Sometimes, consumers can get confused when people use multiple terms to describe the same product. Although there are many products that use the word “wrap” in their name, generally speaking, an infant wrap is another way of referring to a swaddling wrap or a swaddling blanket. No matter which way you refer to these products, they are something that every mother wants and will use!

What is an infant wrap anyway?

An infant wrap is a blanket used to wrap, or swaddle, the baby during the first few months and up to a year after he or she is born. The wrapping technique is referred to as swaddling and is thousands of years old. By keeping the baby’s arms and legs pressed gently against his or her own body, swaddling promotes better rest and longer periods of uninterrupted sleep. Additionally, this method of wrapping the infant helps the baby stay warm and comfortable in the crib or bassinet.

In order to facilitate this method of wrapping the baby, infant wraps have the following characteristics:

-          Square or rectangular shape

-          Small enough to wrap the baby without extra cumbersome fabric

-          Lightweight fabric to keep the baby from overheating

-          Stretchy fabric to ventilate the infant and help with swaddling

-          Often made from cotton muslin

Every mother wants an infant wrap. In fact, this is a great gift to give anyone who is pregnant or has recently had a child because most moms can use several infant wraps!

There are many reasons why a mother would want a breastfeeding cover. Moms enjoy the fact that a breastfeeding cover offers some privacy when they are nursing in public or even in their own homes when other people are around. Although they love the opportunity to bond with their child, nursing can be a challenge when the baby is hungry and privacy is unavailable.

Some mothers point to the fact that their other children or their children’s friends are confused when they see the mother nursing, so a breastfeeding cover offers a way to avoid that discussion until a more appropriate time.

A more discreet way of nursing

Although moms have been throwing a blanket over themselves and their infants for years, today’s breastfeeding covers are a step above a baby blanket. Some of the advantages include:

-          Neck straps to keep the blanket in place even if the baby kicks or you shift position

-          Stain resistant fabrics

-          Stiffer top sections to keep the top open, allowing for eye contact between mother and child as well as ventilation

-          Use the cover as a stroller cover or as a diaper changing surface

While the primary reasons many moms point to for purchasing and using these covers is to promote their own privacy, this is certainly not the only use for these versatile blankets. Don’t drive yourself crazy with a baby blanket – get a breastfeeding cover and make this time more enjoyable for yourself and your baby.

Colic is a challenging issue for infants, and it can be even more difficult for their parents as they struggle to help the baby and calm his or her tears. Swaddling is a technique that can be of great help to parents as it offers a unique type of comfort to the infant.

What is swaddling?

Swaddling is not a new technique, although it has become more popular in the United States in recent years. Today, most women do not even leave the hospital without getting at least a brief lesson in the correct way to wrap their baby.

When done correctly, the limbs of the infant are bound to his or her body in a way that is tight enough to restrict movement but not so tight as to cause discomfort. The swaddling blanket keeps the baby warm, which helps him or her maintain their body temperature during the first few days after leaving the womb.

At the same time, keeping the baby in a certain position emulates the tight quarters of the mother’s womb, imitating the security and safety the infant knew for the previous nine months. An additional benefit of the swaddling technique is that it effectively counters the baby’ startle reflex. The startle reflex is a way that baby’s will wake themselves by flailing their limbs, even out of their deepest sleep.

When swaddled, the babies are unable to flail their limbs and wake themselves, resulting in better sleep with fewer interruptions.

How swaddling helps with colic

This is a highly effective way for parents to calm their infants, whether or not they have colic. If you are looking for a safe and natural way to keep your baby calmer and quiet his or her cries, consider incorporating swaddling in your routine.

> Watch a swaddling demonstration video