Do’s And Don’ts of Swaddling?

How to Swaddle a Baby: Instructions, Safety Tips, and Benefits Reading Do’s And Don’ts of Swaddling? 4 minutes Next Hitex Hyderabad Kids Fair is here. Don’t miss out, for your baby’s sake.

By Tinylane Baby EssentialsSep 16, 20210 comments

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Swaddling is an age-old technique, used by generations of parents. It can help to make your baby feel secure and less likely to be disturbed by the little jerky movements he makes in his sleep, known as his startle-reflex. Swaddling may also help your baby to calm down if he is over-stimulated.

Swaddling creates a slight pressure around your baby’s body, which may give him a sense of security. The sensation mirrors the pressure he once felt in your womb (uterus). It may help to encourage your baby to sleep. But bear in mind that some babies don’t enjoy the sensation of being swaddled. Your little one will soon let you know!

To Swaddle Your Baby

Spread Tiny Lane's bamboo cotton swaddle out flat, with one corner at the top folded over to a depth of about 15cm (6in).

Lie your baby on his back on the sheet, with his neck resting against the fold of the sheet.

Wrap the top left-hand corner of the sheet across your baby's body and tuck it under his left arm.

Pull the bottom left-hand corner up over his body, tucking it in over his left shoulder and arm.

Take the right corner and wrap it around your baby's back, leaving only his head and neck exposed. You can roll your baby slightly to get the material around him.

Allow enough room for your baby to move his hips and knees freely, so he can bend his hips up and outwards.

See our photo gallery: how to swaddle your baby. You can also take a look at our video on swaddling techniques.

Things To Keep In Mind

Make sure you don't swaddle your baby too tightly, as this may affect his later mobility and development. Always make sure he has plenty of room to move his legs up and down at the hips. If you swaddle him too tightly, with his legs pressed together and straight down, he's more likely to develop problems with his hips.

Don't cover your baby's face with the sheet and make sure that he doesn't overheat. Use a thin blanket or a muslin cloth for swaddling. Check his temperature frequently to make sure he's comfortable. The idea is to make him feel secure, not use it as a method of keeping him warm. Also, keep a watch on the room temperature as your baby may get very hot if you're using a heater or blower in a closed room, or if there is a power cut in hot and humid weather and the fans or AC aren't working.

Some babies prefer to have their arms free. If your baby prefers this, simply follow the instructions for swaddling as above, but tuck each blanket corner under his armpit instead of over his shoulders.

How long you keep your baby in his swaddle is up to you, as long as his hips and legs have plenty of movement, and he seems happy and content. Some experts suggest removing the swaddle during breastfeeding, so that your baby's hands are free to explore and touch. This is thought to help with latching on.

Look at your baby's cues for when it's time to stop too. If your baby begins to kick off his swaddling day after day, it may be a sign he no longer appreciates being bundled so snugly!

You should stop swaddling your baby as soon as he starts rolling over onto his tummy during sleep. If he's swaddled, he may have difficulties breathing. As he gets older, he will start to move around more during sleep, and swaddling could make him uncomfortable and likely to wake up.