Midori Bamboo Baby Clothing
Helpful Hints

Swaddling Your Newborn Baby
Why do it and how is it done?

Why?

Swaddling is fundamental to comforting a newborn. Swaddling is the technique of snuggly wrapping your baby in a blanket for security and warmth. Newborns have a startle reflex and swaddling helps in keeping them from waking up suddenly. Swaddling helps to prolong sleep and keeps them calm and secure as they were in the womb. During your stay at the hospital it is very likely you will be given a quick lesson in the technique of swaddling. Swaddling is most effective during the first month after the birth of your baby. After that your baby will need to kick and move and not be too restricted for motor development. Do not swaddle your baby in an overheated room. Overheating is a SIDS risk factor. Some babies do not like to be swaddled. If your baby doesn’t like it you can wrap him or her a little looser.

How Do I Swaddle My Baby?

It’s not as hard as you might think. Just follow these simple steps.

  • Lay your swaddle blanket out on a flat surface, usually the bed or the floor.

  • Place a point of the blanket at the top so it looks like a diamond.

  • Take the top corner and fold it down about 6 inches.

  • Place your baby on the blanket so his head is overlapping the top edge, and his neck is on the fold.

  • Pull one of the corners over the arm and then across your baby’s body, firmly, and tuck the leading edge under your baby’s bottom.

  • Bring the bottom corner up and tuck it inside the blanket under your baby’s chin.

  • Now bring the remaining corner over your baby’s other arm and tuck under the back on the opposite side. Now you have a snug little cocoon!