Swaddling your infant in a blanket helps him feel safe and secure, and it helps keep him from being bothered by his own muscle movements. This security keeps infants calm and helps them sleep. In a 2002 study cited by the University of Florida, researchers found that "swaddling helped decrease arousals during sleep, perhaps enabling babies to go back to sleep on their own."
Step 1
Lay the blanket down flat in a diamond shape. Fold the top corner down about 3 inches.
Step 2
Lay the baby down on top of the fold, with his head above the edge.
Step 3
Pull the right corner snugly across the baby's body and tuck it behind her back, under her opposite arm.
Step 4
Pull up the bottom corner of the blanket under the baby's chin or behind his shoulder.
Step 5
Pull the remaining corner of the blanket snugly over the baby's chest and tuck it under her back.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure the baby's arms are tucked underneath. If the baby does not like his arms tucked in, swaddle with his arms out.
- Swaddle your baby only for the first month after birth. After the first month, swaddling restricts movement and motor development. To prevent overheating, do not swaddle a baby in a warm environment.
Things You'll Need
- Receiving blanket
