What do you swaddle a newborn with

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: You might find attending one of NCT's Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Safer sleep advice and bereavement support from the Lullaby Trust. Greviskes A. International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Irving J. Nursing in Practice. Nelson AM. NHS Swaddling may damage babies' hips, expert warns. Ockwell-Smith S. RCM A binding issue. The Lullaby Trust Rates of sudden infant death syndrome go down to lowest on record but baby charity says more lives could be saved.

The Lullaby Trust Safe swaddling. When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust. All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities. Read more about our editorial review process.

Swaddling a baby: the benefits, risks and seven safety tips. Read time 8 minutes. Email Post Tweet Post. What is swaddling? What are the benefits of swaddling my little one? What are the risks of swaddling my baby? See below for how to swaddle safely. Facebook Twitter.

Why swaddle? Here are some you and your baby will experience: Swaddling protects your baby against their natural startle reflex, which means better sleep for both of you It may help calm a colicky baby It helps eliminate anxiety in your baby by imitating your touch, which helps your baby learn to self-sooth It keeps her hands off her face and helps prevent scratching It helps your baby sleep longer and better It helps prevent SIDS by keeping unnecessary items like pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals out of your baby's crib It keeps your baby on his back while he sleeps How to swaddle your baby If you've never swaddled a baby, it might seem like a complicated process.

Spread out your swaddling blanket on a soft, flat surface. Arrange the blanket in a diamond shape with the bottom of the diamond pointing toward you. Fold down the top edge of the blanket. This should create a loose triangle shape.

Set your baby with his feet pointing toward you. His shoulder should be just below the fold in the blanket. Arrange you baby's right arm next to his body with his arm slightly bent. Pull that same side of the blanket up and over your baby's right arm and body, then tuck it underneath your baby.

Your baby's left arm should be left free. Fold the bottom of the swaddle blanket up over your baby's feet. If the blanket is long enough, tuck it behind his shoulder. Complete the swaddle by pulling the remaining side of the swaddle up and over your baby's remaining arm and across his body. Safety tips Although swaddling comes with numerous benefits, you need to make sure you're doing it right to avoid danger or discomfort for your baby.

Follow these safety tips: Don't wrap too tight. Reach out to your baby's healthcare provider if you have any questions. Remember to always place your baby on his back in his crib, whether he has been swaddled or not. Placing your baby to sleep on his back is crucial as it can help reduce the risk of SIDS sudden infant death syndrome.

Be aware that this, too, can increase the risk of SIDS. Swaddling your baby too tightly can cause him to develop hip problems. Ensure that your baby isn't too warm when he's swaddled.

Swaddling your newborn offers many benefits, including comforting your little one and possibly promoting better sleep, but there are a few risks, too. The Lumi Smart Sleep Coaching App combines effortless sleep tracking with expert sleep coaching to help your baby establish healthy sleep habits, right from the start. Co-created with pediatricians and designed to help you through every sleep change from birth to 16 months, it covers everything from Newborn Sleep Fundamentals to nap transitions and regressions, sharing a variety of gentle, proven sleep training methods so you can choose the one that fits your parenting style.

Healthy Children: Swaddling: Is it Safe?