One of the cutest scenes that we all love to see is a sleeping little angel swaddled up like a mini burrito.
What is a swaddling blanket? Is it just decorative wrapping? You may wonder if you are a new parent. Actually, these blankies are meant to help babies, particularly newborns, feel safe and settled.
Swaddling is the best way to calm a newborn baby and also to improve the sleeping hours. Following the right swaddling strategy with swaddle blankets can be effective in making your little angel feel secure and safe same as when they were in the womb.
Once your babies start loving being swaddled, it can lead to less crying and longer sleep hours. This is not a new practice; in fact, it has been around for centuries, and you will really love how helpful this is for you and your baby.
Keep on reading this article till the end to discover more about swaddling blankets.
Table of Contents
What is a swaddle blanket?
Swaddle blankets are a piece of fabric with fasteners, snaps, and zippers that allows you to securely wrap your baby, especially when you are trying to make him sleep at night.
They come in usually square or rectangular designs. They are usually oversized to allow you to wrap your little munchkin several times, tucking it in seamlessly. On the other hand, typical baby blankets have no fixed size or shape and can be made from thicker fabric.
Swaddle blankets are made from fabric that can easily stretch and prevents overheating because the delicate skin of the baby needs to breathe to regulate or maintain the temperature of your child.
So, the fabric of swaddle blankets normally allows a certain amount of air to flow through it.
Moreover, they are very light-weight, and you can find them in a great range of designs and patterns. Swaddle blankies are actually meant to recreate the environment of the mother’s womb and restrict the child’s movements.
Why do I need a swaddle blanket?
During the initial three months after birth that is also known as the “fourth trimester,” it can be hard for newborns to adjust to the outside environment.
But you can greatly help them by creating a womb-like snug environment artificially. Through swaddling, you enable them to feel similar to what they have experienced in the womb-like warmth and comfort.
A newborn is very naïve and not quite familiar with this new environment yet, and so it’s necessary that we can create a mini-world where they can feel secure while they are learning the ways to adjust to this new world. This is particularly true during naptime.
So, to calm a fussy newborn during its nap time—or to stretch the sleeping hours—give swaddle blankets a shot. Swaddle blankets are great for the following reasons:
- It keeps the baby’s arms tight to minimize the startle reflex that could be the reason for their waking up at night.
- Newborns feel secure and comfortable in the tight, womb-like wrap.
- It gives warmth to your baby while they are sleeping without using any loose blankets, which can cause suffocation.
Types of the swaddle blanket
It is wise to try a couple of different swaddles to see which one works best for your baby. Swaddles generally fall into three categories:
- Traditional swaddling blankets: These are typically large, thin blankets that are folded to wrap around your baby like a mini burrito. They keep them tight, snug, and safe. They can be square-shaped of light-weight, breathable fabric with a minimum of 45 inches on each side.
- Swaddling sacks: They are much easier to use, particularly for new parents. They tend to come with many other things like strips, snaps, and zippers to make it easier for you to swaddle.
- Stretchy Pods: As the name indicates, they are made of stretchy, elastic fabric with zippers to cover your little munchkin and keep them swaddled. They do not contain any arm or leg holes to perfectly mimic the enclosed yet somewhat flexible womb environment.
When should you stop using a swaddle?
Most people practice swaddling only during the initial months of their newborn. But it normally depends on the nature of every baby. Many of them will begin to reject swaddling at 2-3 months of age, while some can go smoothly with it up to 6 months.
With that said, the average age when you need to stop swaddling your little munchkin is approximately 3-4 months. Newborns usually have to experience the Moro reflex that is also called startle reflex, which hinders their peaceful nap time — and most of the babies may take around 4-5 months or more to outgrow from it.
That is why you need to be careful if you decide to stop the swaddle too early.
How to use swaddle blankets
When a swaddle blanket is used properly, it can lead to much-required peaceful sleep for the entire family. Follow the below-mentioned steps to get that pro swaddle for your little sweetheart.
- Spread the swaddle blanket out in the shape of a triangle by folding the top corner down.
- Lay your baby on the triangle, with her shoulders at the fold.
- Pick one corner and fold it across the baby while keeping one arm under the fabric. Tuck it securely under the body while leaving the other arm free.
- Pick the bottom corner fold it up.
- Pick the other corner and fold it across the baby while keeping the other arm under the fabric. Tuck it securely under the body.
Conclusion
I hope this article, what is a swaddling blanket, was helpful for you to get your queries answered regarding swaddling and swaddle blankets.
Please keep one thing in mind that the information provided in this article is intended for swaddling babies to help them sleep better. I do not recommend that you need to swaddle your newborn during his wakeful hours, as you should give him time to move and explore the new environment.
But, If you think that swaddling is not working for your baby, then don’t worry. Because, there are a lot of other alternative strategies to help your baby sleep better at night.