Swaddling or not?

Question

What are the benefits or cons to swaddling a newborn? Can it cause or prevent SIDS??? 1st pregnancy!!!!!

Answer 1

Swaddling, for the first three months after birth, is very beneficial. The newborn is getting used to life outside of the womb...after all that's the only comfort that they knew for the past nine months! My pediatrician told me to think of the first three months of my child's life as "the fourth trimester". Try to recreate the comfort of the womb as much as possible....swaddle, jiggle him or her, swing, shush loudly in their ear (sounds like the static that your baby heard in the womb) and don't forget pacifiers!

Answer 2

Swaddling can be very comforting, especially to a newborn who is used to being all squished up and tight in the womb. Many "experts" tell you to make sure their hands and arms are inside the blanket, but my son slept much better if they were out. You have to just try and see what your baby prefers.

As far as overheating goes, you can swaddle your baby in a light blanket, and they could be wearing just a diaper or a onsie.

The is a great book out that all of the new moms in my church have read and every single one of us found it to be of great worth. It's called, "The Happiest Baby on the Block." I don't remember the author's name right now, but I am sure you will find it if you search for it under the title. The authors theory is that you should create a womb-like experience for the baby as possible. Especially in their first 3 months. He has a set of techniques he calls the 5 S's.
Swaddleing
shushing
side or stomach lying (only while you are holding them)
sucking
shaking (very gently) I would say vibrating but it doesn't fit the "S" pattern.

He says that these 5 things happen naturally in the womb, and therefore soothe the babies.

His theory behind why we have to do this is a little bit too Darwinistic for my tastes, but you can ignore that and find credit in the techniques themselves.

Congratulations and good luck with your new baby.

Answer 3

I swaddled my daughter for about 4 1/2 months because she had this really bad startle reflex and every time she fell asleep, she would startle, flail out her arms and wake herself up. There is no risk with SIDS as long as you make sure that the baby isn't overheated (use a lightweight receiving blanket or swaddling blanket) and make sure it is done correctly so that no loose bedding ends up in the crib with the baby. There are a variety of websites detailing the benefits, however, some babies love and some hate it. I think you have to see how your own baby does with swaddling and judge from there. Good luck!

Answer 4

I swaddled my twins until they could unwrap themselves (probably for about 3 weeks). They feel secure while swaddled and they seem to be calmer. I don't know of any cons to swaddling and as far as I know there is no connection between swaddling and SIDS. To prevent SIDS: don't allow anyone to smoke near you or the baby -even while your pregnant (better to be safe than sorry!), keep toys and extra blankets out of the crib to avoid suffocation and always lay the baby on its back. When the baby is able to roll from its back to its stomache its generally safe for them to sleep on their stomaches because they are capable of moving if they can't get enough air. Some studies show that babies that suck on pacifiers for a short period of time (5 to 10 min. a day) have less risk of SIDS.

Answer 5

Question: What is "swaddling"? What are the pros and cons?

Answer: Swaddling is an age-old technique for keeping an infant warm and secure. To swaddle your baby, spread a receiving blanket out flat, with one corner folded over. Lay your baby face-up on the blanket, with his head resting on the folded corner. Wrap the left corner over his body and tuck it beneath him. Bring the bottom corner up over his feet, and then wrap the right corner around him, leaving only his head and neck exposed. Don't cover your baby's face with the blanket, since that could overheat or suffocate him. And make sure you don't wrap your baby too tightly, or his circulation could be cut off.

Swaddling creates a slight pressure around your baby's body that gives most newborns a sense of security. A newborn may even sleep better when swaddled because he's less likely to jerk awake when he startles. Some babies, though, don't enjoy being swaddled.

Answer 6

You want to put a newborn on its BACK to sleep in the crib, always. There is some evidence that swaddling causes overheating and some issues so ytou have to be very careful. So most people skip the issue and keep the temperature cool in the room.

Always place the baby on his or her back to sleep, at nighttime and naptime.
Place the baby to sleep on a firm mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib.*
Remove all fluffy and loose bedding, such as quilts, pillows, and stuffed toys from the baby’s sleep area.
Keep the baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep.
Don’t let the baby get too warm during sleep. Keep the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and don’t overdress the baby or use heavy comforters.
Quit smoking - mothers should not smoke during pregnancy or around the baby after he or she is born.
Always keep the baby in a smoke-free environment – no one should smoke around the baby.
Talk about SIDS risk to child care providers, grandparents, babysitters, and all caregivers who care for the baby


Some researchers suggest that swaddling — a method of wrapping a baby securely in a blanket or cloth — may help in the prevention of SIDS because it can help babies sleep more comfortably on their back. (If your baby startles while asleep, his own body movements can cause him to wake up; swaddling can limit those movements and help him feel secure.) Other SIDS experts caution, though, that swaddling can contribute to overheating. So if you do swaddle your baby, use a thin blanket and make sure the room isn't too warm. And of course, never put your baby on his tummy when he's swaddled.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/sids/419.html#6
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/sleep_position.htm

Answer 7

My son had colic and swaddling was the only way he would calm down. We bought a swaddling blanket that helped him "stay in" the swaddle so he could sleep. (If your baby has colic, I'd recommend "The Happiest Baby on the Block" - it has swaddling instructions and other ideas. Best money we spent.)

Even now (he's eight months) we'll swaddle him when he gets out of control. It settles him down right away.

Answer 8

Swaddling is not about SIDS, or it wasn't last I knew. (They change their minds every 5 min. about the cause and prevention...) By wrapping baby snugly in his blanket, you re-create the security of the womb. After spending nine months in a warm, fluid atmosphere, they need to feel safe. Often, when babies fall asleep without swaddling, they are jerked awake by a falling sensation. This occurs when their arms/legs relax and fall back to the mattress. In the womb, their arms and legs just floated. Swaddling helps them keep appendages close and secure.

Answer 9

Swaddling only makes the baby more comfortable by making it feel snug and secure like inside the womb. However neither one of my two kids wanted to be swaddled. They were like, "let me stretch, and be free!!"
It won't prevent SIDS, put the baby to sleep on it's back only until they can roll over by themselves very well at least. They say for a year, but neither one of mine would stay on their back once they were rolling over well.
congratulations on baby

Answer 10

My grandson liked being swaddled when he was very brand new, but within a few weeks, turned houdini on us by learning how to kick his way out, so it then it was something we worried about (loose blanket around him- didn't want him to wrap it around his face).
I'm not sure there are any benefits from it, I think it just calms babies down. One of my daughters loved being swaddled, and the other couldn't stand it.