How to Swaddle a Newborn

Why should I swaddle my baby?
If you think you can get by without proper swaddling, think again. Not only does swaddling make your baby less fussy and more secure, but a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2005 found that babies who are swaddled also awake less often and sleep better throughout the night. Other studies have concluded that babies who are swaddled have a decreased chance of SIDS. Swaddling can also help during breastfeeding, since the babies arms will be kept in place and it may be easier to latch the baby on.

How do I swaddle my newborn?

1. Lay a baby-sized blanket on the bed or floor. You should lay the blanket down so it appears like a diamond shape, not a square.
2. Take the top point of the blanket and fold it down and inward, approximately six inches, so there is a straight edge to the top of the blanket.
3. Lay your baby on the blanket, with the top of his or her shoulders resting along the top of the blanket.
4. Hold your baby’s left arm down to his or her side, then pull the left corner of the blanket over your baby. The blanket should cover your baby’s arm, chest and stomach. Tuck the end underneath your baby on the right side.
5. Repeat the above process with the opposite side. Hold your baby’s right arm down, and then pull the blanket across his or her body from the right. Tuck the corner of the right side of the blanket underneath the left side your baby.
6. Take the bottom of the blanket and fold it up, and then wrap it around the back of your baby. Make sure your baby’s head is exposed and not covered with the blanket.

Swaddling cautions and tips

• Swaddling a baby tightly can increase the risk of hip dysplasia. Make sure your baby’s legs can spread apart naturally and his or her hips can move easily.
• Make sure your baby does not become too hot. While swaddling does help keep a newborn warm, if it is hot out, the baby may become overheated.
• Continue swaddling your baby for as long as he or she enjoys it. By about two months of age some babies begin to dislike being swaddled, while others continue to need to be swaddled to sleep.
• Some babies dislike their arms being placed at their sides, and they may like to be swaddled a bit looser, so they can move.
• If you are having trouble swaddling your baby with a regular baby blanket, look for specialized swaddling blankets.