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.
If you're wondering should you swaddle newborn for naps, the answer is yes! Swaddling is encouraged for all sleep because it lets baby know that when they're swaddled, it's time to get some Zzz's. Swaddling encourages better sleep for baby, too, especially in those early newborn days and nights!
Studies have shown swaddling your baby and placing them on their side or stomach, will double their risk of SIDS. REMEMBER: Babies do not need to be swaddled all day, just when fussy and sleep time.
There isn't a universal age for coming out of the swaddle; instead, you'll want to stop swaddling when your little one is showing signs of rolling. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), we typically see babies begin to roll around 3-4 months.
Newborns and younger babies who aren't rolling over yet nap best in a snug bassinet or cradle rather than in a wide open sleep space. For added comfort, swaddle your little one, especially if he's sleeping in a crib rather than a bassinet. Note that even during naptime, babies should always be placed on their backs.
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.
But if you want to stop sooner — maybe you're tired of the whole swaddle wrapping thing or your baby doesn't seem to sleep any better with a swaddle than without — it's perfectly fine to do so. Babies don't need to be swaddled, and some actually snooze more soundly without being wrapped up.
Wean off the swaddle by 6 months old, or once baby can roll from back to tummy. If still wrapping after 6 months, swap for a sleeping bag and start to teach your baby to self settle.
Babies who are swaddled too tightly may develop a problem with their hips. Studies have found that straightening and tightly wrapping a baby's legs can lead to hip dislocation or hip dysplasia. This is an abnormal formation of the hip joint where the top of the thigh bone is not held firmly in the socket of the hip.
Do not swaddle while feeding, as this can cause the baby to overheat. Swaddling during feeding can also suppress some of the baby's important reflexes. During breastfeeding, a baby who can move freely can latch on better and nurse more effectively.
If your baby seems to prefer having her arms free, it's fine to leave one or both arms out of the swaddle. If your baby is too wiggly for you to get a snug swaddle, take a break and give your little one a few minutes to get her squirmies out before trying again.
If you're wondering how to keep baby warm without swaddle the Lullaby Trust recommends using “light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag.” Especially when unwell babies need fewer, not more bedclothes.
To swaddle or not is a question that many new parents have encountered. And if “my newborn doesn't like to be swaddled” has crossed your mind, rest easy. The answer to “is it OK to not swaddle a newborn” is yes; it's more than OK to not swaddle a newborn, and there are plenty of alternatives to swaddling out there.
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.
If it is warm outside, putting your baby in a diaper underneath the swaddle may just be enough. If however, the temperature is cold, it's a good idea to put baby in a short or long sleeved onesie or even footy pajamas to ensure that baby is kept warm.
Swaddling your baby with one or both arms out is perfectly safe, as long as you continue to wrap her blanket securely. In fact, some newborns prefer being swaddled with one or both arms free from the very beginning.
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.
The temperature can make your baby cry. They may cry because they are too hot or too cold. If your baby is fussy because of the temperature, there are signs that you can look for. Signs of the baby being too hot are sweating, damp hair, heat rash, or clammy skin.
The easiest way to tell if your baby is too hot or too cold is by feeling the nape of the neck to see if it's sweaty or cold to the touch. When babies are too warm, they may have flushed cheeks and look like they're sweating.
The Moro reflex is the cause of your newborn baby to sleep with his arms above his head. This reflex, commonly referred to as the “startle reflex”, disappears by 6 months of age.
Babies fight sleep for a variety of reasons the seven most common being separation anxiety, overtiredness, overstimulation, teething, hitting a milestone, traveling and discomfort or illness.
There's no need to unswaddle—or change your baby's diaper—if they'll take the feed that way and their diaper isn't soiled. (If your baby is super sleepy, you may need to rouse them a bit by gently tickling their toes.)