Swaddling is the practice of wrapping a baby snugly in a blanket such that his arms are tucked in and his body is covered below the shoulders. While swaddling has been criticized as having a negative impact on a baby's health, swaddling properly and avoiding dangerous circumstances can promote infant sleep and help pacify crying. Swaddling involves placing a baby in the center of a blanket and folding the corners around him, tucking excess material under the body and into the blanket's folds.
Comfort
Swaddling can provide comfort to a distressed baby because the sensation of being snugly wrapped is familiar to being in the womb. For a crying baby, parents may swaddle her before picking her up to console her. The swaddling may lessen some crying, which can improve the relationship between parent and child, particularly if the child is frequently fussy. Swaddling also provides a feeling of security for a baby while she is placed in a crib for sleep and not in her mother's arms.
Breathing Difficulties
First Candle, an organization providing support for parents affected by infant loss, states that swaddling a baby too loosely can cause part of the blanket to come undone and possibly cover the face. This can cause breathing difficulties and may lead to suffocation if uncorrected. If your baby is older than 6 weeks, she may begin kicking her blanket off. This is an indication that she has outgrown the need for swaddling. Always place a swaddled infant on her back to sleep and never swaddle a baby and place her on her stomach in bed.
Temperature
Infants that are dressed in heavy clothing and wrapped tightly for swaddling may become overheated. An overheated baby may fall into a deeper state of sleep, and may become difficult to arouse. A receiving blanket or light baby blanket should be used for swaddling to avoid high temperatures. Do not swaddle a baby who is ill and has a fever, as this can further increase body temperature.
Hip Development
Swaddling may contribute to poor hip development in some infants, as stated by the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death. Babies that are swaddled very tightly with the legs extended have decreased flexibility and movement, forcing the legs and hips to remain in the same position for long periods of time.
Swaddle Sacks
Specially designed blankets are available for parents that make swaddling safe and effective. These blankets are a type of sack that a baby sleeps in. The material is then swaddled and secured around her body. This prevents the material from loosening due to the baby's activity, and there is no extra material that can loosen and cover the baby's face.
