When you are in the hospital, you may be amazed by how well the staff wraps the baby for sleep. When a baby is wrapped snugly in a blanket, it is known as swaddling. According to the Babycenter website, a baby is swaddled for not only warmth, but security while she slumbers as well. Typically, only newborns are wrapped in a blanket as older babies are not likely to care for having their movement restricted. Stop wrapping the baby if you notice she kicks or punches her way out of the blanket.
Step 1
Lay a lightweight receiving blanket on a flat surface. It should be in the shape of a diamond to start.
Step 2
Fold down the top corner. The fold should come down approximately 6 inches. Once folded, the baby should be placed on top of the blanket.
Step 3
Pull the one side of the blanket across his chest covering his one arm. The edge of the blanket should be tucked under the baby and rest beneath the opposite arm.
Step 4
Move the bottom of the blanket over the feet and across the front of the body. Once it reaches the upper body of the baby, tuck the blanket behind one of her shoulders.
Step 5
Transfer the loose corner of the blanket across his chest. Tuck the edge of the blanket behind him. The wrap should feel secure. Once swaddled, you may move him to his crib for sleep.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember to keep the room that your baby sleeps in not overly hot. Because he will be wrapped in a blanket, keep the thermostat around 70 degrees F. According to MedlinePlus, one of the preventative measures of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is to make sure that the child is not overheated. If the baby likes to have her arms free to move, the Babycenter website recommends that you swaddle her under her arms.
Things You'll Need
- Receiving blanket
