Wrap Your Baby

How to Swaddle

By Mary Jane Horton

Most babies love to be tightly wrapped (think papooses and even the swaddled baby Jesus). "Swaddling allows babies to pay attention to their calming reflex; it also keeps them from flailing their arms and startling themselves," says Harvey Karp, M.D., a Los Angeles pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block book (Bantam, 2003) and DVD (Trinity Home Entertainment, 2003).

"Swaddling is especially effective when combined with sound and movement. Everything that has been done to calm babies for thousands of years imitates being inside the uterus, with its tactile and sound input," Karp explains. This means being swaddled with a blanket or held tightly in their parents' arms, while hearing sounds that simulate those in the womb (or other white noise).

"There is good research that suggests babies who are swaddled sleep better and longer on their backs," Karp adds. "Swaddling is also thought by some to decrease the risk of SIDS because babies sleep better but more lightly, so they are easily aroused."

Safe swaddling Use only a lightweight blanket to avoid overheating your baby. Wrap the blanket or swaddler tightly; there should be no loose linens in the crib. Wake your baby for eight to 12 feedings a day; very young babies who are swaddled can be so comfortable that they forget to wake up to eat.

How long should you swaddle? For the first three to four months, swaddle your baby when he's fussy or to get him to sleep. After four months, most babies no longer need to be swaddled during the daytime. Nighttime swaddling can be continued until about seven months, or longer if your baby still needs it to sleep well. To "wean," take one arm out of the wrap; when he can fall asleep that way, he no longer needs to be swaddled.

Click here to see How to Swaddle

August/September 2006