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What is Swaddling?
Here is an informative article from Today's Parent with brief how-to copied below:
Soothing Solutions
Paediatrician Harvey Karp’s Five S’s for soothing babies are:
1. Swaddling;
2. Shushing (saying “shhhh” near your baby’s ear, or having some other white noise);
3. Side or stomach lying (only while on your lap or in your arms);
4. Swinging (jiggling, rocking, moving your baby);
5. Sucking (at the breast, on a parent’s finger, on a pacifier).
It’s a Wrap
Here is the swaddling technique touted by Harvey Karp, paediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block. Spread out the blanket in a diamond shape and fold the top corner down. Lay your baby on top, with her neck at the fold. Fold one top corner down and across her body, holding baby’s arm straight at her side, and tuck it under her. Fold the bottom corner on the same side up. Now fold the other top corner down, holding her second arm at her side, and pull it snugly to about the middle of baby’s chest. Bring the bottom of the blanket up and across your baby’s body, wrapping it snugly. Notice that your baby’s legs can still flex and move, but her arms are held still.
Tiny Toes Swaddling Products:
The Benefits of Swaddling From www.swaddledesigns.com Lynette Damir, Swaddle Designs
Medical studies have shown there are many benefits to swaddling.
Swaddled Babies Sleep Better®
- A Washington University study proved infants sleep better when swaddled
- Swaddled babies have fewer awakenings and twice as much REM sleep
- REM sleep is believed to be important for brain development
Reduces Incidence of SIDS
- When baby sleeps better on his back, parents are less likely to use the unsafe tummy position for sleep
- There is evidence that swaddled back sleeping infants have lower incidence of SIDS than unswaddled back sleeping infants as stated in the Journal of Pediatrics, December 2002
Reduces Colic and Fussiness
- Snug swaddling soothes babies by reminding them of being in the womb
- Swaddling helps prevent over stimulation
- Baby is able to self-soothe if swaddled with hands near face
- Infants are inefficient at regulating their own temperature. Swaddling helps to keep infants warm.
Can Help Make Breastfeeding Easier
- Baby’s extra movements nicely contained when swaddled
- Tuck baby’s hands into the swaddle to keep hands from impairing latch-on
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