I started to
swaddle my newborn because it helped him sleep for a longer time. After I
brought him home from the hospital, we stopped swaddling him because we didn’t
have any blankets on us. My son would wake up every hour after each feeding and
even that one hour, it was difficult to get him to fall asleep.
As a sleep
deprived mom and dad, we went searching for answers. We immediately found
stories of moms and dads using a swaddle blanket to help their newborn sleep. A
lot of parents were adamant about swaddling and recommended it without hesitation. We quickly purchase some swaddle blankets and started swaddling
our son.
The impact of
swaddling wasn’t immediate, but over the course of a week, I found swaddling to
be effective as people described. Why swaddling helps? First, I notice how swaddling creates a steady routine for
the baby. We un-swaddle my son for feeding, diaper change, or baths. After any
of these events, we immediately swaddle him again. In the swaddle state, my son
knows its time for sleep and does not create much of a fuss because of it. A
routine schedule a practice keeps newborns in sync with what is expected of
him.
Secondly, a
swaddle baby is inhibited from moving around too much. The restraint reduces the
chance a baby will wake himself up when he gets into an uncomfortable
position. Additionally, babies have quick movements
when something loud is echo in the background.
These loud noises instigate a quick reflex movement that tends to wake
up the newborns. When swaddle, babies do
not startle themselves awake and are able to sleep longer.
Take advantage
of swaddling and find the right swaddle blanket for your newborn!
