Just What Is Swaddling All About, Anyway?

If you’re a first time mom, you may already know about swaddling as a general concept.

• Step 1: Wrap up the baby
• Step 2: Tuck in the corners
• Step 3: ???

Swaddling has been around for millennia. Carvings from as long as 4,000 years ago depict swaddled babies, and historical texts are full of mentions of swaddling infants. In fact, swaddling was the go-to practice for soothing newborns until the 17th century, when popular science decided that swaddling was a “parent cheat” that made it easier for parents and nannies to neglect their newborns. Luckily for moms everywhere, the call to abolish swaddling was ignored, so we can still enjoy the benefits of swaddling today.

4 S’s of Swaddling

So why do we swaddle?

1. Safety. In the 1990’s, medical researchers determined that the best way to prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) was for infants to sleep on their backs. Swaddling is a simple and effective way to help babies sleep better on their backs. Swaddling keeps infants contained, which makes it harder for them to flip onto their stomachs or accidentally cover their faces with blankets.
2. Sleep. Swaddling helps infants settle, allowing them to sleep for longer periods of time. As many parents know, babies are prone to wake themselves with sudden, jerking reflexes during sleep. Swaddling keeps their arms and legs from making sudden motions and startling themselves awake ten (extra) times per night.
3. Silence. Studies show that swaddling reduces crying. Many parents give up on swaddling when it seems to make babies fussy, but give it a few minutes and your baby should soothe into silence. Swaddling is also a great building block for other soothing methods like white noise and movement.
4. Security. Despite the many benefits of swaddling, swaddling too tightly can increase the risk of infant hip displacement, among other things. The BundleBee Baby Wrap gives infants the comfort of a swaddle without the dangers associated with a poor swaddle. Baby Wraps are adjustable, contain back and neck support, and are made of hypoallergenic materials, making it simple to soothe and swaddle whether Mom’s in charge or she’s passing her infant to a friend for a cuddle.

To learn more about easier swaddling, shop BundleBee Baby Wraps on Amazon.