Why You Should Swaddle Your Baby

Today we are talking about why it is great to swaddle your baby. Your first thought could be "but my baby HATES being swaddled". Not all babies may enjoy being swaddled. But I have found that in all my research and work with families, most likely swaddling your baby is going to help them calm. With so many on the market, it can be hard to know which is best. I have some of my favorite sleep suggestions here!

Feeling Secure

One of the biggest reasons that swaddling is recommended is because it helps replicate that feeling of them being in the womb. So, thinking about when they're inside and they're so nice and cozy. There isn't a ton of for them to reach out and stretch and move around. Sometimes, once they come out into the world, they have a little bit too much space and they are not sure how to handle it. They're not able to regulate themselves to get themselves back into that nice, comfortable position. Swaddling, or just holding them tight, helps them to recreate that and to bring their nervous system down so they can get to calm and then fall asleep.

Safe Sleep Position

Another reason that swaddling is so great is because it helps keep children on their back. It is widely know through the Back to Sleep Campaign that it is safest to put your baby on their back until they are at least 12 months old. Even if when they are older they can get into their own sleep position on their side or on their belly. That's perfectly fine if they are able to do it independently, but we always want to be initially placing them on their back. So, having a child swaddled will prevent that accidental tipping and rolling that some newborns can be famous for.

Startle Reflex

A third reason I'm pro-swaddle is because it helps with that startle reflex. Every child is born with a reflex that as they're falling asleep, they do this kind of little shake that wakes them up. Having a baby that's swaddled is going to reduce the room that they have move so that they are able to keep themselves asleep.

Feeling like you now understand the reason behind the swaddle, but your little one has not been a fan? THIS video can show some alternate ways to swaddle your baby that will help them sleep.

Before your baby arrives, research what kind of swaddle that you're planning to use or purchase. There are swaddles that you can buy that have the zipper and have the wrap around wings. There are other swaddles that are made of one piece of fabric. Such as the Love To Dream. It just is a little bit of a tighter like cocoon or a pod swaddle. Then there's also a "traditional" swaddle blanket where you would have a large piece of fabric and then you would fold it.

Use caution and ensure you are secure in your swaddle skills so it does not become undone where loose covers would be close to your babies face. I personally always recommend the swaddles that have the zipper and the wrap around wings or the pod swaddle so that there's a little less room for error.

Now let's chat about the swaddle transition. Even though I've just told you all about how important the swaddle is, it's really important to think about the weaning process around eight weeks. Right around that

eight to ten-week mark is when you want to start that swaddle transition. So, by 12 weeks, your child is completely out of the swaddle and they are moved into a sleep sack. During that time, there's a couple of

different was you can do it depending on the age of your baby. Grab my free guide HERE on how to transition out of the swaddle.