Technique of closed wide swaddling of a newborn.

Should I swaddle my baby?

Not so long ago, the question “to swaddle or not” was not raised at all. The newborn was taken from the maternity hospital in the form of a swaddled little bag, because that was the custom and custom. The rules on how to swaddle children have been passed down from generation to generation. Young mothers stubbornly followed the canons of that era, learning from their elders the correct method of swaddling a baby.

Nowadays, views on many things concerning children have changed, so the decision on the need to swaddle a particular child remains with his parents and the observing pediatrician.

Swaddling will be indicated for restless babies who are clearly more comfortable in a confined space that reminds them of the period of being in their mother's belly. A newborn who wakes himself up every now and then by throwing up his arms, gets scared and cries will probably perceive swaddling favorably, and his parents will be able to worry less about the baby.

Pros and cons of swaddling newborns

Let's look at the main positive and negative aspects associated with swaddling a baby.

The benefits of swaddling

• Swaddling makes it easier to fall asleep and makes the sleep itself more restful, and therefore longer. The baby will probably sleep longer if he is swaddled than if he is not swaddled (provided that the baby is dry, warm and not hungry).
• The newborn feels safe in such a cocoon created by the diaper, associating it with the world in which he lived before birth.
• The “wide swaddling” method serves as a prevention of hip dysplasia, but is used only on the recommendation of a specialist.
• Some parents find it much easier to change a diaper than to change into modern bodysuits and slips.
• When a baby is swaddled, the head is most often fixed a little too. This is very helpful for young parents who, due to inexperience, may forget to hold the child’s head.

Minuses

• “Tight swaddling” interferes with the physiological development of infants’ limbs, creating various pathologies. This technique is not recommended and is almost never used on a regular basis these days.
• The risk of overheating is slightly higher if you swaddle your baby. Of course, you need to think about what the baby will wear and how thick and dense the diaper is used to avoid this. It is important to remember that in such a “cocoon” the temperature is higher than in its absence and free air circulation around.
• Excessive swaddling can affect the physical development of the child. It is not recommended to swaddle during the waking period; children should be given freedom for active movements.

Popular questions from young mothers

Even while waiting for the baby to arrive, pregnant women watch mothers and their babies to gain some experience. Mothers see that babies in diapers sleep better in the stroller and are less capricious. It seems that they are quite comfortable: they are in a safe position, they do not bother themselves with their hands and impulsive movements in their sleep. But how to master the types of swaddling of a newborn, how to do it correctly?

It is during this period that you need to master the swaddling technique, learn on a large “newborn” doll. It’s good if you have an experienced relative or friend who will wrap the baby in a diaper in the first month of life. It is useful to observe the baby’s reaction and the mother’s algorithm of actions. If these actions are skillful, then it is comfortable for the child in the “pocket” of the diaper to breathe and move his arms and legs.

But you can also notice that after a few months the child, who was swaddled, tries to free himself from the “captivity” of the fabric. Then another question arises: “Until what age should children be swaddled?”

On women's forums, where mothers exchange experiences, different opinions are expressed, but everyone agrees on one thing - it is recommended not to swaddle very tightly only in the first months of a newborn's life, and then, depending on the baby's reaction and actions.

Questions that interest young mothers

• Which diapers to choose?

Definitely made from natural fabrics. In winter - a warm flannel jacket (or its analogues), in summer - linen or cotton (hygroscopic materials). There are also Velcro swaddles or changing envelopes for newborns: they are very convenient, especially when there is no experience.

• How many times a day should you swaddle your baby?

No one has counted, but little children are turned around for bathing and changing clothes, massage and simple exercises. Some people only swaddle during stroller walks and at night (bedtime).

• There is an opinion that tight swaddling can correct crooked legs, is this true?

Observations were made, and modern doctors did not find confirmation of this theory. Incorrect swaddling technique can cause damage to developing hip joints, and the legs gradually straighten out on their own.

• How to secure the edges of diapers: can you use ties, elastic bands, safety pins and Velcro?

Children grow quickly, and the size for which all these fasteners are designed becomes small: the elastic band squeezes, the Velcro has to be adjusted weekly, and the pin can come undone and prick the baby without the mother noticing. When swaddling is done correctly, the corners or ends are folded over the fold.

• Is it safe to leave a swaddled baby unattended for a short time?

You should not leave your baby unattended on a smooth surface without edges. An active baby is able to move to the edge of the changing table and fall while the mother is distracted by something or walks away for a minute.

• What to do if your baby doesn’t like being in diapers?

Some mothers notice that children do not like being wrapped in cloth. They are probably wrapped too tightly and this is making it difficult for the baby to breathe, swallow and make sounds. You don’t have to swaddle, if there is an alternative - comfortable envelopes and vests with closed fingers, so that a slightly older baby does not scratch himself with his hands. However, in the first weeks after birth, it is better to wrap up, even with your head, to maintain body temperature.

In most cases, newborns are comfortable in swaddles, it is warming, soothing and relaxing, provided they are swaddled correctly.

The air environment where a newborn finds itself after birth differs from the comfort of the mother’s womb. Comfortable swaddling partially compensates for this feeling of security. But this time quickly passes, and when the baby needs freedom of movement, the need for diapers disappears. As a rule, this period ends with the standard period of breastfeeding - up to six months.

Types of swaddling

It turns out that you can also swaddle a baby in different ways, and in the modern world there are even special devices for those who have not fully mastered this skill.

Tight swaddling

The diaper wraps tightly around the baby's body: the arms are pressed to the body, the legs are fixed (there are options when they can swaddle the head). This method significantly complicates any movement of the child.

Tight swaddling was actively used earlier and was accepted everywhere, because it was believed that this way the newborn sleeps better and develops correctly. Modern science says otherwise.

This method is not physiological for a newborn, therefore it leads not only to psychological discomfort, but can also provoke disturbances in physical development.

Free swaddling

This method has two subtypes: classic with fixation of handles and without.

In the first case, all the limbs end up in a kind of envelope, inside which the newborn will move them, but will no longer be able to pull them out. For such swaddling, the baby’s arms are not extended along the body, but are often crossed on the chest, as this is more physiological. The legs remain in a free position.

In the second option, only the lower limbs need to be swaddled, forming a “bag” for sleeping. At the same time, motor activity is not particularly limited, because the fixation is very easy. The newborn's arms and chest remain open.

Wide swaddling

Wide swaddling is used when a newborn has problems in the correct formation of the hip joints (underdevelopment of the hip joint, dysplasia, etc.), that is, according to indications from a doctor. The peculiarity of this type of fixation is that the child’s legs take the pose of a “frog” or the letter “M”.

To swaddle a baby using this method, you need to place a roll of several diapers between the legs, give the baby’s limbs the desired position, and only then secure them. The handles are left free.

How to swaddle a newborn correctly - step-by-step swaddling diagram

Today there are many different ways to secure a baby’s limbs during sleep. Let's look at the main types of swaddling.

Tight

The most common type in the post-Soviet countries.

Sequencing:

1. Spread the diaper in the shape of a diamond and slightly tuck its top edge inward (10-15 cm).
2. Place the baby on the back so that the top of the fabric is at the base of the baby's neck.
3. Take the edge of the fabric under your newborn's left arm and wrap it around his body and arm, tucking the edge under his back.
4. Do the same with the opposite edge.
5. Raise the bottom of the diaper to the baby’s elbow and secure it.

Today, this type is practically not used, since the “soldier” position is unnatural for newborns and interferes with their normal development.

Free with handles

With this format, the baby’s legs are not fixed in one position, so he feels as comfortable as possible, and the risk of overheating is reduced.

The loose swaddling pattern is not much different from tight swaddling. Except that the fabric does not stretch, and the baby’s arms and legs are not aligned along the body, but retain some mobility. This effect can be achieved by placing the bottom edge of the fabric under the legs.

Australian

This method also allows the baby to move his limbs freely, but at the same time prevents startling and awakening.

Scheme:

1. Place the baby on a diaper, the top edge of which is turned back 20-25 cm and touches the base of the neck.
2. Place your hands in the resulting pockets.
3. Follow the loose swaddling technique.

With this method, the hands are located close to the face, which allows the baby to calm himself by sucking his fist.

Open

When the Moro reflex begins to subside and the child is no longer afraid of his own hands, you can move on to the open method. Free hands allow the child to take the most comfortable sleeping position.

To fix the lower body, you need to:

1. Place the baby on his back so that the top edge of the diaper touches his shoulder blades.
2. Fold one part of the diaper so that it wraps around the leg.
3. Wrap the other edge around the body at the armpit level.
4. Wrap the loose bottom over the legs and fold the edges to form an envelope.

When straightening the diaper, it is important to ensure that folds do not form, which can cause discomfort to the child.

Wide

This method is usually used for medical reasons. When, for health reasons, a child needs to support his legs in the so-called “M-position” or “frog” position.

Sequencing:

1. Place the baby on a swaddle folded into a triangle. Its upper border should be at the level of the lower back or slightly higher.
2. Spread your baby's legs and bend them at the knees at an angle of 90°.
3. Place a diaper, rolled into a roll 15-20 cm wide, between your legs.
4. Pass the bottom edge of the fabric between the legs.
5. Wrap the loose corners around your hips and fold them into the folds of the fabric.

If necessary, the legs can be wrapped with additional fabric according to the principle of free swaddling without handles.

"Diaper"

Regular use of modern diapers can cause diaper rash and rashes. You can solve the problem by using a homemade cloth diaper. For this:

1. Fold the fabric in half into a rectangle.
2. Roll the diaper again to make a square.
3. Pull the top left edge towards you, towards the right edge.
4. Take the triangle by the base and turn it over, folding the extra fabric in the middle.
5. Place the child in the center of the structure and pull the “liner” between the child’s legs.
6. Wrap the wings in the diaper around your hips, tucking the ends into folds of fabric.

With such a diaper, the newborn's skin will always remain dry.

"Envelope" in a blanket

The method is perfect for walks and involves covering the baby's head with the free edge of the blanket.

Algorithm:

1. Lay the baby diagonally across the blanket.
2. Wrap first one handle and then the other into the corresponding edges of the fabric, placing them behind the back.
3. Place the bottom of the blanket on top and secure the envelope with tape.

On the street, the top edge of the blanket can be draped over the baby's head.

Are there any differences between swaddling boys and girls?

Despite the obvious physiological difference between a boy and a girl, there are no differences in their swaddling. The only possible difference is the color of the diapers.

Free swaddling technology

Since the method of freely swaddling children is the most correct, from the point of view of physiology, and preferable at this stage of the development of science, we will use its example to consider the technology of this process.

We will need a clean diaper measuring 0.9 by 1.2 m.

Lay it out on the changing table or surface where you want to swaddle your newborn. We turn the upper edge, where the head will be, slightly inward to make the place of contact with the skin less traumatic.

We place the baby on top of the diaper so that its upper edge is located under the head (approximately at the level of the back of the head). We slightly press one hand to the body or place it on the chest, pick up the corresponding free edge of the diaper, cover the baby with it from above and move the end behind the back. Similarly, we fix the other hand using the diaper remaining on the opposite side. Don't forget to do it loosely enough, not tightly.

To secure the legs, take the lower end of the diaper, wrap it slightly inward and throw it over the baby’s legs. Next, one by one we bring the corners of the diaper behind the back and straighten it. We fix the last free edge of the diaper by slipping it into the resulting pocket so that the finished bag does not unfold.

If you want to swaddle a newborn without arms, then the technology will be similar, excluding the first stage. It is better to take a slightly smaller diaper, or fold a larger one.

In this option, you need to place a diaper not under the back of the baby’s head, but at the level of the armpits and, raising your arms, swaddle according to the algorithm given earlier.

Changing accessories

A diaper is a classic attribute that is used for swaddling. However, now there are many other devices that help those mothers and fathers who have not fully mastered this skill to cope with the process.

Instead of a standard diaper or as an addition to it, the modern production of children's goods offers sleeping bags for newborns, diapers with Velcro and zippers, with closed and free handles. A lot of colors and materials in different price categories allow you to choose an option that suits you and your baby.

I would also like to mention the changing table or overhead mattresses for the crib. Such devices greatly simplify life for young parents, because the swaddling process takes place at a comfortable height, which means there is no unnecessary strain on the back.

It’s up to you to decide which swaddling method is correct and suitable for your child, because to decide, you need to try it. Some babies really gravitate to swaddling and feel better, pleasing their parents with good sleep and good mood. Of course, if swaddling a baby is more stressful for you, but the baby is comfortable as is, then there is no need to insist. A healthy baby who has no indication for wide swaddling will develop correctly and harmoniously, even without this process.

Factors against swaddling

• It is difficult to control a baby's thermoregulation: warm diapers can overheat him, causing heat rash. It is important to constantly monitor whether the baby is sweating; it is necessary to have enough vests and wide diapers for a change.
• Tight swaddling compresses the chest, interferes with free breathing, can slow down the baby's development and provoke some defects. Therefore, after 2 months you should abandon this method.
• Kids themselves choose a comfortable position for sleeping or waking. Most often they lie on their tummy, and in diapers it is difficult for them to roll over into a comfortable position or move their arms and legs. The baby may be capricious only for this reason, and the mother tries to swaddle him tighter again, feed him, or look for another reason for dissatisfaction.