The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep their babies swaddled for 12–20 hours per day for the first few weeks after birth. This relaxes babies. Swaddling a baby correctly also protects her from overheating, injuries and sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
Swaddling for short periods of time is likely fine, but if your baby is going to spend a significant amount of the day and night swaddled, consider using a swaddling sleep sack that lets the legs move. It may not be quite as effective from a calming standpoint, but it is safer for the hips.
If you do swaddle, experts recommend stopping when your baby starts trying to roll over, which may happen at about 2 months of age. When you've stopped swaddling your baby, you can dress your baby for sleep in a nightgown, sleeper, or pajamas, over an undershirt and diapers.
But as much as swaddling helps, it can't last forever. Swaddling, when done properly, is completely safe and recommended for newborns. But as they grow and become more mobile, swaddling can become unsafe if you don't transition your baby out of it at the right time.
The most basic way to tell if a baby is swaddled too tightly is to place two fingers between the baby's chest and the swaddle. If there is just enough room to fit two fingers of space between their chest and the swaddle then the baby is swaddled correctly — not too tight, not too loose.
If your baby is swaddled, keep them swaddled throughout their night feeds. Or if your baby is older, keep them in their sleeping bag. If you need to do a diaper change before or during their feed, re-swaddle them again or put them back in their sleeping bag as soon as they are changed.
Yes, you should swaddle your newborn at night. The startle reflex is a primitive reflex that is present and birth and is a protective mechanism. With any sudden noise or movement, your baby is “startled” and her arms will extend away from her body, she'll arch her back and neck.
So to answer your question, YES! Yes, you should swaddle your newborn for naps! Swaddles are a safe and effective way to create a positive sleep association and help your newborn feel safe, snug, and calm so they can get all the sleep they need.
You can begin weaning at night first and work on naps later if you have been swaddling for naps in addition to nights, and your baby is not yet rolling but you sense it's around the corner, . If your baby is rolling, it's time to start weaning him off the swaddle, one arm at a time, right away.
One of our nurse leaders in the mom baby unit at Sky Ridge Medical Center, Elizabeth Ferrill, demonstrates how to best burp your baby for results: With your baby swaddled, hold him or her outward facing away from your body, then pat and rub the back.
Keep baby un-swaddled while nursing
Additionally, for some drowsy babies the swaddle is just too cozy, and they'll doze off while nursing without getting enough to eat. Keeping your baby out of the swaddle while nursing will help keep them stimulated, awake, and alert to feed.
If you can keep your room at a stable temperature of 68-70℉ (20-22.2℃), a long sleeve onesie or pajama underneath a swaddle will be suitable for most babies. If the room is warmer, try just a short sleeve onesie or diaper. For colder temperatures, add an extra layer of clothing.
Swaddle for nighttime sleep and naps.
If tucking her into a little burrito blanket for hours overnight makes you nervous, know that as long as you stick with safe swaddling and sleep guidelines, swaddling at bedtime isn't any riskier than swaddling during naps.
If your baby is alert, do not swaddle. Swaddling is a sleep tool so as soon as your baby is showing signs of sleep, that's when you swaddle.
Swaddling protects your baby against their natural startle reflex, which means better sleep for both of you. It may help calm a colicky baby. It helps eliminate anxiety in your baby by imitating your touch, which helps your baby learn to self-sooth.
Allow baby to be exposed to some noise while napping. If baby is able to tolerate some background noise, he or she will be less likely to startle at sudden changes in noise or position.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
You should stop swaddling your baby when they start to roll over. That's typically between two and four months. During this time, your baby might be able to roll onto their tummy, but not be able to roll back over. This can raise their risk of SIDs.
Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
Instead of laying your baby down flat after feeding, keep them upright for about 30 minutes so gravity can help them digest their food. Otherwise, they're more likely to spit up.
Depending on the weather and TOG rating, you'll know how to dress baby for the safest sleep possible. A lightweight onesie should do the trick when it comes to what baby should wear underneath a swaddle or sleep sack in warmer weather. In the winter months, a long sleeve onesie may be preferred.