When it comes to swaddling your baby there are proper ways of doing it without harming your baby or not getting the proper results.  How does one properly swaddle a baby?  The tips below will help you and give you a better understanding of how and why all the while answering any questions you have regarding the subject.

Swaddling Tips

- You want to choose the right blanket.  Believe it or not all blankets are not created equal when it comes to swaddling your precious newborn or preemie.  The blanket should be in the shape of a square as well as light weight and flexible.  You don’t want your baby to overheat, risking SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).  It is definitely important to NOT use thick blankets.

- Get good at swaddling!  How can you achieve this? Practice, Practice, and Practice.  I know it sounds very basic, but in all reality if you want to get good at anything you must practice, and this includes swaddling your new baby. Just don’t give up. Swaddling is a very soothing practice for your baby as it simulates the womb that they grew accustomed to for 9 months.

- Don’t wrap the legs too tight.  You want the blanket to be secure in the arms but allowing them to move their legs freely when needed.

I know that in the beginning as a mom I wanted to give up on swaddling but once I got that extra practice it was a piece of cake.  Check out Luna Lullaby’s video on swaddling for a better understanding.

Source: ehow

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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!

Swaddling – An old tradition with modern versatility

Swaddling is a tradition as old as recorded history. There are records of swaddling in texts written ancient Romans, ancient Greeks, and even the Bible. Today’s swaddle wraps are a far cry from the old ones, but they work in the same fashion.

How it works

Swaddling refers to a specific technique used to wrap a blanket around the infant. The blanket is wrapped tightly but not too tightly so that the baby is not pinned into position but his or her limbs are snugly tucked into their body.

This position accomplishes two things:

1. First, it emulates the feeling of being in the womb, making the baby more comfortable and keeping them warm.
2. Second, the blanket prevents the baby from waking up when they accidentally move their arms or legs. This allows for longer periods of uninterrupted rest.

Swaddling today

Today’s swaddling blankets are different from the older ones in several important ways. First of all, the best modern swaddle wraps are made from cotton muslin. It is softer than ancient fabrics so that it is more pleasant next to a baby’s sensitive skin. Additionally, it has a little stretch to it, allowing it to be used for swaddling more easily.  Finally, it is a thin material that provides insulation and ventilation so that the baby is warm without overheating.

These blankets come in a variety of colors and patterns, but they all are a great source of comfort to both mother and child during this special time.

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