Among the many questions new parents ask, one of the most important is the question of swaddling. To do it or not, if to do it, in what way.

Pediatrician of the highest category of polyclinic No. 2 KGBUZ "KKTsOMD No. 2" Elena Alexandrovna Antipina gives a detailed answer.

Why they do it

I would like to immediately note that the swaddling itself has several functions: the chaotic movements of the child were limited in order to avoid a sudden fright if the baby touches his face or body with a pen. The newborn felt more secure. The diaper limits the space and resembles the cocoon in which he was in the womb. Well, and of course, so that the baby does not freeze while lying in the crib. nine0003

For and against

Among the positive arguments for swaddling children are: maintaining body temperature; fixation of limbs; more restful sleep; ensuring the comfort of the newborn. In addition, swaddling is a mandatory measure for children with congenital pathologies of the arms or legs, as well as for premature babies.

There are not so many negative points and they belong to the conservative method. The main disadvantages of swaddling are: the inability to adjust the temperature. Because of this, the baby overheats. Diaper rash, diaper dermatitis appear on the baby's skin. The constant presence in a thick warm diaper leads to insufficient physical and emotional development. nine0003

Tight swaddling

I would call this method “grandmothers”, they were very fond of having the whole body tightened in the baby. However, this method has more disadvantages than advantages. In this position, the movements of the child will be unnatural and constrained. Blood circulation and heat exchange may be disturbed. However, in some cases, when the child is hyperactive, or there are developmental pathologies, this technique will help to calm him down faster. Then it is recommended to swaddle the baby tighter, when he sleeps.

Loose swaddling

Free or wide swaddling is a more gentle option, in which the baby is given the opportunity to move his legs and arms a little. A variation of this method is wrapping only the lower extremities. In this case, the full straightening of the legs is not performed. On the contrary, they are given a free, relaxed position.

Is it necessary to swaddle a newborn

Pediatricians, based on the results of numerous studies, are advised to take a closer look at the baby's temperament and wrap it up depending on the activity. After the baby is born, it is necessary to swaddle him. After all, it is hard for a newborn baby to get used to the fact that the space around is not limited. The baby may be afraid of the handles, touching their face with them. At this age, it is desirable to leave the limbs of the child free only during therapeutic massage and air procedures. Gradually, after a month, you can not wrap your hands when feeding, not forgetting to put on scratch gloves or a special undershirt with closed sleeves so that the baby does not injure himself with claws. nine0003

Night swaddling

Here all pediatricians agree in opinion - it is possible and necessary to swaddle at night. This must be done in a free way, then your baby will sleep soundly until morning.

Swaddling: How do you keep your baby awake | kidsroom.de

A child wrapped up and sleeping quietly. Only one head peeks out. As if the stork had just brought it. When visiting new parents, one can often see such a scene. When interviewing young parents, we learn that small children are swaddled. The tight wrap is designed to help babies during the first few weeks while sleeping, it has a soothing effect. Swaddling has become a real trend. But still, how does it work and where does this trend come from, and what exactly does "swaddling" mean? nine0003

What is swaddling?

Swaddling is a technique in which your baby is wrapped in a swaddle and has a calming effect on him. The main objective of the technique is to create a narrow and comforting space that is familiar to the child from the womb. In addition, swaddling should have a positive effect on reducing the Moro reflex. This reflex is innate in every child and manifests itself in children from a sudden noise or vibration, the baby jerks his arms and legs and spreads his fingers. From a sudden noise or vibration, the baby jerks and stretches his arms and legs and spreads his fingers. This process occurs during the falling asleep phase, and thus wakes up the child. nine0053 Modern swaddling is not a new invention at all, it is a modification of various and sometimes very old methods of swaddling. In Germany, these methods were widely used until the 19th century.

Modern swaddling is not a new invention at all, it is a modification of various and sometimes very old methods of swaddling.

One of the main differences from traditional methods is that swaddling is now mainly used to calm the baby and provide him with a more pleasant sleep. nine0058 Previously, it was believed that the soft body of the child should be supported and given shape, in connection with this there was a tight "lacing". As criticism of tight swaddling grew louder, it began to disappear from Western culture from the 18th century.

The basic idea of ​​the old method of swaddling, which is widely used today among many primitive peoples, has been revived. A 2011 scientific study by L. E. Meyer and T. Erler (“Swaddling: a traditional care method rediscovered”) claims that swaddled children have longer and more restful sleep. In addition, with the help of swaddling, the likelihood of spontaneous awakening is reduced. nine0003

Benefits

• More restful and longer sleep
• Many babies calm down faster in a diaper
• The risk of SIDS is reduced because the child cannot turn on his stomach
  

Risks

• Doctors warn against swaddling babies too tight as nerves can be pinched
• Risk of hip dysplasia (deformity of the hip joint) is increased
• Swaddling too tight increases the risk of overheating

How to swaddle your baby correctly

Swaddling promotes restful sleep and helps your baby calm down. Swaddling for too long poses risks for poor posture and can lead to overheating, one of the main causes of sudden infant death syndrome. Use swaddling only for falling asleep. You can choose a special changing bag or a thin blanket or diaper. Whichever option you choose, technique matters! Your obstetrician will help you with questions. nine0003

Swaddling made easy

Step 1: Place the blanket in a diamond shape in front of you. Place the top corner over the bottom corner to form a triangle. Put the baby in the middle. The head should protrude above the blanket, and the shoulders should be below the fold of the matter.

Step 2: Place your baby's right hand flat against your body. Now lift the right side of the blanket and put it on the baby. Make sure your hand is properly positioned under the cloth. Tuck the edge of the blanket under the body. nine0098 .

Step 3: Fold the bottom of the blanket up over your baby's legs.

Step 4: In the final step, hold the child's left arm against the body and wrap the child. The remaining material is then pushed under your treasure. Ready!

Important

Make sure you don't wrap the blanket too tightly around your body at all stages.

When to stop swaddling

However, there are situations when you need to stop swaddling. At elevated body temperature of the child, in no case should you swaddle, this threatens to overheat due to the fact that the heat cannot escape. Swaddling with congenital hip dysplasia should also be avoided so as not to aggravate the situation. nine0003

Pay attention to your baby's reactions. As is often the case, even this method is not recommended for all children equally. Whether your child is already having a restful sleep, there is no need to swaddle. For some babies, swaddling has the opposite effect. They don't like to be wrapped, it only annoys them. If you notice that swaddling does not bring comfort to your child, then you should not insist.

When to stop swaddling

Swaddling is used mainly for calming and counteracting the "Moro reflex". It is recommended to swaddle a baby only in the first few weeks of life, as the Moro reflex decreases after the second or third month of life. The desire of the child to move increases with age. Your baby wants freedom of movement to develop motor skills. Swaddling in this case will restrict freedom and thus affect the development of motor skills. The increased joy of movement creates additional risk during swaddling. Your child may roll over on their stomach and will no longer be able to return to the supine position on their own. The prone position increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Especially if the child is not observed for a long time during sleep, swaddling should be abandoned. nine0003

A good alternative to swaddling, recommended for babies after the third month, are baby sleeping bags. They still give a sense of security, but do not restrict freedom of movement.

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