Swaddling Tips
When done correctly, swaddling or tightly wrapping your baby up in a blanket can be a useful method to help calm your newborn and promote sleep! But there a couple of things you should be aware of when it comes to wrapping your baby up like a cute little burrito!
Swaddling helps your baby feel secure, kind of like back in mama’s belly - warm & cozy.
You can swaddle yours from day 1 for naps and nighttime sleep or when they are fussy for no reason. It can help keep your baby calm, fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, because being swaddled is like receiving a big ole hug!
Tips on how to swaddle correctly:
Spread the blanket out flat, with one corner folded down.
Lay your baby facing you onto the blanket, with the head poking out above the folder corner.
Straighten one arm and warm the same corner of the blanket down over the body and tuck it tightly between the other arm and other side of the body.
Then tuck the other arm down and fold the other corner of the blanket down towards the other side of the body.
Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of your little one.
Make sure that you:
Always place your baby on their back on a firm surface.
Avoid plush or soft items in your baby’s crib.
Watch out for overheating and opt for a soft, breathable swaddle blanket. Avoid using heavier blanket material.
Make sure that your baby’s hips can move and that the blanket is snug, but NOT TOO TIGHT! Babies who are swaddled too tightly could go on to have hip problems down the line when the legs are straightened and too tightly wrapped.
The AAP promotes “hip-healthy swaddling” which allows your baby’s legs to still bend up and outward.
As soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll over, you should stop swaddling them! This often happens around 2 months of age.
For our visual learners out there, check out this instructional video on how to swaddle your baby:
Copyright © 2022, International Hip Dysplasia Institute. All Rights Reserved. The content in this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
If you have any questions on swaddling, don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician for advice!
Your PediPals