SwaddleMe is the Best Swaddle Blanket for first time parents

Congratulations on your first baby! I’m sure you are excited and maybe a little overwhelm sometimes when you think about the challenges of raising a little one. Well, as parent the best advice I can give is to educate yourself to become the best parent that you can be.  That is why you are searching and learning about the best swaddle blanket that is out there for your baby.

 Read more...from http://www.bestswaddleblanket.com

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!

Best Swaddle Blanket: 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 ...

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!