You probably already know that swaddling your little one can lead to better sleep for both your baby and yourself. (Just what every new parent wants to hear!) A swaddle keeps your baby feeling warm, cozy, and secure as they sleep. But it’s important to swaddle safely, and there are a few do’s and don’ts you should be aware of before wrapping your baby up in a swaddle blanket for the night.
When swaddling, do...
- Put your baby to sleep on their back. Since stomach sleeping has been linked to SIDS, it’s always best to lay your little one on their back while napping and sleeping through the
- Make sure the room is at a comfortable Swaddling your baby in a room that’s too warm can make them overheat--so be sure to check the thermostat and keep the room’s temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll be able to tell if your little one is too warm if they are breathing rapidly, sweating, have damp hair, or develop a heat rash.
- Allow enough space for your baby’s legs to bend into a frog position. To avoid any damage to your baby’s hip flexors, make sure the swaddle is loose enough for their legs to fall into a natural, frog-like
- Choose a swaddle made of a thin, breathable One hundred percent cotton and muslin cotton are two great choices. Consider these swaddle blankets from Comfy Cubs, with their breathable and thermoregulating cotton material.
When swaddling, don’t...
- Swaddle too Make sure that your little one can still bend their knees while swaddled. It’s important to find the happy medium between a swaddle that’s too tight and a swaddle that’s too loose!
- Over-swaddle. Using more than one swaddle blanket is a big no-no, since it can cause your baby to overheat and has been linked to SIDS. Nowadays, most swaddle blankets are designed to thermoregulate and keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, so there’s really no need to layer multiple blankets when
- Keep your baby swaddled all day While swaddling during naptime and nighttime has tons of benefits, it’s not recommended to keep your baby swaddled all the time. This is because it can delay mobility and motor development, and it also keeps your little one from using their hands.
- Swaddle too A loose swaddle can come unwrapped and potentially cover your baby’s face, keeping them from being able to breathe normally. If getting the swaddle tight enough is a struggle for you, you might want to check out “easy swaddles,” which have convenient hook-and-loop tabs that keep your little one safe and secure.
- Swaddle while While breastfeeding, it’s easy for your little one to get overheated, so it’s not a good idea to keep your baby swaddled while they’re feeding. Plus, the swaddle can keep them in an unnatural breastfeeding position that makes it more difficult to latch.
- Swaddle above the shoulders. Your baby’s head and neck should never be swaddled or covered by any material, as this can present a suffocation
- Swaddle after your baby has begun to Once your baby has begun to roll, as early as two months of age, it’s time to stop swaddling. This is because your little one could potentially roll onto their stomach and not be able to breathe properly.
Comfy Cubs Easy Baby Swaddle Blankets
Learning to swaddle your little one safely can be a challenge, and the last thing you need as a new parent is additional stress. That’s why Comfy Cubs created the E asy Baby Swaddle
Blankets. These high-quality, one hundred percent cotton swaddle blankets make the swaddling process a breeze: simply tuck your baby’s legs into the swaddle, wrap the wings around them, and secure with easy Velcro tabs. Soft, cozy, and cute, these swaddle blankets come in sets of three so you’ll always have one handy.