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Swaddling

Swaddling your baby will make him feel like his surroundings are familiar, because of it being so similar to the way he was held in your womb. It will calm your baby for sleep, breastfeeding and It also lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

baby in swaddle What is it and where did it originate?

Swaddle techniques where used by Ancient Egyptians, who wrapped their babies in long strips of cloth, a procedure taking as long as two hours. Infant swaddle was believed to develop proper posture

Why swaddle?

- If your baby usually wakes himself with muscle spasms

- It will help to calm baby while breastfeeding or just before he goes to bed.(Helps baby sleep longer)

- Baby swaddle helps to comfort babies with colic

When and how long to swaddle baby?

- You should only wrap baby until he is a month old, continuing longer than this can inhibit his motor skill development

- Too hot to swaddle baby? Do not wrap baby if the room is already warm enough this will just overheat him and increase the risk of SIDS.

Different Swaddles

- You can swaddle your baby with his arms up and out of the swaddle blanket

- Wrap baby with his arms next to his sides

- You can also swaddle your baby with his arms bent at the elbow, so that only his hands are visible on top so that he can play with his hands or fingers if he wants to.

How to swaddle your baby

1. Place the blanket in front of you in a diamond shape and on a flat surface.

2. Fold the top corner of your blanket half way down to the centre of the blanket

3. Put baby in the middle with his head above the edge of the blanket.

4. Pull the left corner of the blanket across baby’s chest keeping his left arm next to his body. Wrap baby snugly, not tightly, you don’t want to restrict his breathing! Allow for hip and knee movement.

5. Bring the bottom of the blanket at his feet up towards the first fold and tuck it in.

6. Bring the right corner over. Tuck the blanket under baby as far as it will go. Don’t worry if baby gets his arms free, some babies prefer to have their arms free.

Watch a video on swaddling a baby