The concept of swaddling is hundreds of years old. In theory, swaddling takes your baby back to the womb where everything was comfortable, cozy, and safe. There are several benefits to swaddling that parents and babies can enjoy.
- Swaddled babies tend to sleep longer and more soundly. Newborns sleep about 16 hours per day but it comes in 3 or 4-hour segments. It appears that swaddling will increase the amount of REM sleep newborns get.
- Swaddles babies typically experience less anxiety. Remember the swaddling mimics that comfort and safety experienced in the womb.
- Swaddling prevents unnecessary wake-ups due to the startle reflex. The Startle reflex is totally normal but when swaddled babies usually aren’t startled fully awake.
- Swaddling eliminates the need for comfort items in your baby’s crib. No bumpers, no blankets, no pillows, no toys in the bed. Swaddled babies feel comforted and snug.
- Swaddling prevents face-scratching. Because the method of swaddling with a baby’s hands-over-heart keeps hands in the accidental scratching of the face is minimized.
- Swaddling imitates touch which is important for your baby especially when they wake up at night. Feeling comforted, cozy, and safe with the touch of the swaddle soothes babies and allows them to fall back asleep.
- Swaddling helps maintain the back sleeping position and also reminds tired parents to place their baby on their back to sleep. Newborns should sleep with their faces up and a properly swaddled infant will be less likely to squirm around thus staying on their back.
- Swaddling soothes babies with tummy or other issues. Again, going back to the snug and safe swaddle provides comfort to the baby.
- Swaddling in the hands-over-heart position is the preferred sleeping position for preemies for a period of time. Then swaddling is done with their arms down at their sides. These are self-soothing positions and allow them to get back to sleep on their own.
- Swaddling benefits parents – when the baby sleeps more, parents sleep longer. Parents enjoying more sleep will be in a better position to care for their newborns.
We occasionally find babies who don’t really want to be swaddled. I often have parents say the baby hates to be swaddled, but will often love it once I show parents how to do it correctly. A swaddled baby should be able to lift their legs easily when they have gas and avoid hip dysplasia. Transitioning a baby to a sleep sack is done once they are starting to roll over as you never want them to end up face down without access to their arms and hands. However, you still don’t want to have pillows, blankets, bumpers, or toys in bed with your baby.