I’ve heard a million reasons why people DON’T swaddle their newborn babies:
- My baby fights the swaddle.
- She pops out anyway so why bother.
- I don’t want her to get addicted to it.
- She cries when we try to swaddle her.
- I heard that it’s not good for them.
- I want her to get exercise so her arms should be free.
- I want her to practice getting her hands into her mouth so she can self-soothe.
These are all bunk. You should be swaddling your newborn baby. It will make them and you happier! Older babies may or may not need to be swaddled. Most are done by 3 months but don’t worry if your 6 or 9 month old still needs to be swaddled. There is no rush! I promise you will not be sending your 10-year-old off to summer camp with a giant Star Wars swaddle blanket.
Top 5 Reasons to Swaddle Your Newborn Baby
Reduce SIDS
In 2007 the Journal of Pediatrics did a meta-study of research on swaddling. One of the many positive results was that swaddling reduces the rate of SIDS. The current assumption is that swaddling makes it hard for newborn babies to inadvertently cover their heads or face with bedding and decreases their ability to flip over onto their stomachs, both of which have been linked to higher rates of SIDS in newborn babies.
Safety Note: Never put baby to sleep on their stomach. Never EVER put a swaddled baby to sleep on their stomach. If your baby is able to flip from their back to their stomach WHILE swaddled, then your swaddling days are over. Swaddling is only to be used for babies on their backs. Being swaddled while sleeping on their stomach creates a greater risk of SIDS than sleeping on their stomach alone.
Basis for soothing
Swaddling your baby may not immediately soothe your crying baby or lull them instantly to sleep. In fact the process of being swaddled may make them frustrated and thus (briefly) cry more loudly, convincing some parents that their babies “hate” the swaddle. But swaddling creates the foundation for which other soothing techniques (white noise, motion, etc.) build upon. Start with the swaddle and then layer on additional soothing techniques (pacifier, loud white noise, movement) to calm a crying baby and encourage sleep.
Improved neuromuscular development
Many people feel that a newborn needs to have their hands free so that they can practice using their arms, figure out how to get their hands into their mouths so they can self-soothe by sucking on fingers, etc. However most of the movement of your newborn baby’s limbs is actually unintentional and random. Immobilizing their arms actually helps them to develop better motor skill organization. Swaddling is especially helpful for premature babies.
Cry Less
Babies cry regardless of what level of mastery in baby soothing you have achieved or how easily soothed your baby is. However, in addition to helping other soothing techniques to work more effectively (See #4) – swaddling alone seems to result in a 28% reduction in crying.
Sleep Better!
Your newborn baby will sleep better and sleep longer if you put them to sleep while swaddled. Swaddling prevents newborn babies from startling themselves awake with random arm movements. And swaddling “stimulates sleep continuity.” This is a quote from the Pediatrics study that is a fancy doctor way of saying that it helps them to sleep longer. While newborns are renowned for their ability to take itty bitty naps all day long, certainly our goal is to help them settle into longer continuous windows of sleep. And swaddling will help them to do that quite effectively!
Linda on 
Laura on 
So true! Many people tell me their baby didn’t like being swaddled but then I swaddled their baby and put him to sleep pretty quickly. They were shocked.
Lol! That’s funny!!
*grin* Thanks
Alexis recently posted..Are You Making these Baby Sleep Mistakes?
I’m right there with you! I am by no means a baby whisperer (my sleep partner Kellie is however) but even I can wrangle one of those “I hate swaddles” baby into a swaddle and then off to sleep.
I am a TOTAL fan of swaddling! Both my children have been/are much happier when they were/are swaddled!! I like to use the wraps that come with velcro on them-they never come undone by themselves if done right, no matter how much wriggling my little one does!!
I tried swaddle blankets for AGES because I thought that it was what “cool” mommies did. I would reswaddle, baby burst out, reswaddle, burst out, reswaddle. So I figured it was OK to be the uncool mommy if it meant I could sleep for 4 solid hours so voila – velcro swaddle blankets!
Alexis recently posted..What You Need to Know About Sleeping Through the Night – Part I
Hello
I stopped swaddling my baby weeks ago and she does sleep like a dream at night but my main problem is she will only have 30-40 minute naps in the day and seems exhausted when she wakes.
My question is… Can I start swaddling her again or have I left it too long?
She is now 9 weeks old and at night she goes down
7-10pm (feed at 10)
11-4am (feed at 4ish)
Wakes at 7or 8
This is all good for my sleep but I want her to feel happier and more rested in the day….
9 weeks is pretty early to stop the swaddle so I would definitely re-introduce it and see how things go. They may NOT make things better but I doubt they’ll make anything worse. Short naps are a common problem. Are you also using other soothing aids to help her sleep (white noise, pacifier, swing)? Those combined may help her take longer naps.
You might want to check out the article below on short napping….
Alexis recently posted..Your Nemesis, The Short Nap
Does swaddling get easier? For example, if my 8 week old fights it but I remain persistent will he eventually come to expect it with out all the cajoling that comes with it? Do I have to be consistent as well? Can some naps be without swaddling or say I’m too tired in the middle of night to reswaddle after feeding, will that impact the protocol ?? Thanks!!
Let me not really answer your question and ask YOU a question – does your 8 week old fuss in the swaddle and then sleep better/longer than she does WITHOUT the swaddle? The key to the swaddle is not how they respond to the immediate swaddling process but the outcome of swaddling (longer better sleep).
If not swaddling here and there makes NO difference in the quality of the sleep then maybe you don’t need to swaddle. If having her NOT swaddled doesn’t make it HARDER for her to fall asleep at nap time/bed time, then maybe it’s OK for her NOT to be swaddled.
But if you don’t do it and she’s up more often? Then I would fight the swaddle fight.
Consistency will start to bite you in the butt in a few months but for now, you should have some flexibility around routines/swaddling, etc. to play with. Good luck!
Alexis recently posted..Baby Sleep: What is Normal?
Hi Alexis. Firstly, thanks for this awesome website. It has really opened my eyes and wished I had read all of this before giving birth! To answer your question, I am struggling to get naps/sleep in especially later in the afternoon through midnight without the use of a bouncing ball. At bedtime, we try the sidebed co-sleeper but baby invariably awakens within 40 minutes (about 7-8PM) then he comes in bed with me either after bouncing on an exercise ball (swaddled) or nursing (non swaddled). I have not found, especially at night that the swaddling increased the sleep time. He does flail his arms and i’m not giving up yet on the swaddling but last night in desperation, I let him sleep in the crook of my arm (not swaddled) and I at least got some hours of deeper sleep. I have also tried the swing and white noise but the sound of the swing drives me and my husband crazy. I may use it as a daytime took but the baby seems more amused by the swing (no music etc) than sleepy. Still hoping that he’ll turn the corner soon…
Late afternoon naps are often a struggle. I would probably opt for a walk in the stroller, car ride, or baby wearing. But if ball bouncing suits for you then OK.
But I swear, when you tell me this kid LOVES to sleep while being bounced on the ball I think, “Baby is a motion junkie! Put him in the swing!” The swing will be a much more effective way to keep him happy AND will give you a nice tool to help him learn to sleep without you. Pulling him into bed is great if you’re happy co-sleeping but if not, embrace the swing.
Why is your swing so loud? Is it made out of wood? Did you buy it from a bazaar in Turkey? I find the Fisher Price Pampasan to be relatively quiet (especially if you’re using white noise you’ll barely hear it). Long term this is going to be a great way to help your baby sleep without you. Unless you are happy co-sleeping in which case ignore everything I just said.