Most new parents receive swaddling instruction from the hospital nurses. A tiny blanket wrapped snugly around a baby's body can help calm them. Swaddling newborns effectively can help calm them and encourage sleep if done appropriately. However, there are a few rules you must abide by if you want to swaddle your baby safely at home.
What Is A Swaddle?
Swaddling refers to the age-old practice of encircling infants in a blanket or piece of fabric to mimic the comforting environment of the womb. It is frequently used to calm crying babies and promote a more restful night's sleep for your infant.
Receiving blankets are frequently used for your newborn baby as early as delivery. Then, to keep them warm and comfortable, you can use a wearable blanket, sleep sack, or swaddling blanket.
What Should Parents Keep In Mind When Swaddling Their Baby?
When deciding what to put your infant in underneath a swaddle, keep the following things in mind:
Material Or Fabric For Swaddling
The material of the swaddle, in addition to its TOG rating, can impact how warm your baby feels. Choosing a swaddle made of breathable cotton or muslin is essential, as they keep babies cool and prevent them from overheating. To keep your baby warm during the winter, you might want to think about using a thicker micro-fleece swaddle.
Season
Seasonal changes impact the temperature in your house and can provide a first indication of how to swaddle your baby.
Babies will feel more comfortable in less clothing during warmer months because temperatures and humidity typically increase. In sweltering conditions, they could feel most at ease wearing just a diaper underneath their swaddle.
Your baby might feel more at ease under a thicker swaddling blanket or more layers to keep warm in the more fantastic fall and winter months.
Ambient Temperature
The clothing your infant should wear beneath a swaddle depends on the climate in your home. 68 to 70°F or 20 to 22.2°C is the ideal room temperature. Despite not always being possible, your infant should be comfortable as long as they are dressed appropriately for the weather.
You may control the temperature of the space by opening windows and using a fan during warmer months. Close the windows if your baby's room is too cold, and dress them in layers.
Swaddle Wrap Tog Rating
TOG values measure the thermal insulation of a substance. The fabric is often warmer the higher the TOG rating. To accommodate a range of temperatures, swaddle and sleep sack makers often produce their goods in various TOGs.
Humidity
Additionally significant is the level of humidity. The recommended range for the relative humidity in your baby's nursery is between 30 and 50%. In addition to preventing mould, regulating humidity will make the space feel more pleasant in terms of temperature. It is possible to maintain humidity levels within the advised range using dehumidifiers or humidifiers.
Is Your Baby Safe In A Swaddle?
Parents need to be aware that swaddling has some hazards. When a baby is swaddled, their arousal level may decrease, making it more challenging for them to wake up. Swaddling can appeal to new sleep-deprived parents because the baby sleeps longer and wakes up less frequently. However, we know that decreased arousal can be an issue and may be one of the infants' leading causes of SIDS. Every time they put their infant to sleep for naps or at night, parents should adhere to the safe sleep guidelines:
- Swaddle your baby on a sturdy, flat surface so they may sleep on their back. Be sure to keep a close eye on them to ensure that they do not turn over.
- Remove all blankets that aren't secured from your child's crib. A loose blanket, such as an unwrapped swaddling blanket, may cover your baby's face, increasing the risk of suffocation.
- Avoid using weighted blankets or swaddles since they put too much pressure on a baby's chest and lungs.
- Exercise caution while purchasing goods that make SIDS risk reduction claims. Wedges, positioners, specialty mattresses, or custom-made sleeping surfaces do not appear to reduce the incidence of SIDS.
- Rather than in your bed, your baby is safest in their own cot or bassinet.
- Swaddling wrap can make your baby more likely to overheat, so keep them from getting too warm. The baby may be excessively hot if you observe sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash, and fast breathing.
- Think about using a pacifier for night and naps, and put the crib in a smoke-free room.
To What Extent Can Swaddle A Baby Help With Comfort?
Your infant must be at a suitable temperature to ensure that they are content when they sleep. The most dependable strategy to guarantee your baby can sleep properly is to react to indicators that they are too hot or too chilly.
