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Publication #FAR0424

 

Swaddling Your Baby1

Suzanna Smith2

Figure 1. 
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Recently, the ancient infant care practice of swaddling has caught on in some communities around the United States (Meltz, 2006). Swaddling seems to have a soothing effect on crying babies—and, as a result, on their parents, too.

Swaddling is a method of wrapping a newborn baby in a cotton sheet or light blanket as is often done by the nurse immediately after a baby is born, restricting the baby's movement. Common wisdom suggests that swaddling gives babies a feeling of security and warmth as they adjust to life outside the womb (Meltz, 2006).

Recent medical research suggests that swaddling has some benefits for infant sleep. In a study of 26 healthy babies, researchers found that swaddling helped decrease arousals during sleep, perhaps enabling babies to go back to sleep on their own (Gerard, Harris, & Thanck, 2002). Another study of 16 infants found that swaddling promoted more sustained sleep and fewer awakenings (Franco et al., 2005).

A word of caution, however. If not done properly, swaddling can be risky (van Gestel et al., 2002). A nurse or midwife can help a new mom or dad learn how to do it properly. Swaddling needs to be done safely so the baby is not too warm or circulation is cut off. The baby's face must not be covered, and, of course, the baby needs to be moved, held, and cared for in other loving ways. So if your baby cries a lot or has trouble sleeping, you may want to talk to your baby's health care provider about the best way to swaddle your infant.

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References

Franco, P., Seret, N., Van Hees, J-N. V., Scaillet, S., Groswasser, J., & Kahn, A. (2005). Influence of swaddling on sleep and arousal characteristics of healthy infants [Electronic version]. Pediatrics, 115(5), 1307-1311. Retrieved April 19, 2006, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/115/5/1307.

Gerard, C. M., Harris, K. A., & Thach, B. T. (2002). Spontaneous arousals in supine infants while swaddled and unswaddled during rapid eye movement and quiet sleep [Electronic version]. Pediatrics, 110(6), e70. Retrieved April 19, 2006, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/110/6/e70.

Meltz, B. F. (2006, April 10). Methods mimic the womb for calmer babies, calmer parents. The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 19, 2006, from http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/2006/04/10/methods_mimic_the_womb_for_calmer_babies_calmer_parents/.

Van Gestel, J. P., L'Hoir, M. P., ten Berge, M., Jansen, N. J. G., & Plotz, F. B. (2002). Risks of ancient practices in modern times [Electronic version]. Pediatrics, 110(6), e78. Retrieved April 19, 2006, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/110/6/e78.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR0424, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 425. Published March 2009. Revised March 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.