Question regarding Swaddling

msohn80

I'm going to be the 1st time mom and plan to swaddle my baby boy. I've been suggested to start swaddling the baby from Day 1. But now I'm all confused after reading how I'm supposed to let the air have access to the umbilical cord stump and keep it dry until it falls off. Besides, we will have our baby boy circumcised at the hospital prior to being discharged.

So with the umbilical cord stump still intact & his circumcised penis still needs to be healed, is it OK to swaddle tight my newborn from Day 1? or Should I wait until the cord stump falls off and the circumcised area is healed before start swaddling him?

 2nd+ time moms......Help me!  >.<

kathetakite

We swaddled DD from day one, she was born in december so it was cold. The only thing the Dr. said about the umbilical cord was to clean it with alcohol, to dry it out, everytime we changed a diaper. They never said anything about airing it out but her stump fell off just like it was supposed to and she was bundled up constantly.  

egpitt22

We swaddled from day 1 with my son (who was circumcised as well)  Actually, the nurses in the hospital were the ones who swaddled him (and taught us how to swaddle), so I would assume it's ok.

jc&cat

I wouldln't worry about the stump. It will come off before you know it on it's own. The hospital will give you instruction on how to care for it. When DS was born they said the protocol on care of the stump was changing and you don't have to do anything for it (like alcohol as mentioned by PP. that is what i expected to have to do). Swaddle if you would like from day 1. We did the same thing.

jlsimon56

I have also heard not to use alcohol for cleaning the stump, that it will do whatever it needs to do on its own.  That is a question I will be asking!  :-)  Seems like the rules change all the time! 

We plan to swaddle from day one. 

PlainandTall

https://www.sleepywrap.com/2008/11/strollers-baby-carriers-and-infant-stress/

I found this article about baby spine and hip development to be very interesting- the photo illustrations are so clear.  It touches a little one swaddling and hip development, and while it doesn't outright condemn swaddling (it has it's role) There is a little bit of a caution about it...as well as other things we might be doing (carriers, car seats, cribs, strollers...) that have an impact on the way our babies bodies develop.

mari_gold

PlainandTall:

https://www.sleepywrap.com/2008/11/strollers-baby-carriers-and-infant-stress/

I found this article about baby spine and hip development to be very interesting- the photo illustrations are so clear.  It touches a little one swaddling and hip development, and while it doesn't outright condemn swaddling (it has it's role) There is a little bit of a caution about it...as well as other things we might be doing (carriers, car seats, cribs, strollers...) that have an impact on the way our babies bodies develop.

That article also says that laying a baby on his back is terrible for your baby's spine. I don't know, I would take it with a grain of salt. I mean, swaddling so tightly that the infant can't flex his knees or hips -- who does that? (Not to mention the site is trying to sell people on using their wraps -- it's not an impartial source.)

We swaddled from the beginning with Zack and we'll do it with this one, too.

MammaBear81

jlsimon56:

I have also heard not to use alcohol for cleaning the stump, that it will do whatever it needs to do on its own.  That is a question I will be asking!  :-)  Seems like the rules change all the time! 

We plan to swaddle from day one. 

This depends on your pedi... my pedi says leave it alone, no alcohol or anything, but my friends pedi says swipe with alcohol at each change.  Both babies are fine and have normal belly buttons.

luvbeingmom

mari_gold:

PlainandTall:

https://www.sleepywrap.com/2008/11/strollers-baby-carriers-and-infant-stress/

I found this article about baby spine and hip development to be very interesting- the photo illustrations are so clear.  It touches a little one swaddling and hip development, and while it doesn't outright condemn swaddling (it has it's role) There is a little bit of a caution about it...as well as other things we might be doing (carriers, car seats, cribs, strollers...) that have an impact on the way our babies bodies develop.

That article also says that laying a baby on his back is terrible for your baby's spine. I don't know, I would take it with a grain of salt. I mean, swaddling so tightly that the infant can't flex his knees or hips -- who does that? (Not to mention the site is trying to sell people on using their wraps -- it's not an impartial source.)

We swaddled from the beginning with Zack and we'll do it with this one, too.

 i know someone who did...  a friend of mine swaddled her son so tight and i think she just left him swaddled in his crib laying on his back most of the time because she didn't know what to do with him. so he became EXTREMELY dependent on the swaddle and his head was completely flat in the back.he would try to break out of the swaddle... so she would just swaddle him tighter. he didn't have any medical issues that i know of, but he's development seemed very slow. being swaddled all the time he couldn't reach out and pick up toys, he wouldn't move his legs. then when she decided it was time to break him from the swaddle she went thru HELL trying to get him to sleep. but she also went thru hell while he was asleep and swaddled because he would break out of it and wake up screaming until he was put back in it. she didn't get him unswaddled until well past 6 months old.

i would just caution, there's no reason for baby to be swaddled ALL the time like she did with him. let them play and figure out their arms and legs. and i would say most try not to swaddle more than a month.

i've never actually swaddled my kids outside the hospital and i think it was much easier on me and them. they weren't dependent on it for falling asleep like i know some babies are. i was able to just lay down my babies to go to sleep, lucky for me!