Baby

Risks And Benefits Of Swaddling A Baby

swaddling a baby

Swaddling is acknowledged as an extremely useful baby intervention. There are times, however, when it may be dangerous if it is not achieved using the correct method. Swaddling a baby is generally introduced for infants under the age of one month. Swaddling may trigger constraints on the infant’s movements and development for children above that age.

What is swaddling?

Swaddling is the old practice of wrapping your child snugly in a thin sheet or blanket to assist her to feel safe and secure.

For centuries, swaddling has been used by many cultures. As a manner to assist children to feel more settled and as a manner to assist them to sleep. It is becoming more common in the UK. Now as parents find swaddling to help soothe their child and decrease excessive weeping.

It’s up to you whether or not you decide to swaddle your child. But knowing swaddling’s hazards and advantages can assist you to decide what’s correct for you and your child.

Why Swaddle Your Baby?

  • Swaddling is performed by soothing the child to enhance the baby’s sleep.
  • It may be hard at first, and the child may even be frustrated. But this method ultimately enhances sleep calm, peaceful and better.
  • It increases the baby’s neuro-muscular growth.
  • By keeping the babies on their back during sleep, it helps to reduce the danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and its impacts.
  • It enables babies to sleep for an extended period of time without interruption.
  • It helps to recreate the womb space and during the first month, it comforts the child with a familiar environment.

How to Swaddle a Baby?

While swaddling is accompanied by many methods, the most popular method is described below.

swaddling a baby

Image Source – BING

  • Place the blanket horizontally to swaddle, with one edge folded.
  • Place the child face-up on the blanket, over the folded top with his head.
  • Align your left arm and wrap the left side of the blanket over your body and tuck it between your right knee and your body’s right side.
  • Then placed down the right arm and wrap the right side of the blanket under the left side over its body.
  • Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely by placing it below the baby’s one hand.
  • Make sure the hips of the baby can move and the blanket doesn’t get too tight.

Note that baby swaddle is a double-edged sword because it has equal advantages and disadvantages based on the method used to swaddle a child.

The swaddling method can trigger interference between children and parents in bonding and attachment. A few prevalent physical issues are also observed. Because of inaccurate swaddling, the significant physical difficulties your child may face are:

1. Overheating:

Overheating is one possible danger if the child is not correctly swaddled. The child may not be able to move freely within, which can lead to an increase in body temperature

2. Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a medical condition that impedes hip growth and development because it is locked up in an immovable state. The femur bone movement inside the socket promotes modifications in the joints whenever the children move their legs. Otherwise, the socket becomes a plate-like structure that leads to shallow sockets that cause hip motion problems. This may influence the long-term functioning of the joints

3. Respiratory Tract Problems:

When a child is tightly swaddled, the capacity to breathe is restricted, which could lead to the syndrome of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS). The right way to swallow a child should be followed or the probability of diseases in the upper respiratory tract rises.

When to Stop Swaddling a Baby:

One of the biggest issues that all mothers have when to stop swaddling. Swaddling is a method that can restrict limb motion. Limb motion is vital for muscle and central nervous system growth. f your child looks like he is attempting to roll over, you should consider stopping swaddling. Many children learn from 4-6 months to do this.

Can You Swaddle A Baby At Night?

Yes. Swaddling can be done at night, but to ensure that the baby gets good sleep, the right procedures must be followed. You can swaddle for 4-5 months if you pursue the correct methods and precautions.

 

Precautions 

If you want to swaddle your child, there are a few precautions to be followed.

  • It is not suggested to allow a swaddled child to sleep on their stomach place as it may boost the danger of SIDS. They are swaddled and held to prevent suffocation and breathlessness with their back lying on the ground.
  • The baby’s health in conjunction with his / her respiratory pace plays a vital role in choosing to what extent they can be swaddled. Make sure the child is carried for regular check-ups before the swaddling goes ahead.
  • The material used to swaddle can be used to help minimize the associated swaddling after-effects. Generally, to prevent any physical pain, lighter and softer blankets are used to wrap children.
  • It is not recommended that children swaddle very tightly. Parents sometimes do this to prevent the child from readily freeing up and getting hurt. On the other side, holding the child tightly would impede breathing and trigger dislocation along with dysplasia.
  • A movement monitor can help monitor the baby’s motions when swaddled for longer periods of time and help parents look for signs of warning. If these little precautions are followed, it is not necessary for parents to worry about how long to swaddle child.

Swaddling enables parents to sleep with their kids. Infants need all the rest they can get during their first month in the outside world. Although there are some intrinsic risks, it will guarantee that the child is secure and sound using the correct swaddling methods.

 

Also Read: How To Get A Baby To Sleep In A Crib

 

 

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