It is not easy to become a parent. New parents often worry about how they will meet their newborn’s needs. Newborns constantly cry for different reasons or get sick in a way that worries their parents. It can be tiring and confusing for new parents. Feeling this way may cause them not to be able to enjoy their baby’s sweetest times.
In this process, getting support from someone is very important, both psychologically and physically. Most people prefer to get help from their parents. This is safe and free but is not the only option. Today, there are many options for new parents to get support. For example, you can take a parenting class before the delivery and hire a newborn nurse if needed.
Despite all the help, getting used to parenthood is not easy. Sleep deprivation is the biggest challenge for new parents. Babies need a lot of sleep during development. They don’t fall asleep easily or sleep soundly. Babies wake up frequently at night for different reasons. It also takes time for them to fall asleep afterward. Parents often have to wake up during the night.
It is not always easy to understand why babies cry. This can be exhausting for parents who want to go back to sleep as soon as possible. In addition, it is not easy for the baby to get used to the world in the first months, which is very different from the womb. In short, it is a difficult process for both parents and the baby.
One thing that will boost the morale of everyone in the household with newborns is good sleep. Some solutions help babies sleep better and prevent them from waking up easily. Swaddling is one of them. Although it is unknown who found it, its history dates back to ancient times. It is still widely used today. It provides a comfortable sleep for babies.
Wrapping the baby in a certain technique with the help of a blanket to prevent the baby from moving her or his limbs is called swaddling. Swaddle relaxes the baby and provides good sleep. It also has many other benefits. We will talk about swaddling in detail. First, let’s talk about why you should use swaddles and the advantages.
Importance of Swaddles
Mothers have used swaddles for a long time to help babies sleep better. So, what’s the secret to babies getting better sleep in swaddles? First, babies are accustomed to the tightness of the womb. The swaddling blanket wrapping around their bodies makes babies feel like they’re in the womb. In this way, they will sleep easily, feeling as if they have returned to the safe environment they are familiar with.
Babies often experience separation anxiety. When they feel their caregivers are away, they can worry and cry. But swaddles reduce babies’ separation anxiety. The swaddling blanket covering their body will give them a feeling of closeness of touch. The babies, getting into the swaddling blanket, immediately yawn and enjoy sleeping by feeling safe. Parents don’t need to stay with the baby all the time.
There is another reason why babies sleep better in swaddles. Babies wake up frequently because of their reflexes which are called mono reflexes. Babies feel like falling; they suddenly wake up and cry by throwing their heads backward and stretching their arms and legs forward. They won’t be able to go back to sleep because they move their limbs like this. Swaddles prevent this and prolong sleep.
These reflexes allow the offspring to cling to their mothers in case of danger to survive. Although there are no such dangers anymore, we still have primitive reflexes in our brains because evolution cannot keep up with the pace of the world’s development. However, babies wake up like this because of their primitive reflexes and won’t sleep back. Swaddles prevent this by limiting the movement of the babies.
Colic babies are known to sleep comfortably in swaddles. Colic can be defined as babies crying frequently and for a long time for no reason. There are different reasons for this situation. It may be better to warm swaddles before wrapping them for colic babies. You can try heating the swaddles with an iron. This will also be good for your baby’s gas pains.
Swaddles are not only good for sleep. One of the biggest problems related to babies is that they scratch their faces. Babies have soft but sharp nails. Therefore, they may harm themselves if they are not prevented from touching their faces. For this reason, gloves and mittens are generally used. However, the swaddle prevents the babies from scratching their faces as their arms are wrapped.
Swaddles also help babies to regulate their body temperature. Newborn babies’ body temperature has not settled yet. Another plus is that swaddles eliminate the possibility of slipping over the cover. It is important to keep babies at the appropriate temperature, especially in cold months. Since swaddles are wrapped around the baby, preventing exposure to cold weather. The baby won’t have a cold, fever, or cough.
The fact that the blanket does not slip is not only important for body temperature. The possibility of blankets covering the face poses a risk for sudden infant death syndrome. Your newborn will be safer in swaddles. You should know it is easier for babies to get used to swaddles from birth. Otherwise, the baby can get used to sleeping without them and won’t want it later.
Swaddles provide great convenience to parents, and most babies fall asleep right away, immersing themselves in the warmth of the swaddling blanket. But unfortunately, not all babies love them. Therefore, you should pay attention to your baby’s reaction to swaddles before making it a routine. Do not force if the baby clearly shows signs of any discomfort. Sure, you can try different swaddling blankets before giving up completely.
As we mentioned, swaddles are recommended for sleep. However, the babies should not always be left in the swaddles. Except for sleeping, the babies’ bodies should be allowed to move freely. Babies spend all day sleeping anyway. They sleep approximately 15-18 hours a day. Therefore, leaving the body free for a while and encouraging them to move their limbs will benefit the babies’ development.
How to Swaddle?
You can safely use swaddles for up to three months. They are used for sleeping routines, and in these three months, you can also swaddle at night. We will talk about why you should stop using swaddles after a certain time. But first, let’s look at how to use a swaddling blanket correctly. It has great importance for the healthy development of the baby.
The usage of swaddles seems easy, but it has some certain important points. However, it isn’t easy to make it correctly for the first time. There are certain standards for correct swaddling. And it is important to remember that the baby constantly moves while you are swaddling. So, it is not very easy to do, but with enough practice, you can master it in a short time.
First, lay the swaddling blanket on a flat surface with one of its corners facing you. For example, you can do it in bed or on the sofa. Next, fold the top of the blanket inwards. The baby’s head should be out of the swaddling blanket. Then fold the right corner of the blanket towards the baby’s left side. While doing this, the baby’s left arm should stay flat inside the blanket.
After tightening the right side well, you need to fold the bottom part of the blanket over the baby again. Then, after adjusting the baby’s left arm to stand straight, you can wrap the swaddling blanket from the left side to the right. And that’s it. You have a baby burrito. Let’s take a closer look at the parts that need attention when using swaddles.
There are some important points about swaddles. First, you should not wrap them so tightly that it will disturb the baby or prevent them from breathing. Wrapping a swaddling blanket too tightly will make the baby uncomfortable and may affect the baby’s physical development. Finally, it is necessary not to restrict the movement of the rest of the body while keeping the upper part tight.
The structure of the swaddling blanket is important. Swaddling should be done with a single stretchy blanket that will not be too thick or thin. It is not healthy for the baby to get very hot or cold. Swaddles should not be too tight, nor should they be too loose. If it is too loose, the united part of the blanket may cover the baby’s face and prevent breathing.
How Many Swaddles Do You Need?
New parents wish to complete all of their preparations before delivery. Inexperienced parents have trouble when shopping for their baby. There are questions about whether they need a product or how many items they should buy. They naturally don’t want to spend money on things they don’t need. But there is also the possibility that what you get is not enough.
Babies’ clothes get dirty very quickly. Washing the clothes is not always possible, which causes a situation where the clothes are not enough. Washing and drying clothes are not easy with the baby. So spare clothes are the biggest help. Swaddle is another item that is used very often. This brings up the question: How many swaddles do I need?
We can say you will need approximately between three and five swaddles. Of course, it will change according to the baby’s sleep routine, but in case you can buy three swaddles at the beginning. Then, if your baby likes to sleep in swaddles, you can buy some more. But you still do not need to buy too many swaddles because you won’t use them for so long.
The main reason is that you should stop using swaddles after certain months. You can use swaddles for approximately three months. We will talk about it in detail. As a result, you do not need a lot. Even if you don’t do laundry all the time, five swaddles will be enough for you at most. You will have a spare one when a few of them are dirty.
It is not necessary to buy a lot of swaddles as they will be used for a short time. You can even borrow some from someone who has a baby more than four or five months old. Whether you buy new swaddles or borrow them from someone else, be sure to wash them. Babies are very sensitive, and cleaning their swaddling blankets should also be taken care of.
It is better to wash swaddles or other items regularly than buy so many. You won’t be able to use most of them after a while since the baby grows so fast. So it’s better and healthier to get a washing routine. However, you should not rush to wash the laundry quickly. It is necessary to be careful when washing baby items, including swaddles.
Baby items should be washed separately, and special detergents should be used. Otherwise, their sensitive skin will show an allergic reaction. You can use a natural, odorless detergent that does not contain any chemicals. Wash them at high temperatures against bacteria. You should handwash the difficult stains first and then re-wash them in the washing machine. For your baby’s health, apply these carefully.
We talked about saying goodbye to the swaddles after a while. You cannot quit it suddenly. The babies may not want to give up the confidence the swaddles give them. You should make them quit step by step. First, you should make them sleep while one of their arms is outside the swaddling blanket. Then you can slowly practice it by leaving both arms out.
After quitting swaddles, you should be careful about some things. The baby should always be put to sleep in the same place. It is crucial to gain a certain sleep habit. The room where the baby sleeps should not be too bright. It is known that children are fond of their baby blankets or a certain toy like a teddy bear. Let your baby form a secure attachment to an object.
Types of Swaddles
Swaddles are generally a thin and soft kind of blanket. They can be made from cotton, bamboo, or muslin. Swaddles have different types, and not all types are comfortable for all babies. Of course, you cannot know which swaddles are better for your baby before trying different types. That is why do not hurry to buy so many swaddles before your baby is born.
Swaddling blankets are pretty common all over the world. But there is also something called two-in-one. In this type, the babies’ arms can be inside or outside the swaddles. After a certain month, you can continue to use the babies’ arms by taking them out. In this respect, they are more advantageous than swaddling blankets which become completely useless after a while.
There is also something called a sleeping sack. It is a kind of sleeping bag. It can also be called a wearable blanket. It does not wrap the baby completely like swaddles. Therefore it does not perform the same function. However, like the two-in-one type, you can use it later, unlike swaddling blankets.
Harms of Swaddles
The swaddles can be harmful if you do not use them right. If the swaddles are too tight, it can cause physical developmental problems in the infant. Wrapping a swaddling blanket too tightly can make it difficult for infants to breathe and damage the development of their internal organs. In general, the swaddles do not cause any harm. The harmful thing is the wrong usage of swaddles.
The wrong usage of swaddles causes a problem in the structure of the hip. Since babies’ tissue structure is unsuitable for standing straight, the lower parts of the babies’ bodies should not be wrapped so tightly. If you are worried about causing any damage to the hips, you can swaddle in a way where the baby’s legs stay out of the swaddling blanket.
When the babies are in the swaddles, they should always be on their backs. Newborns cannot roll themselves on their bellies, but they begin to turn themselves when they are approximately six to seven months old. It varies from baby to baby. It is important to be a keen observer of your child. Try to understand if your infant shows any attempt to roll themselves.
After they start to roll themselves, swaddles should never be used. Because if they roll themselves on their face while in the swaddles, they may not be able to breathe. Their arms will be in the swaddling blanket, and they will not be able to turn themselves back. It can cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome refers to unexplained deaths of babies under 1-year-old. There is no open cause for a baby’s death like any known disease. This generally occurs while sleeping. It is quite common. The reason is not always clear, but there are some risk factors. Exactly how swaddles affect sudden infant death syndrome is complex. Breathlessness in babies under the blanket can be a cause of SIDS.
Swaddles eliminate the possibility of the baby being under the blanket. But, on the other hand, if you use swaddles after babies can turn themselves around, it can still be dangerous for them. So, the important thing is to pay attention to when to stop using swaddles. This way, you can keep your baby out of danger.
Finally, swaddles are very good for putting babies to sleep. When they are swaddled, they can fall asleep immediately and continue to sleep in an incredibly peaceful way. As good as this is, it can cause your baby trouble waking up from sleep. Even if they are hungry, they may not want to interrupt their sleep to eat. In this case, it may cause your baby not to gain weight.
Conclusion
Babies bring great happiness to the household. At the same time, they are the beginning of a new life for parents. But, of course, babies do not guarantee their parents that they will always have a great time. Sometimes the baby’s crying is mixed with the nervous breakdowns of the parents. Lack of sleep usually makes things worse. Babies waking up crying at night is a nightmare for families.
Swaddles have been used for many years. They are known for their effect on babies’ sleep. Thanks to swaddles, babies do not wake up because they feel safe like they are in their mother’s womb. It’s not very easy to use swaddles, and it takes practice. It is crucial to pay attention to important points for the baby’s health while using swaddles.
The wrong usage of swaddles can be more harmful than its benefits. We have specified the points to which you should pay particular attention while using swaddles. If you think it is not as we stated, feel free to do it again. It may take time, but remember that your baby’s health is paramount. You will get used to doing it easily and quickly over time.
It should be noted that you should stop using swaddles after a certain period. The baby must be observed to detect this period since it changes according to the baby. That is why so many swaddling blankets are not necessary. After a certain point, they will be useless. In summary, three to five swaddles will meet your needs. You don’t need to spend more money on swaddling blankets unnecessarily.
Babies are worth everything, no matter how challenging they are in the first months. Swaddles will be a very good solution to spend your first months better, at least to find a solution to the sleep problem. Having a spare swaddling blanket will also be good for your laundry problem. We hope swaddles, which have been used for a long time, will be good for you too.
