has anyone been told not to swaddle?

xtina78 · July 2014

So DH and I took an infant CPR class through the hospital where we are going to deliver. Because of scheduling we couldn't attend their regular infant CPR class so they sent us the class that is intended for parents of NICU babies.

There was a portion on SIDS prevention and the NICU RN who was teaching said to not swaddle babies b/c the cloth could get loose and block the baby's breathing. She said they swaddle them in the NICU but that is b/c they're on so many monitors that they'll know if they have trouble breathing.

This was confusing and surprising to me. There is so much positive stuff out there right now about swaddling. We still plan on doing it and just being very careful to use methods that are not likely to come loose (we have been given like 8 different swaddling garments, miracle blankets etc). What do you guys think? Have you ever been told this? Is this just an extra precaution for babies who have needed the NICU?

BabyKsMommy · July 2014

I've never been told this and I have a ds that's almost 3. I did swaddle him and will with the twins if they like it.

It is true about a blanket possibly coming loose but when your baby is really small they won't be able to get it loose as long as the blanket is long enough. As they get older it's def a concern. If you are worried about it then you can get one of the swaddles that velcros.

twistsandturnsto2 · July 2014

I've never heard such a rec but if you are concerned about it we have been using newborn swaddle sleep sacs that zip up if you are worried about SIDS.

sunflowermama42212 · July 2014

I have never heard of swaddling being a concern but it makes me nervous so I put my baby in a light onesie then swaddle with a light receiving blanket and then use a SwaddleMe sac with Velcro on it to secure the blankets. He has never gotten loose and I honestly don't think he ever could. I keep my house at 68 degrees since he is so layered. Ever since we started double swaddling, he has slept amazingly. Just make sure the blanket under him is flat and not bunched up. If it's bunched up he won't lay flat.

CameraBug131 · July 2014

My sister works in a NICU and swaddled her own babies non-stop.

dp21 · July 2014

I work with babies as a nurse and we swaddle in the hospital, both monitored and non-monitored babies. However, safe sleep with swaddling (with a blanket) means arms out so baby can swat away blanket near its nose. Sometimes I tuck arms in on monitored baby b/c they are super fussy, such as NAS babies. If you want to swaddle the arms, we use the pre-made swaddles, you can buy swaddles from the store with the zipper and velcro (they are awesome btw!!!!!!). I plan to buy the swaddles because they are so convenient, safe to use, and easy

Definitely put on baby registry and put different sizes on there too! All the babies at the hospital like the pre-made ones because you can get them super tight and tuck them in

Allison7 · July 2014

I took a baby care class a few weeks ago and the instructor said to use the swaddle sacs and not the blankets. Additionally, she said the new recommendation is to not swaddle the arms when sleeping due to a SIDS risk. She suggested to swaddle with the arms to calm the baby, but to take their arms out after they are sleeping. I have no idea how to do that without waking up a baby. I will talk to my pediatrician about it but swaddling with arms or not, I got an angelcare monitor for SIDS, so I am not going to stress out on this.

badrianne · July 2014

@dp21 could you put a link to the type of swaddle suits you are recommended. There are so many out there.. and I have no idea what to look for.
Thanks in advance!

dp21 · July 2014

At the hospital, we use the Halo sleep sacks.

Baby goes in, usually velcros at each shoulder, you can tuck arms under parts that wrap and those velcro on each side. Don't quote me on this, but think we have 0-3 months and 4-6 month size, something like that.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Halo-SleepSack-Swaddle-Wearable-Fleece-Blanket-Blue/9919846

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has anyone been told not to swaddle?

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