Ahh, the sweet little baby burrito, all wrapped up in a swaddle.
It’s the perfect image of a newborn and chances are, you were handed a perfectly swaddled baby shortly after you gave birth.
Nurses, midwives and doulas are swaddling pros, right?
But new parents? Maybe not so much.
The fact is, most babies love being tightly swaddled as newborns. It can help them sleep better and not startle as much, mimicking the tight quarters of the womb.
But it isn’t always an easy thing, wrapping baby up in a swaddle.
And not every baby loves it!
Like anything parenting related, you will have to decide if swaddling is right for you and your baby.
There are a few things to keep in mind, though.
Namely, babies should really only be swaddled until they start to wiggle around or roll. So, it really only works for a few months – or weeks. NEVER swaddle a baby who can roll or flip on their side of stomach.
Also, be careful not to overdress your baby. A light muslin swaddle is one of the best options. It’s also best to unswaddle baby before feeding.
And be sure to give baby plenty of time to move and stretch unswaddled!
So, you have decided to be team swaddle. How do you do it? If you have a midwife or doula, ask for a demo. A nurse at the hospital can also show you, or you can find great tutorials on YouTube.
Having a large square blanket that is thin and sort of stretchy is ideal.
Lay it flat and fold one corner down. That’s where you put baby, so his or her head will stick out. Put baby down and wrap, using your chosen method. Here is a good video, with five different methods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr52Qwuephk
Everything Birth
At Everything Birth, we support new parents and babies!