middle tight strip so that the hips cannot be brought together.

Such swaddling can be useful in the summer if it is hot and there is no need to swaddle the baby’s arms, and also if he sleeps without swaddled arms and is not very worried about it.

Wide swaddling can also be done for babies who cannot sleep peacefully if their arms are not wrapped. But for this you will need two diapers. First you do the above-mentioned swaddling of the pelvic area and legs, and the second you wrap the baby’s body according to the classical pattern, which we have already mastered. If you use a third diaper, you can swaddle your head. Then the third of them will swaddle the baby’s head and arms.

Theoretically, wide swaddling allows you to significantly save on the purchase of disposable diapers. The downside is that it can be difficult for a mother to understand that the baby described the first diaper, especially if he was wrapped in three.

Partial way

This method has been known for quite a long time; all representatives of the older generation know it. Previously, it was considered a transition between tight swaddling and the transition to clothing. You can partially swaddle either only the baby’s arms or only the baby’s legs.

Free swaddling also falls into the category of partial swaddling. This type of swaddling is easier to do than classic or wide swaddling. For him, take a diaper, spread a rectangle in height, place the baby in the center. Using an “envelope”, place the right and left corners over the baby’s chest, tuck the bottom of the diaper and easily secure it around the waist. In such a “cocoon” the baby will be quite comfortable.

Typically, this swaddling is used to make it easier for infants to fall asleep. Of course, the baby will take his arms out of the loosely fitting diaper, but this will happen in his sleep, and while he is falling asleep, his arms and legs will not interfere with the baby.

A child wrapped in this way, of course, does not look the best: the package is sloppy, folded, and the baby actively moves his arms and legs under the layer of fabric, which makes him look like a swarming caterpillar. But his movements are not too severely limited, and the mother can be calm - the child will definitely not hit himself in the face with his hands.

Partial and loose swaddling are good for colic, which plagues many babies in the first 3-4 months of life. The baby has the opportunity to tuck his legs towards his stomach at any time, which in itself significantly alleviates the condition and promotes the release of intestinal gases.

Free swaddling is available even to those mothers who, despite all their efforts and efforts, have not been able to learn how to do classic swaddling. Another question is that there are such active children who manage to get rid of a diaper applied in a similar way in a matter of minutes. But that's a completely different story.

Common mistakes parents make

Something as serious as swaddling babies usually cannot be done without mistakes. But the best way to learn, as you know, is from the mistakes of others. So let’s look at what mothers are most often “wrong” about.

Disproportionate effort. At first, it can be difficult for a mother to choose the degree of diaper pressure and fixation at which the child will be comfortable. Therefore, it turns out either too tight, so that the child can neither inhale nor exhale, or too loose, and the diaper unravels quite quickly, and you have to start all over again.

• Too much hope. Many parents have too high hopes for swaddling. They rely on them as salvation, believing that the legs will become straight, and the back will not be curved, and the baby’s character will become flexible, and he will sleep precisely according to the schedule and on command. In fact, swaddling may not live up to any expectations. And there is no point in forcing a child to go to sleep in a diaper if he categorically does not like it. We have already talked about straightening the legs.
• Microclimate disturbance. Swaddling, even with a light, thin diaper, increases the likelihood of heat rash if parents cannot match the room temperature to the baby's needs. Children feel comfortable at a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. If, according to general practice, the room is +27 degrees, and the child is wearing two undershirts, a hat, and trying to swaddle him in a thick diaper, then such swaddling will obviously not bring any benefit - the baby will sweat and get sick.
• Poor hygiene. Some mothers, due to lack of time or other considerations, believe that diapers can be washed once every few days. If the baby pees, just dry the diaper and use it again. Some limit themselves to just rinsing and drying. This is a mistake, because rinsing cannot ensure complete cleaning of the fabric from waste products, in particular urea and ammonia. Swaddling with such diapers increases the likelihood of skin problems.

When should you stop swaddling?

Swaddling should be stopped when it no longer suits adults and children. And this will definitely happen, but no one knows when. Some children, already at the age of four months, demand freedom and demonstrate complete readiness to sleep with their arms open. Others need a diaper until 8 months of their life.

Innate reflexes that cause the baby to throw up his arms and randomly swing his limbs usually decline by 3 months. From this age, if you wish, you can try to put your baby to bed without a diaper. But if all else fails, don’t worry, return the much-desired diaper to your child and leave him alone. The baby himself will show when it’s time for change.

Most parents adhere to the “golden mean”, and the issue of swaddling is not acute in their families. During the waking period, their children are in normal clothes, and at night or midday nap the child is swaddled to make it easier to fall asleep. Thus, parents also make decisions on the duration of swaddling independently based on the prevailing circumstances.

I am already nine months pregnant and in just a couple of weeks I will finally be able to hold my baby in my arms. Therefore, I am actively preparing for my new role as a mom. Yesterday I asked a friend to teach me how to swaddle a newborn. But in response she heard that no one does this anymore, and she did not swaddle her child.

Now I have a question: should I swaddle a newborn or not? After all, my mother wrapped me in diapers. Perhaps there was some benefit from this? Or was it just considered fashionable back then and that’s all? Or have modern doctors found that swaddling harms the baby?

Please clarify this question. And, if possible, tell us how to properly swaddle a newborn.

Why swaddle a baby?

Indeed, we all know about the procedure of swaddling a baby from our mothers and grandmothers. But is it necessary to swaddle a newborn baby?

• In general, this is a centuries-old tradition that existed even under Hippocrates, and maybe even earlier. And since after so much time it has not disappeared from the practice of mothers, we can draw an unambiguous conclusion - the baby needs to be swaddled;

Our ancestors believed that this is a very important procedure that is necessary for a child during the period of his adaptation to the outside world after birth. And if we reflect on this topic, then we can quite agree with this statement.

• While in the mother's belly, the baby is always surrounded by the walls of the uterus. You can come across phrases that the baby is floating inside the stomach. This is not entirely true, the child never floats in the uterus, it grows with the baby and within 9 months the tight membrane around the body becomes a familiar, comfortable and safest space;

Its head, arms and legs are constantly bent and rest against the walls of the uterus. And with any movement of the baby, protrusions appear on the surface of the abdomen (mothers simply adore this process).

Pros and cons

However, disputes on the topic « Is it necessary to swaddle a newborn? are ongoing. Supporters and opponents of swaddling present their arguments.

When talking about the benefits of swaddling, pay attention to the following points:

1. A baby wrapped in a diaper does not “throw up” his arms or legs, but these movements at first very frighten him;
2. While in a diaper, the newborn comes into contact with its surface and receives tactile sensations, thanks to which he is comfortable;
3. After swaddling, many babies sleep more peacefully;
4. The diaper helps keep mommy warm;

Remember! The diaper itself does not warm the baby. In the first months, the baby’s thermoregulation processes are weak, and he needs a constant new portion of his mother’s warmth.

1. In addition, the use of diapers will allow you to save a little on the family budget, since one diaper can be used for several months, and babies outgrow them very quickly;
2. You can often hear the opinion that swaddling a newborn promotes the proper formation of the skeleton and bones (they say that without swaddling, a child’s legs may remain crooked forever). However, at the moment this statement has no medical confirmation.

Those who consider swaddling a newborn a harmful procedure claim the following:

• in a diaper, the baby’s movements are constrained, and this will contribute to impaired muscle tone (about muscle tone, read the current article Hypertonicity in a newborn >>>);
• a swaddled baby may overheat;
• Swaddling can lead to delayed sensory development.

There is another crazy statement from psychologists who, apparently, have never seen small children: They say that swaddling a baby at an early age can cause problems during the formation of his personal “I-concept”.

Types of swaddling

Now let's talk about swaddling methods. There are several of them, the main difference is the degree to which the child is “wrapped up”.

Tight

1. Tight swaddling of a newborn involves the most complete restriction of the child's movements. This is exactly how it was customary to wrap babies in maternity hospitals about thirty years ago. When they were brought to their mothers for feeding, only the face could be seen;
2. With this method, the baby is completely wrapped in a diaper: the upper edge of the diaper is located at neck level, and the lower edge covers the legs and is wrapped upward. In this case, the arms are straightened along the body, the legs are aligned and moved together;
3. It will be difficult for your baby to even move in this state. In addition, the straight position of his arms and legs is not yet natural for him, and he will feel very uncomfortable.

Important! You cannot swaddle a child this way, unless, of course, you want to raise an adequate and happy person, and not a prisoner in a cell.

Free

Free swaddling of a newborn is similar to the previous one. The main difference is that there is no need to straighten the arms and legs, and the diaper should not be wrapped very tightly.

• This is a very convenient way of swaddling. After all, moving his legs and arms, the child will constantly rest against the diaper, which will prevent the appearance of fear of large spaces. It is also good that the diaper does not tightly cover the newborn’s body, and nothing hinders his movements;

The video course Happy Motherhood will help you master the technique of such swaddling in more detail and learn everything about gentle care for a newborn >>>

• Now they also produce special envelopes for newborns. But they resemble a bag and do not create the necessary sense of security for the baby. It is better to prefer loose swaddling in a diaper.

With your head

If it's your first baby, you may worry that you'll hurt your baby's neck or be anxious when picking him up.

In maternity hospitals they can now teach how to swaddle a newborn’s head.

1. This is a fairly tight way to wrap a baby. It is necessary to ensure that the newborn does not overheat while in a diaper. Otherwise, a sweat rash may appear on his neck and behind his ears (article on the topic: Diaper rash in a newborn >>>).
2. Also, you should not swaddle a newborn in this way in order to put him to sleep. At an early age, the child often spits up, and the diaper will not give him the opportunity to turn his head to the side. If you are in doubt about what position you should put your baby to sleep in, read the article Can a newborn sleep on his stomach?>>>

Wide

• With this method of swaddling, a roll from another diaper is placed between the legs so that they are wide apart;

This is a rather unique way of swaddling. To better understand the procedure for performing it, I would recommend searching the Internet and watching a video on how to properly swaddle a newborn with dysplasia.

Swaddling the legs

Another way to swaddle a newborn baby involves wrapping only the legs in a swaddle.

1. The upper edge of the diaper is placed at the level of the armpits;
2. The bottom edge is folded as usual, but not pulled too tightly;
3. Thus, the legs end up in a kind of “bag”. They can be in a half-bent position, and your baby will move them freely. Nothing interferes with the handles either.

How to properly perform swaddling

It’s very good that you became interested in the issue of swaddling in advance. After all, this is a rather complex technique that requires a little practice to master. I hope that after the tips presented and watching the video on how to swaddle a newborn, you will learn this very quickly.

• So, first you need to prepare a diaper, vests or blouses and a gauze diaper. All children's clothing should be made only from natural fabrics, washed and ironed on both sides. Details about what clothes the baby will need in the first days are described in the article List of things for newborns for the first time >>>;
• Before changing the diaper, the newborn must be washed, dried all the folds on the body and treated with powder or baby oil;
• It is most convenient to swaddle your baby on a special table. Read a detailed article about changing tables >>>;
• First of all, you must put on your baby's blouses and diaper. Find out which diapers are best to buy for a baby in the article Which diapers are best for a newborn?>>>;
• Then lay him on a pre-spread diaper.

Subsequent steps depend on the type of swaddling. Let's take a step-by-step look at the general procedure for swaddling a newborn.

1. Place your baby in the center of the swaddle so that the top edge of the swaddle is parallel to his shoulders. The head should be above this edge;
2. Press your baby's left arm close to your body. Take the left corner of the diaper, wrap it diagonally and hide it under the back;
3. Do the same with the other handle and the other corner;
4. Now you need to wrap the bottom of the diaper. Raise it up to elbow level. Wrap both edges around the baby’s body and secure by turning one of them inward;
5. At the end of the procedure, check that there are no thick folds in the diaper that will bother the baby.

To better understand the entire process described, look at how to swaddle a newborn in pictures step by step.

Once you understand this algorithm, you can reproduce all other types of swaddling.

In conclusion, I want to give some additional tips.

• It is not recommended to use a safety pin to secure the edge of the diaper. If it suddenly unfastens, it may prick the baby;
• You need to choose a diaper according to the weather. If it is hot, then it is enough to wrap the newborn in a thin cotton swaddle. If the room is cool, then the baby is also wrapped in a warm one (flannelette or flannel) on top of a thin diaper.

Attention! During swaddling, the baby should not be left unattended. He may accidentally move onto the edge of the changing table and fall.

Until what age should you swaddle

Now let’s figure out at what age should a newborn be swaddled? Everything greatly depends on the child’s general anxiety. I stopped swaddling my eldest daughter at 1 month, but from the middle, swaddling for sleep continued until 8 months (read about the norms of a child’s sleep at this age in the article How much should a child sleep at 8 months?>>>).

Observe how the child falls asleep (the article The child sleeps only outside >>> may be relevant to you), whether the “throwing up” of his arms continues, and whether such movements are frightened. When the baby adapts to his new condition, the need for swaddling disappears.

If your baby doesn't like being swaddled

In some cases, wrapping a newborn in swaddles can cause anxiety. The child may be capricious and cry, trying to free himself from the diaper. We need to establish the reason why this happens:

1. Perhaps you violated or slightly distorted the instructions on how to properly swaddle a newborn, and now a fold has formed on some edge of the diaper and it brings discomfort to the baby;
2. Or you made some hygienic mistakes, which is why diaper rash appeared on the child’s body, which bothers him;
3. Or maybe the newborn is just hot and sweaty.

Very anxious children and children who have lost contact with their mother protest against swaddling. They don’t want to be in her arms, refuse to breastfeed, and protest against swaddling.

Know! This is not a swaddling problem, but a relationship problem, and you need to start correcting it by building soft care.

In most cases, a small child, once in a diaper, relaxes, calms down and sleeps more soundly.

After 2 months (read the article about what a baby should be able to do at 2 months?>>>) the child’s resistance may be a signal that the baby has grown up, is accustomed to the environment and does not like that the diaper interferes with movement and explore the world around you. In this case, give him more freedom by replacing diapers with onesies.

There are many conflicting opinions about the need to swaddle newborn babies. In modern maternity hospitals, neonatologists and pediatricians are increasingly recommending that parents teach their children to do without diapers from the first days of life, while strict grandparents, on the contrary, insist on mandatory swaddling. In any case, the question of whether a newborn child needs to be swaddled should be decided exclusively by his parents, taking into account the individual characteristics of the little family member.

Two basic techniques for swaddling small babies

1. Full swaddling. This type of swaddling is also called swaddling with handles. With it, the baby is swaddled completely, only the head remains free.
2. Incomplete or loose swaddling. In this case, only the newborn’s legs are swaddled, and the arms remain free.

The swaddling process is carried out before each feeding on a special changing table. If there is no such thing at home, then you can use a regular table or parent’s bed. The main thing is that the surface is smooth and moderately hard.

Both the baby’s clothes and the diapers used must be clean and ironed on both sides. Since children's skin is extremely sensitive, undershirts and rompers in the first months of the baby's life should be made exclusively of cotton fabric. Thin baby diapers can be made of chintz or calico, and warm ones can be made of flannel or flannel.

Before we move on to a direct description of swaddling methods, let's look at how to carry out this process without causing discomfort to the baby.

The most common mistakes when swaddling

• The swaddling is too tight or too loose. In the first case, circulatory disorders and muscle underdevelopment of the child are possible. In the second, the baby will simply quickly turn around and will have to be swaddled again.

• Many people believe that swaddling can help straighten a baby's legs. Alas, this is not true. The shape of the legs (as well as the entire human body) is genetically determined and swaddling cannot correct defects. But when the child grows up, physical education will help strengthen the muscular system and eliminate some figure flaws.

• Putting on several baby vests and onesies before swaddling to keep the baby warmer. Such a “set” of things will only contribute to overheating of the child, and.

Thus, young parents should decide for themselves when and why to swaddle their newborn baby in order to create for him comfortable living conditions that promote the active growth and proper development of the little person.

And now we directly invite you to familiarize yourself with several methods of swaddling, and the photos will clearly demonstrate this process.

Full swaddling

Full swaddling significantly limits the baby's motor activity. It is recommended to use it in the first months of a child’s life, when involuntary movements of the arms and legs predominate, and the baby cannot coordinate their work. Very often, the chaotic movement of the hands does not help the baby. This type of swaddling can be done in two ways.

I way:

1) Before swaddling a newborn, a light diaper is placed on top of a warm one.

2) The baby is dressed and put on a diaper.

3) The baby is placed on prepared diapers.

4) The left edge of the diaper is wrapped around the baby, passing it under the right arm, and tucked behind the back.

5) Then the baby is wrapped with the right edge of the diaper.

6) The lower edge of the diaper is straightened and raised to the level of the children's elbows.

7) The baby is wrapped with a raised diaper edge and secured.

Method II.

The essence of this method of swaddling is to form a kind of scarf for the baby from the diaper.

1) Before swaddling, the top thin diaper is applied to the warm one, not strictly along the edge, but a little higher.

2) The baby is placed on the prepared diapers so that the top edge of the light diaper is higher than the level of the baby’s head.

3) A scarf is formed from a light diaper by tucking it on both sides at the level of the child’s temple.

4) The left edge of the light diaper is wrapped around the baby, passing it under the right arm, and tucked behind the back.

5) Then the right edge of the diaper is wrapped around the baby.

6) After this, alternately the left and right edges of a warm diaper are wrapped around the newborn.

7) The lower edge of the warm diaper is straightened, lifted and fixed in the same way as the first method.

Free swaddling

If a baby with fixed arms feels uncomfortable, then in such a situation it is worth trying to swaddle him in a loose way, leaving the arms open.

1) Before swaddling your baby, you should prepare thin and warm diapers and place them one on top of the other. In this case, the flannelette diaper should be on the bottom, and the calico diaper on top.

2) The baby is dressed in a vest with closed sleeves, put on a diaper and placed on prepared diapers.

3) The left edge of the diaper, starting from the armpit, is wrapped around the baby’s chest and tucked behind the back under the right arm.

4) Then the right edge of the diaper is wrapped around the baby from the right armpit and placed behind the back under the left arm.

5) Straighten the bottom edge of the diaper, lift it, wrap it around the baby at waist level and secure it in the usual way.

How to make a cloth diaper?

Currently, almost all young mothers use diapers of the “diaper” type, but not many people know that you can make a baby diaper with your own hands from cotton fabric or gauze, just like our mothers and grandmothers did. Of course, with this method we cannot avoid wet diapers, but we will avoid diaper rash, which often occurs after diapers.

Method for making a cloth diaper with your own hands:

1) Fold the diaper or gauze into a scarf.

2) Place the baby on the prepared diaper so that the top of the “kerchief” (right angle) is between the legs, and its longest side is at waist level.

3) The right corner of the diaper is lifted up, covering the newborn’s perineum with it.

4) The sharp edges are alternately wrapped left and right around the tummy at waist level and secured.

And more articles on the topic:

Comments (13) -

At first I tried to swaddle, but after unsuccessful attempts I gave up on the whole thing. The only thing was that she covered the child’s hands only for sleep. I am against swaddling, especially since now there are wonderful and comfortable clothes for babies - little men. But every mother decides for herself what to do with her child.

I never mastered the art of swaddling, but I can forgive it. Although I tried it and it worked a little. It seems to me that swaddling can be done at a very early age, and then it is more convenient for everyone, especially dads, to wear regular undershirts and onesies, which everyone can handle.

Our ancestors swaddled children because there were no other clothing options for newborns. Diapers are cheap and cheerful, and, most importantly, universal, which is what they tried to reduce everything to in the USSR.
Forced swaddling in the maternity hospital did not cause me anything but discomfort and inconvenience. The baby was just born, there are so many new, unknown things, a lot to learn - my head is spinning... and here are the uncomfortable, incomprehensible diapers - to the point of tears ((I didn’t consciously learn to swaddle in advance, because I knew that after discharge from the maternity hospital, the diapers would only be used to cover -cover-get wet.

In Israel, it is strictly forbidden to swaddle, there are a lot of children in our family (and I recently gave birth), but no one swaddled, I think that this hinders the baby’s movements and this is unnecessary! Indeed, in the USSR it was a problem to find clothes for a child and there were no disposable diapers; now diapers are not relevant!

I swaddled my eldest son, but not for long. In the maternity hospital I tried to swaddle her like a soldier, but in the house there was free swaddling. I didn’t swaddle my youngest daughter at all.

I swaddled the baby only for the first month of his life, because, moving his arms and legs, he could not fall asleep for a long time.
Then, when the time of wakefulness increased, there was no need to put him to sleep in this way: after ringing the rattles, the little man sweetly fell asleep on his own.

And I always swaddled my baby, fell asleep faster and slept more peacefully. And I did it like in the first method. Yes, and dad took his son in his arms more boldly when he did not wave his arms and legs).

Definitely no one uses the second method of swaddling the head anymore. Some mothers use wide swaddling, but more often do without it.

I have two children. I swaddled both of them at one time, otherwise they slept restlessly and woke up constantly. And naughty hands are to blame for everything, which kept waking up the kids. At first I used full swaddling (the first method), and when they grew up a little, I simply fixed the arms with a diaper and left the legs free. But over time, my babies learned to free their hands during sleep, and so gradually we completely calmly weaned ourselves from diapers. So I don't see any harm in swaddling.

Thank you very much for the forgotten science.
No matter how many little people are at hand, sometimes there will be a need to swaddle the child. but there is no one to ask.

But I now live in the states and, oddly enough, swaddling is encouraged here. At first, I also thought that since my little one protests so much, it means I don’t like it and don’t need it. But he simply refused to breastfeed if his hands were free, and he beat himself, scratching and simply tearing my breasts into pieces. A very restless baby: at 2 weeks he could jump and roll over from his back to his stomach. So I'm swaddling tightly for now, we'll see.

In the maternity hospital they swaddled me to the fullest. But at home it turned out that we really needed hands. We groaned, snotted, did not sleep and everyone tried to take them out. After this, they began to use loose swaddling. We put our hands under our chin or raise them up and it’s very comfortable for us)))

Who knows what the size of a do-it-yourself diaper is?

This question arises before new parents in the maternity hospital when the child is given to them. After the first feeding, the baby's diapers become wet. As a rule, in the maternity hospital, doctors themselves tell you how to properly swaddle a baby. But it will still be better if the young mother learns this process herself while she is still pregnant . Master wrapping You can use dolls or soft toys at home.

Why is swaddling needed?

Now in stores you can find many hygiene products that will help a young mother do without diapers. In the markets you can find a large selection of disposable diapers and clothing for small children. Many parents use ordinary cotton diapers They are considered a relic, but they are still necessary in the following situations:

By swaddling baby will lie quietly and all the above procedures can be safely carried out.

When medical procedures are performed, the cloth is necessary. If you need to put a heating pad on your baby's tummy, it is much easier to do this when he is in a diaper. Doctors have established that a child who was swaddled in childhood has a developed sense of touch. When the fabric touches the baby's body, he quickly develops a sense of touch. If the baby was born premature, then in this case the canvas will imitate the mother’s womb. And this will have a very beneficial effect on the child.

How to swaddle correctly

How to properly swaddle a newborn: all swaddling can be divided step by step into several types.

Tight full wrap. With this type of swaddling, the baby is wrapped from head to toe. If the baby is swaddled very tightly, he will not be able to turn his head and will be completely immobilized. With this type, the legs can be completely straight or slightly bent.

How to swaddle a newborn: classic wrapping. The baby in this form is wrapped in a diaper from neck to heels. At the same time, his shoulders are closed, and his arms are pressed very tightly to his body. At the same time, the head can move left and right.

1. Thus, the child can react to any sound stimuli or drink mother’s milk.
2. Free wrap. With this wrapping, a kind of nest is built from fabric, in which the child can move his arms, legs, and head.
3. But his movement is limited. With this type of swaddling, the baby's coordination abilities are developed. At the same time, the baby gets to know his body and capabilities.

Lower body wrap. Very comfortable when the baby gets used to his hands and is not afraid of them. With this wrapping, disposable diapers do not need to be used. In addition, the legs will be in constant motion, the skin will breathe. And a new beautiful blouse will not get dirty if the baby goes to the toilet.

At what age should a baby be swaddled?

To answer this question, you need to take a closer look at the behavior of the baby. You cannot rely on the advice of doctors and grandmothers, because each child is individual and unique. When a baby has just been brought from the hospital, it is recommended to swaddle his head, because he will not be cold and comfortable. Then you need to look at the baby’s reaction when his mother washes him. Or when a child changes clothes.

What types of diapers are there?

Diapers vary in size and fabric quality. As a rule, chintz fabric is placed next to the body of the crumb, and flannel fabric is placed on top. Large flannel sheets are not needed; they are usually purchased in 100 x 100 cm sizes. How exactly to purchase diapers? It is necessary to take into account some points: if the fabric is sewn independently, then their width must be made according to the roll of fabric. If the diapers are made from sheets, then they must be cut so that there is less residue left.

Types and sizes of diapers

From 70 to 95 cm. This canvas size is not the most convenient. They are recommended to be used as a napkin or sheet.

From 95 to 100 centimeters. This type of fabric is suitable for wrapping a newborn baby. When the child grows out of them, this fabric can be used as a bedding on a bed or on a changing table.

From 110 to 125 cm. Such canvases are very comfortable, they can be used until the baby is three months old. In this diaper size it is very convenient to wrap the baby in several layers.

From 120 x70 to 135 x 95 cm. Such fabrics are especially convenient for use. Because they allow you to wrap the crumbs completely with his head or just wrap his legs.

Velcro fabric. In another way it is called a “newborn envelope”. The following sizes are available: 53, 68, 72 cm. As a rule, Velcro envelopes are very convenient. They are made of cotton, jersey, fleece. Usually the product is beautifully decorated with lace and decorative embroidery. Using a Velcro diaper makes the process of swaddling your baby much easier. This fabric is more convenient to use when walking or visiting a pediatrician.

How to properly swaddle a newborn in pictures step by step

When using a Velcro swaddle, wrapping the baby is carried out in three steps: the first step. It is necessary to put the baby on a diaper and put his feet in a specially designated envelope.

The second step is to wrap the crumb on the right side and securing the fabric with Velcro.

The third step is to wrap the crumb on the left side and the fabric is also secured with Velcro. Thus, the child is wrapped in a diaper from heels to shoulders. As a rule, this type of wrapping is considered tight.

What are the ways to swaddle a baby?

The first method is to wrap it with your hands. To do this, you need to place the child on a table or bed. The child must be placed on the fabric so that his neck is on the surface of the edge of the fabric.

1. The baby's left hand should be placed on the tummy or chest. Then you need to take the upper corner of the fabric and bring it behind your back through the side.
2. Then the baby’s hand should be placed next to the left one, and the other hand should be held with your own hand.
3. Then you need to take the edge of the canvas and bring it behind the newborn’s back through his left side. At the bottom of the corner, the fabric must be spread to the side with both hands. Then the lower border of the fabric must be secured to the baby’s chest above the arms.

If the fabric is too tight, then the edge must be folded. The remaining free edge must be tucked under the baby's back. And the freed left corner must be passed through the back and out over the right shoulder. After this, the corner is tucked into the fold on the child’s chest, or the wrapping can be secured with a ribbon for enhanced fixation.

Swaddling a baby with arms

How to properly wrap a newborn will be discussed below. How to wrap a newborn is shown in the pictures.

Then you need to take the lower corner of the fabric and place it behind the baby’s back over the left shoulder. Wrap the remaining free left corner around the baby from left to right, and put the edge behind the back. Wrapping a newborn is a very simple process.

Next, you need to lay out the fabric, tuck the top edge by 25 cm. Then the baby’s right hand needs to be placed under the fold. Then you need to put the child's hand on the tummy. And at the same time, move the remaining edge of the sheet over the baby’s left side. Do the same with the left edge of the fabric. Thus, wrapping the newborn is half completed. All that remains is to swaddle the legs. To do this, the lower side must be folded under the newborn’s knees.

Method two

For this method, you need to lay out the sheet and tuck the top edge by 25 cm. The newborn’s right arm must be placed under the fold. Another baby's hand you need to put it on your tummy. And at the same time, move the right edge of the diaper behind the baby’s left side. Next, the process of how to swaddle a baby continues with the left edge of the canvas.

To do this, place your left hand under the edge of the diaper and bend the left corner over the right side of the newborn. Tuck the bottom corner under the baby's knee. When wrapping this way, you need to pay special attention so that the fabric does not overtighten the child. The baby should be completely wrapped up, but at the same time he should be able to move a little.

How to swaddle a baby so that his hands remain swaddle-free

The baby must be placed on a sheet so that its upper corner is higher than its armpits.

If you don’t want to dress your baby in a vest or sliders, then you can use two diapers, the bottom one should be made of cotton and the top one should be made of flannel fabric. When asked whether it is worth swaddling a baby, you need to answer that it depends on the individual character of the baby. If the child is hyperactive and is afraid of his movements, then he needs to be swaddled. And if the baby feels good in rompers and a blouse, then there is no need to use wrapping.

Swaddling newborns has become considered a relic of the past, and many maternity hospitals persuade parents against this manipulation. Before abandoning the tradition, you should carefully study the issue, turn to the experience of your mothers and grandmothers and find out why children were swaddled in the past.

You should not use tight swaddling often, as this interferes with the child’s development and exploration of the world.

In our article we will answer these and many other questions, and teach young parents how to properly swaddle a newborn.

Having just been born, children do not yet know how to coordinate their movements; they jerk their arms and legs randomly. These sudden movements are called “throwing up”; the baby may be frightened by such actions, and only calms down when he is pressed to the parent’s body or his arms and legs are held.

Why swaddle newborns? Modern parents very often ask this question. It is necessary that the baby’s arms and legs are constantly in contact with a wide variety of surfaces that are as close as possible to his body, before the baby has time to twitch and get scared.

Is it necessary to swaddle a newborn?

Modern pediatricians, doctors and parents are increasingly discussing the topic of whether it is necessary to swaddle a newborn baby . You can often hear that it does not allow the baby to develop harmoniously, limits movements and inhibits individuality.

It is extremely important to understand that limited movement is not an inconvenience. Indeed, in the last months of development, the baby gets used to the cramped intrauterine space and constantly being in one position.

We should not immediately reject the many years of experience of our grandmothers, who actively used swaddling to facilitate the perception of the baby’s transition from the mother’s womb to a new environment.

How to swaddle a newborn correctly: step by step in pictures?

In order to find out for yourself how to properly swaddle a newborn, you should familiarize yourself in detail with the various methods and determine which one is best suited for your baby.

Closed swaddling

The proposed sequence of actions will help you become familiar with the technique of how to swaddle a newborn baby using the closed method.

To do this, you need a vest, a hat and a rectangular diaper.

Actions:

1. Put a vest on your baby so that wrinkles do not appear on the back, otherwise they will cause discomfort to the child and he will be capricious.
2. put on the hat, then tuck the strings into the diaper
3. spread the diaper on a flat surface
4. place the baby exactly in the middle
5. fold one edge of the diaper over the opposite side of the baby and place it behind the back
6. repeat with the second side
7. Wrap the remaining free bottom over the top of the baby
8. secure the edges behind the child

Closed swaddling in pictures

If you find it difficult to figure out how to swaddle a newborn, step-by-step photos will help you do all the manipulations correctly. This is far from the most difficult method, although at first all parents have difficulties - this is normal and natural.

Open swaddling

The open method is used when the child has already grown up, but you do not want to completely free him from diapers yet.

Neither parents nor doctors have yet come to a definite answer to the question of whether it is necessary to swaddle a newborn baby. Therefore, parents should carefully study all the positive and negative aspects and decide together on a decision.

a) wrap the baby first with the short edge of the diaper, and then with the long one; b) fold the bottom part and fix the corner

Unlike closed swaddling, you don’t have to use a hat, because this method is intended for the baby to spend time at home.

The actions are all absolutely similar to the previous paragraph of the article, with the only difference being that the child is placed on the diaper in such a way that its upper edge is slightly lower than the baby’s armpits.

Tight swaddling

There are fierce debates about the use of tight swaddling; only parents can decide whether it is necessary to swaddle a newborn using this method. The peculiarity of this method is that the child’s position is fixed in such a way that the baby cannot move at all. The legs are straightened and the arms are extended evenly along the seams.

Sequencing:

1. fold the diaper into a diamond shape
2. fold the top corner inward so that the baby fits snugly on the diaper
3. position the baby so that his neck lies flat on the bent edge
4. Press the baby’s left arm to the body and wrap it tightly with a diaper, then secure the edge behind the back
5. press your right arm to your body, lift the bottom edge of the diaper and place it over your shoulder behind your back
6. Wrap the remaining free edge around the baby and tuck it into the fold formed in front

This step-by-step video will clearly demonstrate how to swaddle a newborn.

Wide swaddling

This method is very popular due to the fact that it is a prevention of childhood hip dysplasia. This congenital pathology occurs in approximately 30 babies out of a thousand. If such a diagnosis is confirmed in the early stages, wide swaddling contributes to a positive change in the situation and, thanks to it, serious complications can be avoided.

We suggest watching a video on how to properly swaddle a newborn in our article. As a treatment method, this method can be used for children, both from the first days of life and up to six months.

a) put special panties on the child and place them on the diaper; b) distribute the bottom corner of the diaper between the legs

Wide swaddling does not limit the baby's movements; the essence of this method is to fix only the baby's legs in a bent and spread position at a certain angle. There are several common methods of wide swaddling, but it is important to remember that self-medication in such a situation is not acceptable, and you should definitely consult with specialists.

c) wrap the remaining corners around the child; d) wrap the second diaper on top

We will consider below how to properly swaddle a newborn using this method. It's very easy to do this with three diapers. The first is folded into a rectangle shape of approximately 15 by 20 cm and placed between the baby’s legs, which are spread apart. The second diaper is folded into a scarf, the corners are wrapped around the hips and the legs are fixed at an angle of 90 degrees to the body. The bottom part of the child is wrapped in the last diaper, the legs are pulled with the bottom diaper upward, which does not allow the feet to be connected.

How to swaddle a baby's head?

The essence of this method is to form a scarf for the baby from a diaper.

How to properly swaddle a newborn in pictures step by step in this way we will analyze in detail below:

1. Before swaddling, place a thin diaper on top of a warm one, but a little higher
2. Place the baby so that the head is below the top edge of the light diaper
3. form a scarf from a thin diaper, tucking it at the baby’s temples
4. wrap the left edge of the diaper around the baby, passing it under the arm and tucking it behind the back
5. do the same with the right edge
6. after this, sequentially wrap the baby in the lower warm diaper
7. then straighten the remaining bottom edge and secure it

Wrap the top of the blanket (diaper) around the baby's head, and then swaddle as usual

This method is optimal for walking if you don’t have a hat on hand. During the cold season, you can use a warm blanket over a hat and a thin diaper.

How to swaddle a newborn in the maternity hospital?

Parents should acquire their first skills in the maternity hospital; the nurse is obliged to advise and show the procedure. The baby should be swaddled tightly enough so that he does not feel the change in environment so sharply. Diapers, in turn, should be made of natural materials, soft and, of course, sterile.

The best way to change is to perform the manipulation on a hard surface; you can use special changing tables, which are now available in a wide range.

First you need to lay out a soft blanket, on which a warm and thin diaper rests. Then a diaper folded into a triangle is placed, its base should be located under the back, and the top should be under the feet.

How to swaddle a newborn is a whole science. The side ends of the diaper are wrapped around the baby's body. Then it is wrapped in a thin one, the top edge of which should be under the armpits. The arms remain free and the blouse the baby is wearing is dropped over the diaper. The child is wrapped in a warm sheet or blanket, and a cap is placed on his head.

How to swaddle a newborn in the heat?

With the onset of summer, many mothers are puzzled by the question: how to swaddle a newborn in the heat? In such a situation, it is recommended to carry out such manipulation using a broad and free method.

With this method, only the child’s legs are wrapped. The advantage of this swaddling is also the natural position of the baby's legs, which reduces the risk of diaper rash. How to swaddle a newborn, a step-by-step photo with hands will help you understand this issue in more detail.

How to swaddle a newborn: step-by-step video

Having familiarized yourself with such a volume of useful information, it will be most effective to consolidate the result by visually watching the video “how to swaddle a newborn.” A step-by-step video will help you understand the basic principles of a fairly responsible procedure, and armed with new knowledge you can safely begin practical actions.

Until how many months should a baby be swaddled?

At what age a child should be wrapped depends largely on his temperament. A mother should carefully monitor her baby’s sleep, whether he twitches his arms, whether this makes him scared and wakes up, or, on the contrary, he can sleep peacefully only when all his limbs are free.

The child must be given a chance to explore his body on his own, and the parents’ task is to look closely and listen to the signals that their child gives.

It follows from this that it is very difficult to unambiguously correctly answer the question for how long to swaddle a newborn. Some parents stop doing this after the first months of the child’s life, others can continue for more than six months. Everything is very individual.

Advantages and disadvantages of swaddling

Many pediatric doctors recommend not chasing fashionable innovations and swaddling children. Young parents are obliged to carefully study this issue, turn to the experience of older family members and weigh the pros and cons. After all, the decision whether to swaddle a newborn baby lies solely on their shoulders.

The arguments against are those given by modern medicine:

• Stiffness in movement
• Lack of temperature control
• Difficulty in carrying out useful procedures (massage, gymnastics)

Positive side:

• Deep sleep
• Good mood baby
• Safe procedures
• Saving

In conclusion, only one thing should be noted: when deciding whether you will swaddle your baby, first consult with both pediatricians and your loved ones. Parental experience can sometimes provide just as useful advice.