hospital recommended arms free swaddle

Carbaby411

My hospital (baby care class, birthing class, and newborn nurses) told me to always swaddle with LO's arms free. They said new studies show it helps lower the risk of SIDS. Now all of my Halo swaddlers are useless. I trust them but I haven't seen this info anywhere else - has anyone else heard/read about this?

anangelbug

Yes, we were told the same thing at two different classes and by one pedi.  They are seeing an increase in SIDS again and think it's the swaddling contributing to the rise because 1. they can break free and the material can cover their faces and suffocate them or 2. with their arms swaddled in they don't have their startle reflex that can help to wake or startle them out of a potential SIDS moment.    We decided to listen and we don't swaddle arms in at night and she does fine.   We were told you can still use the swaddlers during the day when you are up and keeping an eye on them.  But I took the swaddlers back and got Halo Sleep sacks that have an option to still swaddle but arms out.

MNgirl326

I would also assume it is b/c if a baby rolls over swaddled in a halo and can't get their arms free, then they can possibly suffocate.

i did swaddle, but with a regular blanket for the first couple of months, the switched to  arms out swaddles b/c LO hated having his arms in.  He started busting out and rolling to his tummy at about  4 months has been sleeping on his tummy ever since.

holly321

I've never heard this.  I always swaddle arms free, dd doesn't like her arms swaddled, and usually escapes anyways.

FutureMrsCaesar

Our hospital and Drs recommended that with DS1 because they are used to being able to use their hands and feel their face, etc while in utero and it makes them more comfortable to be able to do it once they are out.  It made sense to me so I've always swaddled my kids arms out, interesting to hear about it with regards to SIDS though too.

lrn327

I hadn't heard that but it's definitely interesting.  DS hated to be swaddled so we never really did it much, but he had a Halo sleepsack swaddle that allowed arms-free swaddling.  Check the directions on the back of the swaddle portion and it will probably show this option.

mrsjanks

We swaddled LO arms out in the beginning but he always woke up. We started swaddling arms in with the sleep sacks and he slept better. Now, he's found his hands, so he always escapes anyway.

Jujube314

In parenting class, we were told to swaddle arms out because of SIDS if using loose blankets, but that arms in is ok with the pre-made swaddles (Halo, Swaddle Me's, etc.) because they are velcro and made for that purpose.  We swaddle arms in, but never use a regular blanket.

cabartosh

DS is now too big for the velcro swaddles we have so I switched to the escape proof swaddle or whatever it's called where you use two blankets.  When I checked on him he had managed to escape and it scared the crap out of me.  I switched to arms out and he has scratches on his face by his eyes.  I guess I'm going to have to put mittens on him.

 mrsjanks - LOVE the Easter pic in your siggy!!

juliane2004

I don't understand the point of that. The point of a swaddle is to prevent their arms from jerking & waking themselves up with a reflex.

SushiNoMore

The NICU told us to swaddle with his arms up near his face because it's better for him developmentally.  We usually swaddle him with his arms in, but he breaks out of it pretty regularly.  It doesn't really work very well to put his arms up, especially because we were told to only swaddle him up to nipple level.  With those restrictions, you're basically just swaddling with the arms out, because there's nothing really keeping them in there.

BBColt78

This is interesting to me. . . last week we had LO swaddled and she literally rolled over on her side because she was more "round" with her arms in. It scared me to death! Since then, I've kept her arms out. Very interesting.

EmandChris08

We were told the same thing... but Halo Sleepsacks can be used with the baby's arms out. There is a diagram on the tag inside that shows you a few ways to use it. We use the Halo sleepsack every night and DS has always been swaddled arms-free.

htuzzi324

cabartosh:

DS is now too big for the velcro swaddles we have so I switched to the escape proof swaddle or whatever it's called where you use two blankets.  When I checked on him he had managed to escape and it scared the crap out of me.  I switched to arms out and he has scratches on his face by his eyes.  I guess I'm going to have to put mittens on him.

 mrsjanks - LOVE the Easter pic in your siggy!!

This escape-proof swaddle really works! DS figured out in the other that if he scrunched up in a ball, the blanket would loosen and he could get his hands out, resulting in him not sleeping. Now, he's out within 5 minutes of being swaddled.

tmm140

luckily my son never liked to be swaddled completely.  We have always swaddled from the chest down with arms free.  He kicks out of it, but the blanket ends up below his feet and no where near his face.  He loves to be swaddled like that before bed.

biblionerd

Our hospital uses Halo swaddlers and said the same thing. DS hates his arms being confined though so I wouldn't have anyway. Maybe some are made differently but both Halo swaddler sleepsacks are able to be used under the arms.