Harvey Karp, Happiest Baby The different types of swaddles: swaddle blankets, swaddle sacks, and swaddle pods Once wrapped, a baby can pay attention and be soothed by the other S's (Side-Stomach, Shushing, Swinging or Sucking)' It also prevents her from startling herself and disrupting sleep. Swaddling prevents your little one from whacking herself in the face and getting even more upset. New babies have very little control over their arms. The first S of the 5 S's-Swaddling-reminds babies of the womb's embrace and it's a similar experience to being cuddled skin-to-skin, but its big advantage is that it envelops a baby's body with a soft caress that can soothe her for hours when she's sleeping.and can't be in your arms. 'Touch is our most ancient, calming sense. It can be tricky taking care of a newborn and finding time to look after yourself too, which is why so many parents say you should swaddle your baby - when your baby sleeps, so can you! The benefits of swaddling: from the experts When your baby is swaddled, it's harder for them to roll over into the unsafe front sleeping position, so you can rest assured that your little one is sleeping safely and soundly!Īny parent will tell you how valuable it is when your baby sleeps, as you have a little more time for your own important self-care.

Swaddling can even help to keep your baby safer - according to the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines, your baby should always be placed face-up on their back to go to sleep.

When this happens during sleep, there's a risk baby will wake up, but if the flailing is prevented through the use of swaddling, nighttime wakeups are made less likely. This natural instinct is usually triggered by a sudden or loud noise, and causes your baby to flail out their limbs before curling up back into their body. Swaddling has traditionally worked by keeping baby's arms tight to their body in a snug and cozy wrap, which has a few different effects.įirstly, this mimics the warmth and security of the womb - for a newborn who has just entered a world that can be loud and overwhelming, this can help them feel more settled.Īdditionally, because the swaddle keeps baby's arms tucked in tight, the impact of the Moro, or startle, reflex is lessened. You might also like How swaddling benefits you and your baby We're here to help with an overview of the three most popular types of baby swaddles, including their benefits and drawbacks as well as which is most suitable for different families, so that you can decide on the best swaddle blanket for your family.

Swaddling has been around pretty much as long as fabric wraps have been around, can be found all over the world in different cultures, and is still a popular way of getting your little one to sleep to this day!īut that doesn't mean there hasn't been a few changes along the way to make it easier and more effective - which is why you can find so many types of swaddle blankets, sleep sacks, and swaddle pods on the market today.įor moms-to-be and new parents alike, this can get a little overwhelming how do you figure out which is the best choice for your child, especially when your little one hasn't arrived yet?

Zen swaddle soothing wrap