Text: Ann Richardson. Photography: Gallo Images/Getty Images. Illustrations: Leigh Forest. Article from the March 2013 issue of Living and Loving Magazine.
The age-old ritual of swaddling is a form of therapy your baby can’t do without.
Swaddling is an ancient method of wrapping your baby in a soft and stretchy blanket or wrap to help contain her early reflexes and startles. It has a soothing effect on your baby as it recreates the wonderfully contained and calming environment of the womb.
American psychologist and philosopher William James said, “… to an infant, the world is one great booming, buzzing confusion”, and keeping your baby’s sensory environment controlled in the first few months of life will ease her introduction into the world. And what better way to help her remain calm and content, than swaddling?
Swaddling your baby recreates the calm, soothing sensation’ of the womb.
Why swaddling is necessary
For the first three months of life, your baby’s sensory system is immature and unable to filter out any input from the environment. Newborns especially are easily over- stimulated by being handled too much and exposed to external stimuli such as loud noises, bright light and strong smells.
The startle reflex (when your baby’s arms and legs flail suddenly outwards) is pronounced in the first three months and can cause her to be more awake and unsettled. Compare this to the consistent, deep pressure and neutral temperature of the womb – the best environment for your baby to be in.
In many cultures, babies are wrapped and carried close for many months. In our Western culture our babies tend to spend quite a bit of time away from the comfort of our bodies because they are pushed in prams or placed in baby car seats.
Babies thrive on gentle but firm touch, and swaddling provides this. It also enables them to keep their hands close to their mouths so they can suck on them to self-soothe.
But even more importantly, her hands will be in the midline and will limit her startle reflex to encourage better sleep. Studies from the Journal of Human Lactation show that babies have more coordinated sucks and swallows when swaddled. So if your baby is a fussy feeder keep her swaddled when you feed her.
Why we swaddle
“Swaddling is the best way to imitate the tight hug of the womb environment. It provides deep touch pressure and also prevents your baby’s little limbs from shooting out in a startle reflex – a common cause of night-waking in young babies.”
Tips for the perfect swaddle
Place your baby on a soft, stretchy blanket or muslin (preferably 100% cotton). Ensure the top of the blanket is in line with her ears.
Place her hands close together in the midline and close to her mouth.
Bring one corner of the blanket diagonally across her shoulder and arm and tuck it around her body.
Bring the other corner of the blanket diagonally across her other shoulder and arm and tuck in around her body.
Fold the bottom of the blanket loosely against her feet, letting her wriggle and squirm until she’s comfortable. Ensure her legs and hips are in the ‘frog’ position.
Studies show babies have more coordinated sucks when swaddled.
How to swaddle
Follow these simple steps when swaddling your baby. Research has found that new babies who are swaddled sleep better and cry less in the first few weeks.
Note the following precautions:
Be sure you know how to swaddle correctly. Improper swaddling can loosen your baby’s joints and damage the soft cartilage of the hip sockets.
To prevent this, make sure there’s enough room at the bottom of the blanket for your baby to bend her legs up and out from her body. Twist or fold the bottom of the blanket and tuck it loosely behind your baby, making sure that both legs are bent up and out from her body and that her hips can move and legs spread apart naturally. Avoid using polyester or polar fleece swaddles to minimise the risk of overheating.
Be careful not to straitjacket your baby by swaddling with her arms pinned at her sides. This will cause her to resist swaddling and increase the likelihood of fussing. In hot weather, swaddle your baby in a muslin or cotton cloth to keep her cool and content. The general guideline is to keep your baby swaddled most of the time during the first three months. Thereafter swaddle at sleep times only or when your baby needs to be comforted.
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