How do I swaddle a baby?
Definition
Swaddling is a special swaddling technique in which the babies are tied tightly with the help of a cloth. Infants are wrapped tightly in a cloth so that they can move little or not at all. There are different opinions regarding the duration of swaddling, the wrapping technique and the tightness or tightness of the towels. The idea behind swaddling is to give the baby a fixed range of motion. Infants lose freedom of movement in their arms and legs. This should have a calming effect on children and also promote sleep.
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Babies should only be tied tightly and tightly within the first 14 days, and the swaddling should remain loose. This method was used for centuries but disappeared over the course of the 19th century. Both positive and negative effects of this winding method are still very controversial.
Instructions for correct swaddling
There are several methods of swaddling children. It should be noted that the baby is wrapped tightly enough to take advantage of the swaddle, but not too tight either, because otherwise it can become a burden for the baby and in the worst case even be dangerous. The child should always have free airways and their chest should not be too narrow. Children who have a problem with their hips, such as hip dysplasia, should never be swaddled as this prevents the hip socket from maturing!
Children, whether swaddled or not, should never be placed on their stomach or side to sleep without supervision.In addition, febrile infants should not be swaddled as this prevents them from getting rid of the excessive heat. For swaddling you need a cloth that is shaped like a square. The sides of the square should be about as long or slightly longer than the child. It is also possible to use special swaddling clothes.
The easiest way to do this is to lay the blanket on the floor so that it forms a diamond. The top corner is then folded towards the middle. The infant is then placed on the blanket with the neck on the crease. Then the first side - in our example the left side - is folded over the child. It is important that the left arm is firmly attached to the body. The blanket is then pulled tightly over the body (and thus the left arm). The left corner is then tapped under the infant's body, the right arm remains free. In order to prevent pressure points, the blanket should then be smoothed out under the child. The easiest way to do this is to roll the baby slightly onto its left side and then remove the folds of fabric. The hips and legs should still be mobile.
Next, the bottom corner is then folded. The lower point is struck under the right shoulder. The right arm must be pulled downwards. All wrinkles should also be smoothed out here. Finally, the last corner is pulled tightly to the opposite side and hit under the child. The infant is thus restricted in its movement. There is also the option of using a sleeping bag or special swaddle bags. These swaddle bags are then attached using Velcro fasteners. Some infants are highly active and strong enough to break away from swaddling. There are also special puck belts for this, which are designed to press the child's arms tightly against the body so that the infant is no longer able to get off the blanket.
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Benefits of swaddling
Swaddling is a special wrapping technique that has certain advantages. Newborns are wrapped tightly together and thus get a feeling of security and security. In addition, swaddling also creates a pleasant warm temperature for the babies. The tightness and warmth caused by swaddling resemble the atmosphere of the mother's stomach. Swaddling has a calming and soothing effect. The tightness also prevents involuntary movements of the infant and reduces the reflexes to move and the urge to move. This prevents infants from waking up and crying from their own movements. Swaddling leads to a longer and calmer sleep. In addition, swaddling can calm restless babies or so-called screaming children more quickly than other methods. As a result, babies are calmer and the duration and frequency of crying are significantly reduced. Because the children cannot move, the acceptance of the supine position demands. This means that swaddled children can cope better with sleeping on their backs, which reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. However, swaddled children should never be placed on their stomachs, as this in turn greatly increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
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Disadvantages of swaddling
The disadvantages of swaddling include various disease risks. Swaddling that is too tight is generally advised as this can restrict the infant's chest movement when breathing in and out. This can cause shortness of breath, especially if the infant is agitated or screaming and needs more oxygen. Swaddling can also increase the risk of infection as the lungs are restricted in their function. Another disadvantage is the assessment of the tightness when swaddling. Swaddling can also lead to nerve entrapment if the swaddling cloth is either too tight, too tight, or incorrectly applied. In the long term, nerve entrapment can lead to restricted mobility and sensory disturbances up to complete paralysis of the extremities. Due to the lack of space, swaddling prevents effective air circulation. With a high temperature or a fever, the baby can give off less heat and even increase his temperature even more. Since swaddling makes children unable to move, swaddled infants should never be placed on their stomachs to sleep. In this context, the risk of sudden infant death syndrome is extremely higher. Swaddling also has a negative impact on hip development. The tightness and lack of movement prevent the formation of the femoral head. For this reason, children who suffer from hip dysplasia (hip malformation) should not be swaddled.
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Risks and Dangers
Swaddling can have a very positive effect on restless children, but it does come with a few risks and dangers. The main danger of swaddling is suffocation. If the baby is swaddled too tightly, the movement of the chest can be restricted and breathing becomes difficult. If the swaddled child is laid on their stomach while sleeping, they cannot turn to the side and can suffocate in their sleep. Swaddles can also lead to nerve entrapment. This can lead to significant restrictions in mobility and sensory functions, up to and including complete paralysis of the affected body parts. Swaddling should be avoided, especially if the hip is deformed. This winding technique restricts the movement of the hips and prevents the hip socket from maturing. This can lead to severe hip problems during puberty. Swaddling also prevents the infant from releasing heat and can encourage elevated temperatures and rises in fever. By restricting the heat dissipation, increased sweating can lead to skin rashes and further skin infections. Furthermore, the restricted ability to breathe also promotes the development of infections of the respiratory tract.
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How can I stop my child from swaddling?
Swaddling is a good swaddling technique to calm babies, but you shouldn't swaddle infants indefinitely. It is important that infants learn to calm down on their own and without assistance. For this reason, swaddling should be stopped from a certain age (recommended from the 14th day of life). However, abruptly stopping is not the best solution and for this reason the infant should be slowly weaned from swaddling. There are several ways to get an infant away from swaddling. The simplest solution is to loosen the swaddle night after night until it is no longer needed. In this way, the child can slowly get used to the feeling of free mobility again, but at the beginning remains tightly wrapped by the swaddle and remains calm. Another solution is to swap the swaddle bag for a sleeping bag. Both are similar and enable a smooth transition phase. There is also the possibility to leave the choice of the time to the child and simply to wait until they don't feel like swaddling anymore. However, this has the disadvantage that you may have to swaddle longer than originally intended. A general measure is to improve the sleeping atmosphere: no toys that make noises, lullabies play quietly in the background, a sleep ritual and so on. When infants are old and strong enough to turn on their own, prone position may also be considered. However, this should be observed in the first few nights.
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What should I do if she fights the baby?
Swaddling is a restriction of the infant's movement and can therefore be perceived as uncomfortable by some children. In order to slowly get the baby used to swaddling, you should first tie the swaddling cloth loosely. Step by step you can then tie the swaddle tighter and tighter (of course not too tight!). So the child should slowly get used to swaddling. Another alternative is to lightly spray the swaddle with the perfume of the mother or caregiver. This can also help calm the child. However, if the baby continues to resist swaddling, you shouldn't force the swaddling on the child. Not all infants are puck-affine and accordingly you should try it slowly and give up if necessary. Forcing the swaddling on can lead to the fact that the infant can no longer find peace and is accordingly all the more excited.
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Can I swaddle my baby in summer?
The principle of swaddling is that babies are tied tightly so that they can move less and thus come to rest better. The fabric of the swaddle and the tightness make it less effective for babies to control their temperature. As a side effect of swaddling, the infant therefore emits less heat. In the summer months, when temperatures are generally higher, it is then all the more difficult for babies to give off their excess heat. If you want to swaddle your baby in the summer months, you should pay particular attention to the child's temperature. Children who have a high temperature or fever should not be swaddled under any circumstances.
