Will you swaddle?

LoveYouB · January 2014

I have been reading the pros and cons of swaddling, and now I think I'm going to skip it altogether because of all the warnings but I don't if I'm being overdramatic because it is technically considered safe. So I am curious, what are your thoughts on swaddling? Are you planning on swaddling, or have you in the past?

Thanks!

MissLadyTay · January 2014

"All the warnings"? What warnings? Yes, we swaddle. My son liked it and it helped him sleep. We'll see if it works for this baby.

usernewname · January 2014

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

danabsd · January 2014

I have no idea why anyone wouldn't swaddle. It's a godsend for newborns.

bumpuser10194737 · January 2014

Definitely! We swaddled with our first two babies (although my first liked his arms out) and will definitely do the same for this little one. It helped them settle down so much! Will use either the Halo sleep sacks with the swaddled or the Woombie.

Edit for wording.

DaisyTortilla · January 2014

We plan to swaddle. We did it with DD and she loved it. She just slept all wrapped up like a burrito, wouldn't even move. But we only did it for about 1 month or so. Then she started to want to move her arms, and started to hate it.

Allibob · January 2014

Absolutely we'll swaddle. I don't know how I'd ever be able to lay my baby down without waking her if she wasn't swaddled, plus keeping her asleep once she's down. Babies have the Moro reflex until 4-5 mo, where they flail their arms & wake up (basically freak out) when you lay them down, and swaddling prevents that. I swaddled DD until she rolled over in her swaddle. I forgot how many months she was, but it was a sad sad day.

brittcraw75 · January 2014

I plan to swaddle. I read all the hype about the dangers, too, but it seems like everything is pointed toward hip dysplasia from the baby's legs being bound, thus immobile. All the swaddling blankets I've seen (and registered for) allow for plenty of leg room, so as to avoid such a horrible outcome. And even swaddling with just a regular blanket can be done safely. TBH, I think the "Swaddling is Murder" scare was just that..a scare. One of those things that scares us Mamas and Mamas-to-be to death, but is ultimately barely founded in reality.

danabsd · January 2014

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

LOL.
Experience or what tells you this?

dogsombrero · January 2014

It's in my plans but we'll see how this LO feels about it.

Bootsie327 · January 2014

I didn't know there were warnings against swaddling, I always thought it was the other way around? We plan to swaddle. I feel like in addition to it being safer, they sleep better...which really is win-win for the whole family.

spacepotatoes · January 2014

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

Yes, but in the first few months, their movements are all reflexive rather than deliberate. Some babies end up waking themselves out of sleep because of the constant movement. That is why swaddling can be helpful.

If my kid sleeps better when swaddled, you bet we'll be doing it! I have not read any warnings and honestly don't see why it would be bad if done correctly.

Miles2Go · January 2014

Resounding yes, if he's like his sister. If he doesn't like it, then we won't. Otherwise, A&A blankets for daytime when supervised, and either swaddle sacks or Woombie (LOVE) for naps alone and nighttime.

Xath · January 2014

Swaddling (and the other 4 S's) we're miracles with my older son. I fully intend on swaddling this time around too.

runningyogimama · January 2014

DD didn't like her arms swaddled from day 1...we even swaddled arms out in the hospital. We used swaddle me or sleep sacks with arms out...for maybe 6 weeks? We will just follow this LO's cues again.

oscarwao · January 2014

Assuming she likes it, I'm totally stoked to wrap this kid up like a burrito.

SMM1986 · January 2014

Depends. DD hated and DS was alright with it. We shall see.

TheBeeCharmer · January 2014

We swaddled both very briefly, about 3 weeks. Neither of them were crazy about it and DD would always bust her arms out. We'll see how this one likes it.

LoveYouB · January 2014

Thanks for all the feedback! I was hoping the concerns around swaddling were just hype, so I suppose I will just register for the swaddle blankets/sleep sacks and see how he likes it.

ns1 · January 2014

Yes yes yes. It was awesome for DD.

kim0927 · January 2014

There are cons to swaddling?? No personal experience, but I've only heard the positives!

talkthewholetime · January 2014

I've never even heard of a con. My mom was a head nurse in the NICU and she even taught me to swaddle my dolls, ha.

So yes. Unless my baby hates it.

babyaotw · January 2014

We will try it. If he likes it, we will swaddle. If not, we won't. What is with these hip dysplasia hypes lately?

sammy.k · January 2014

The hospital that we'll deliver at gives "swaddle me" type blankets to each new born. It is encouraged. It was a must with my son. It was hard to wean him from it

raeg13 · January 2014

Absolutely. It was a saving grace for us. And some words of advice... the tighter the better!

And to the "babies like to move" comment. This is absolutely not true. Babies spend the first 9 months of their lives crammed inside your uterus. Being in a restricted state is comforting to them because it's what they know (well, the majority of them at least).

usernewname · January 2014

spacepotatoes said:

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

Yes, but in the first few months, their movements are all reflexive rather than deliberate. Some babies end up waking themselves out of sleep because of the constant movement. That is why swaddling can be helpful.

If my kid sleeps better when swaddled, you bet we'll be doing it! I have not read any warnings and honestly don't see why it would be bad if done correctly.

To each their own

its not something i plan on doing as its against my education so i would like to try not doing it (I'm sure I'll sing a different tune with a crying baby in my arms).

MunchkinMoon · January 2014

I will definitely swaddle.
I've been practicing on DH and he loves it!

He's my huge Chipotle burrito and LO will be a junior burrito.

MrsT2008 · January 2014

I've never heard of cons or "hype" about swaddling. DD loved it and we will swaddle this baby as well assuming she tolerates/likes it.

mrsbtobe20122 · January 2014

florassecret said:

spacepotatoes said:

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

Yes, but in the first few months, their movements are all reflexive rather than deliberate. Some babies end up waking themselves out of sleep because of the constant movement. That is why swaddling can be helpful.

If my kid sleeps better when swaddled, you bet we'll be doing it! I have not read any warnings and honestly don't see why it would be bad if done correctly.

To each their own

its not something i plan on doing as its against my education so i would like to try not doing it (I'm sure I'll sing a different tune with a crying baby in my arms).

Please educate us.

usernewname · January 2014

mrsbtobe20122 said:

florassecret said:

spacepotatoes said:

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

Yes, but in the first few months, their movements are all reflexive rather than deliberate. Some babies end up waking themselves out of sleep because of the constant movement. That is why swaddling can be helpful.

If my kid sleeps better when swaddled, you bet we'll be doing it! I have not read any warnings and honestly don't see why it would be bad if done correctly.

To each their own

its not something i plan on doing as its against my education so i would like to try not doing it (I'm sure I'll sing a different tune with a crying baby in my arms).

Please educate us.

Sorry. Shouldn't have said anything. Don't want to ruffle feathers. I'm a Montessori teacher and were taught many things that go against the grain. I tend to forget it makes me crunchy at times

typeset · January 2014

It's being wrapped in a blanket, not strapped to a board.

We'll do it in the early days.

danabsd · January 2014

mrsbtobe20122 said:

spacepotatoes said:

florassecret said:

No we won't be swaddling. Babies like to move.

Yes, but in the first few months, their movements are all reflexive rather than deliberate. Some babies end up waking themselves out of sleep because of the constant movement. That is why swaddling can be helpful.

If my kid sleeps better when swaddled, you bet we'll be doing it! I have not read any warnings and honestly don't see why it would be bad if done correctly.

To each their own its not something i plan on doing as its against my education so i would like to try not doing it (I'm sure I'll sing a different tune with a crying baby in my arms).
Please educate us.

RedRosePinkCrazy, is that you???

jschwind22 · January 2014

Please share some legitimate, scientific research articles that support concerns about swaddling.

Ill be swaddling unless LO doesn't like it.

meli1025 · January 2014

DS couldn't sleep without his straight jacket, I mean swaddle, until he was almost a year. He loved that thing and felt much more comfortable being bundled up tight. If DS2 likes it and sleeps just as much because of it, I will be doing it again.

codik86 · January 2014

I'll be swaddling the baby. DH has experience with his neices and nephews so we will start off swaddle style. I have no experience so I'll hsve to practice.

usernewname · January 2014

smittysmiles

My trainer offered no real scientific research to back up her claim, but she told us that swaddling inhibits movement, as babies have a natural desire to move and swaddling prevents it.

I have no real experience as I am a FTM, but I'd like to try not doing it. She never mentioned the startle reflex being the cause of babies waking during their sleep, she spoke of it more when babies are put down onto a bed/bassinet etc. I haven't done any research myself as I just never gave a second thought of it. But if someone has some research and would like to share, I would like to read up on it. Or some personal experience.

I am all for what works for everyone's own families, all in the goal of happy, healthy children. And of course there are things we all want to do, but the baby might not be following our game plan.

busterbeagle · January 2014

We swaddled our dog today. It's cold! I think he liked it. We will swaddle this baby unless he doesn't like it. DD was definitely a burrito baby.

pistolpackinmomma · January 2014

danabsd said:
I have no idea why anyone wouldn't swaddle. It's a godsend for newborns.

Because my kid would scream until he broke out. We used the halo swaddle sacks and left his arms out. But I have a weird kid. He hated being swaddled from day 1.

spacepotatoes · January 2014

florassecret said:

smittysmiles

My trainer offered no real scientific research to back up her claim, but she told us that swaddling inhibits movement, as babies have a natural desire to move and swaddling prevents it.

I have no real experience as I am a FTM, but I'd like to try not doing it. She never mentioned the startle reflex being the cause of babies waking during their sleep, she spoke of it more when babies are put down onto a bed/bassinet etc. I haven't done any research myself as I just never gave a second thought of it. But if someone has some research and would like to share, I would like to read up on it. Or some personal experience.

I am all for what works for everyone's own families, all in the goal of happy, healthy children. And of course there are things we all want to do, but the baby might not be following our game plan.

That's exactly the point. Swaddling works for some babies because their natural inclination to move (which is just a reflex at that stage, they can't control it) gets in the way of their ability to sleep.

It's not exactly a peer reviewed study but I first came across discussion of this in You Having a Baby by Dr. Oz.

mrsbtobe20122 · January 2014

If you're bored...

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/4/e1097.full

We will swaddle.

ckandi007 · January 2014

We didn't swaddle for the first month. My son did NOT sleep. Once we started, he was sleeping 10-11 hours straight. We will be swaddling!

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