How to swaddle your baby – tips for the safest swaddle
Swaddling babies is an age-old tradition practiced by many cultures. Swaddling is when you wrap a small baby snugly in a blanket, mimicking the snug, comforting feeling of being in the womb. Although swaddling is widely practiced, improper swaddling can be dangerous.
Not to worry though - we've got all the details about how to swaddle your baby safely!
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that is safe to swaddle your baby – however, only if some guidelines are followed.
First of all, a baby should never be swaddled and then placed on his side or stomach. Always lay a swaddled baby on his back.
When swaddling, you should never wrap your baby’s hips and legs tightly. Babies need to be able to bend up and out at the hips, and let their legs fall out to the side.. Tightly wrapping the hips and legs straight down can cause hip dysplasia and dislocation.
You should stop swaddling your baby when she starts to try to turn herself over. You can switch to a bedtime sleeper instead to keep baby snug and warm while sleeping.
As long as these safety precautions are followed, swaddling your baby is really easy – as easy as 1-2-3-4!
- Fold your swaddle blanket in half to form a triangle. Place baby in the center with her shoulders about level with the straight edge.
- Wrap one side of the blanket over baby’s arm and chest, tucking the end under the baby.
- Bring the bottom corner of the snuggle blanked up and tuck it under the baby’s chin. Remember to keep those hips loose!
- Bring the last side of the blanket across baby’s body and tuck it gently underneath her.
And that’s all there is to it! The weight of the baby will keep the swaddle in place.
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Swaddling is a great way to sooth a fussy baby for bedtime, and it’s also a great Instagram photo opportunity! Who doesn’t love a cute little baby burrito?
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We’d love to see your swaddle photos in our super soft, super cute swaddle blankets! Tag us on Instagram @bebeaulait and hashtage #bebeaulaitallday for a feature on our page!
