Is it safe to swaddle your newborn at night?

Yes, it is safe to leave your newborn in a swaddle blanket at night to sleep. By having your newborn swaddle, it is potentially safer for your baby.

The benefits of swaddling is the blanket will keep your newborn properly insulated. Especially in the early days outside the mother womb. They have less body fat, so having a blanket to keep them warm is important.

Second, pediatricians recommend having newborns sleep on their back and not on their side or stomach. By having newborns sleep on their back, the occurrence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) drops significantly.

Swaddling your newborn becomes un-safe when they are able to roll. When they roll over and are swaddle, they have less mobility to get themselves out of a un-safe position. Typically, parents should stop swaddling around 2-3 months after birth.

When will my baby outgrow swaddling?

Swaddling is usually recommended up to four months but depends largely on your baby?s needs. Some babies show readiness to stop as early as two months even though some continue even after four. Your baby will let you know when he/she is ready to stop. Nonetheless as your baby moves his/her limbs more and can struggle free or turn over on his/her own, swaddling may well lead to issues of loose coverings acquiring in the way causing entangling and suffocation.

Can I leave my babies arms free even though swaddling?

Most swaddling experts encourage tucking both arms in to avoid twitching (moro reflex) and facial scratches from those sharp tiny nails. Even so, leaving one arm free may well make your baby a lot more comfy and most parents try this as they are weaning their newborn off swaddling.

The hand-to-mouth reflex is a natural action that your baby is used to doing and it was probably doing inside the womb. You’ll be able to leave each arms free, but it defeats the purpose and might mean that it truly is time to stop swaddling.

Can swaddling cause my baby to overheat?

This is definitely a concern and the reason which you must appear for a swaddle blanket made of lightweight, breathable fabric. This assists regulate temperature and prevents your baby from overheating. You need to also be mindful that thermostat temperatures aren’t too high and that your baby doesn’t have too a lot of layers on, feel warm for the touch or start to perspire.

Solid food introduction time for my new baby

At my last visit with the pediatrician, I started to ask the question – “When should I start feeding solid food to my baby?”

He generally stated that between 4 to 6 months of age is a good time, but he did recommend that I should start 1 month later (5 months) because my son was born 1 month premature. But, he did say various studies have indicated that infants are not physiologically or developmentally ready to accept solids prior to 4-6 months. Furthermore, the likelihood of my son to develop future allergic development is increased if I start to feed him earlier.

When I start to give him solid food, he will get new tastes and textures in his mouth. He will need to learn a new process of eating that takes difference skills. For instance, he will need to learn how to swallow and eat from a spoon. My doctored warned me that I should expect to see my son spitting out food. Like in any training process for babies, parents need to be patient.

 

Reference:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22306181

Swaddling - a traditional care method rediscovered

Swaddling is getting more popular these days as people are realizing the benefits of the old traditional care method for newborn. Swaddling is the process of wrapping your newborn in a blanket that securely holds them in a position. They will look like a nice bundle burrito when wrapped properly.

As published by the World Journal of Pediatrics, a study was done by a team of doctors to compare the sleep benefits of healthy infants in swaddling and sleeping bag conditions. What the researchers found was that swaddling significantly reduced the rate of spontaneous waking and the sleep time, efficiency, stage, and quite sleep. All great benefits for parents who have newborns.

Here is what the group concluded -

So parents, give swaddling a try and reap the benefits of happy, satisfied baby, who is able to get enough sleep.

Hip Dysplasia and swaddling

The occurrence of Hip Dysplasia is making the headlines news.  Parents should be concern if they are not familiar with swaddling because improper swaddling can trigger Hip Dysplasia.  Here are some things parents need to pay attention to when swaddling.

1. Swaddle with enough room for hip to move
2. Do not straighten the newborn's leg from the frog position
3. If you are still unsure about swaddle, then I recommend getting some swaddle sacks. These sacks will create a nice swaddle for the chest and arms, while leaving enough room for the legs and hip to move without much restriction.

Source:
http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/swaddle-your-baby-but-do-it-safely

NY Times reviews techniques on helping baby’s cry less

 

I know parents hate when they have to deal with taking their baby’s to the pediatrician for shots because they all the eventual outcome. The outcome being a tearful and fearful baby who is feeling pain and discomfort that he/she does not enjoy.

The good news is parents have some ammunition to soothe a crying baby.  As summarized by NY Times and educated by pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp, there are the 5 S’s for the parents to do when trying to calm a crying baby:

The first S is swaddling – wrapping babies in blankets

The second S is side or stomach – hold babies in this position if fussy

The third S is suck – allows babies to soothe themselves

The fourth S is swaying – the motion is soothing & relaxing

The fifth S is shushing – the sound is soothing & relaxing

Parents can try these remedies in any particular order, but should give each a try because the combination of all these 5 S’s will help remind the newborn of their experience in the womb, when everything was peaceful.

Source:

NY Times Article – Making Baby’s Shots less tearful

Best Swaddle Blanket: ABC news reports on the benefits of swaddling. Wat...

Best Swaddle Blanket: ABC news reports on the benefits of swaddling. Wat...: ABC news reports on the benefits of swaddling. Watch the video as nurses and doctors continue to support swaddling.  Go purchase some swaddl...

ABC news reports on the benefits of swaddling. Watch the video as nurses and doctors continue to support swaddling.  Go purchase some swaddling blankets! and give swaddling a try on your newborn.



Source:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health/your_health&id=8634799

Pediatrican Medical Journal outlines some benefits

A systematic review article of swaddling was published in the medical journal: Pediatrics.
The journal reviewed the studies that monitored the impact of swaddling newborns and it's effect on temperature.

It summarizes that...

there is evidence that swaddling can be favorable for temperature control, but there is a risk for hyperthermia when misapplied. 

Source:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/4/e1097.long

Parents need to know these facts about SIDS

A lot of the articles talks about how swaddling reduce the occurrence of SIDS.  Well, what is SIDS exactly?  SIDS is an acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and it is the abrupt and unexplained death of a baby under the age of 1 year.  Many babies who fall victim to SIDS are found in their cribs and that is why people may refer to SIDS as “crib death.”  But cribs are no the culprit and cause for SIDS.

Here are some facts that you need to know about SIDS:

1.       SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies age 1 to 12 months

2.       Most SIDS death happen in babies under six months old

3.       Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep

4.       Babies are more likely to succumb to SIDS if they are placed to sleep on top of a soft bedding or if they are covered by soft bedding

Here are some ways you can help to lower the risk of SIDS:

1.       Always place baby on his or her back to sleep (even for naps)

2.       Place your baby on a firm mattress & safety approved crib

3.       Remove soft, fluffy, stuffed toys, and loose bedding from your baby’s sleep area

4.       Remove anything that is covering your baby’s face and head during sleep

5.       Do not allow smoking around the baby

6.       Don’t let your baby get too warm during sleep

7.       Use a clean & dry pacifier when placing your baby to sleep

Let everyone who cares for your baby know that they must follow all these

Another study printed in the Turkish journal of Pediatrics found swaddling to be helpful in keeping babies asleep for longer periods.  

Daytime sleep and wake periods of ten swaddled infants were periodically recorded by their mothers. The babies were swaddled above the waist for the first four days of the second, third and fourth months of life. During the next four days of the same months, the same infants were monitored with no swaddling. Comparison of the two sleep situations (swaddled and unswaddled) demonstrated that the increase in the total daytime sleep was statistically significant when the baby was loosely swaddled above the waist.

Give swaddling a try and see if it will benefit your newborn!

Best Swaddle Blanket: Swaddling improves comfort!

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Best Swaddle Blanket: Another study agrees, swaddling is helpful

Best Swaddle Blanket: Another study agrees, swaddling is helpful: Doctors in Belgium conducted a study title, Influence of Swaddling on Sleep and Arousal Characteristics of Healthy Infants and the reports o...

Best Swaddle Blanket: Safe swaddling to prevent Hip Dysplasia

Best Swaddle Blanket: Safe swaddling to prevent Hip Dysplasia: Parents who swaddle their newborn need to practice the proper swaddling techniques to prevent the occurrence of Hip Dysplasia.  Watch ...

Safe swaddling to prevent Hip Dysplasia

Parents who swaddle their newborn need to practice the proper swaddling techniques to prevent the occurrence of Hip Dysplasia.  Watch the video and learn from Dr. Price (International Hip Dysplasia Institute - IHDI).

Another study agrees, swaddling is helpful

Doctors in Belgium conducted a study title, Influence of Swaddling on Sleep and Arousal Characteristics of Healthy Infants and the reports outlines some great reasons to swaddle your newborn.


The purpose of the study was to systematically examine the benefits of swaddling and identify if swaddling favor babies to sleep and reduce crying among irritable babies. The impact of environmental sound was used to test the impact of sleeping babies that are swaddle and non-swaddle.

The studies clearly showed, 
“swaddling was associated with increase in the infant’s sleep efficiency and in the time spent in non-rapid eye movement sleep.”

The impact of swaddling on reducing crying was less conclusive in this study, but if babies are able to sleep for a longer time, then I’m sure more parents would still be overjoy. So, if you are a parent who has a baby that doesn’t like to sleep, then give give swaddling a try.

Read the full journal article at PubMed.

Swaddling improves comfort!

As a parent, I want my son to be as comfortable as possible.  In the first few days after birth, nurses would come by and regularly poke my son in the heel to draw some blood. He was premature and had jaundice, so doctors wanted to investigate his jaundice level in order to get a better idea on how to treat him.  He was poke numerous times and eat time he would cry for a good 20 minutes after the blood draw.  Then, one nurse re-swaddle the baby with his leg sticking out for the blood draw.  My son was so relaxed in the swaddle that when he was poked, he didn't respond with crying.  It was amazing to see him relaxed during the process because it makes my heart ache every time I see him cry.

I found this journal article on PubMed that supports what I noticed in the hospital that day.  When newborns are swaddle, it will help reduce their crying and screaming when they are poked in the heel for blood draws.  This is a great news because I want my son to be as comfortable as possible and I know he's comfortable when he is sleeping soundly and not crying. When he wakes up he will give me the lovely smiles that I appreciate so much!

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Best Swaddle Blanket: My research into swaddling brought me to Wikipedia...

Best Swaddle Blanket: My research into swaddling brought me to Wikipedia...: My research into swaddling brought me to Wikipedia and this is the first image that caught my eye. This is a painting depicting a swaddl...

Best Swaddle Blanket: Reason #1 to swaddle your baby

Best Swaddle Blanket: Reason #1 to swaddle your baby: Swaddling helps babies sleep in the supine position and the benefits of supine sleeping position is not much of a debate and has been the recommend by US pediatricians since 1992. ...

Why I swaddle my baby !

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!

Reason #2 to swaddle your newborn

Why do I swaddle my baby?

The first reason is swaddling lower SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) because swaddling helps infants sleep in the supine position. But, the benefits don’t stop there. Moms already know another benefit when they first held their swaddle baby.


As I rewind thru the video of my son’s birth, I can see how stunned and distressed he was as he entered into this world.  He was shouting his poor lungs out and did not yield at all as the doctors checked him up. His howling subsided only after he was wrapped in a swaddle blanket.

I'm not happy! - Swaddle me please

Thanks for swaddling me!

 A newborn has hibernated in the mother’s womb for almost 9 months (mine stayed in there for only 34 weeks, 6 days) and has developed a comfort level there. While in the womb, the newborn does not weep or shed any tears because it’s guarded in its very own Eden. Swaddling will aid a newborn to re-create this amazing moment in his life; where he has nothing to fret about. In the womb, he is provided for, kept warm, and shielded by the mom. A swaddle blanket will answer two of those  frustrations.

First, infant are not use to the cold surroundings when they come out. The human body temperature averages 37 degrees Celsius and he comes into a world that averages 23 degrees Celsius. Additionally, a babe do not have much body fat for insulation and this is especially true for premature babies. A tight swaddle around the babe will help protect the baby and keep him comfy as he enters a cold world.

Second, the blanket will work like a shield to assist decrease strange hands from roughing him up. The swaddle blanket will help keep bacteria away from the body.  Now, individuals might come and stop by to see and touch the newly delivered infant and having him wrapped in a clean blanket will help keep bacteria off his skin.  The swaddle blanket is habitually changed out out and clean to lessen the possibility of germs infecting the baby.

Overall, the noticeable advantage for moms and dads is witnessing the newborn yell less when he is swaddle. As the environment of the womb is re-created, the little one will remember the good times and will relax down from their uneasy states.

Reason #1 to swaddle your baby

My son, Aaron, swaddle and sleeping in the supine position

The benefits of swaddling has been time tested and recent studies by Dr. Rachel Moon and etc. at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC, found “parents who routinely used swaddling were more likely to find it effective and to place their infant supine when swaddled.” (1)



What does this mean?
The benefits of supine sleeping position is not much of a debate and has been the recommend by US pediatricians since 1992.  All pediatricians agree, infants who sleep in the supine position will reduce the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  A study by Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad in 1998 (2) supports the recommended supine position and shows the supine position can greatly reduce occurrence of SIDS.  The supine position reduces SIDS by reducing the possibility of blocking the air ways (nose & mouth).

Overall, supine position is the way parents need to put their baby to sleep.  One method to train infants to sleep in this position is by swaddling.  Thus, reason #1 to swaddle is to reduce the occurrence of SIDS by training your infant to sleep in the supine position.

Definitions:
Supine position – baby’s back is against the mattress (sleeps on the back)
Prone position – baby’s back is facing up away from the mattress (sleeps on the belly)

References:
(1) Swaddling: Will It Get Babies Onto Their Backs for Sleep?, R. Moon, etc, 2011
(2) Abandoning prone sleeping: Effect on the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad, 1998

My research into swaddling brought me to Wikipedia and this is the first image that caught my eye.  This is a painting depicting a swaddle Jesus in the arms of  Mary. It shows swaddling has been around for ages and as early as the time of Jesus' birth.  In these days of increase knowledge, technology, savy, newborns are still swaddle in hospitals.  Nurses wrap babies in burrito shape rolls for parents to hold right after delivery. While wrapped up the mom gets to hold their newborn in her arms for the first time.

I know there are people who are concern that swaddling might be harmful for kids and they are right to be concerned because swaddling can be harmful if not done correctly. When babies are swaddle parents typically are not actively being watch because babies are put to sleep and parents go to sleep themselves during this time.  Thus, swaddling newborns correctly is vital for baby safety and I'll list the benefits of swaddling in a later post.

If babies have been swaddle for generations, then your baby can be swaddle too.
My new mantra; Swaddle your baby like Jesus.