Is Swaddling Safe? What you need to know.

Swaddling can help soothe young infants by providing a snug, womb-like feeling, but it must be done safely to reduce risks. The swaddle should be wrapped securely around the baby’s torso while leaving enough room at the hips and legs to move freely, since tight leg wrapping can affect healthy hip development.

Always place a swaddled baby on their back to sleep, and stop swaddling once they show signs of rolling over, as this increases the risk of suffocation. Using a lightweight, breathable swaddle and ensuring the wrap isn’t too tight around the chest can also help keep the baby safe and comfortable.  

That's why we asked Allyson Ward, a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, to give her expert opinion.

How can parents be sure they are swaddling safely?

Fortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a few guidelines for parents.

1. Always place babies to sleep on their backs. This greatly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
2. When a baby looks like they're trying to roll over, they shouldn't be swaddled with their arms in anymore. An arms out sleep sack is safer at this stage.
3. The baby swaddle does not cover their head or face. The Swaddelini keeps fabric clear from the face.
4. The room temperature should be 72 degrees or less. If it is warmer, extra layers can cause a baby to overheat.
5. The sleep sack should not be too tight around the hips. This can cause hip dysplasia.
6. Allyson suggests using a sleep sack instead of a swaddle blanket to keep babies safe from loose blankets while they sleep.

Swaddling is a beneficial practice for most infants. Following these guidelines helps you keep your infant sleeping safely.

Why don't some parents want to swaddle?

Some parents do not want to introduce a behavior that they will have to wean their baby from. For example, some parents do not give their child a pacifier for the fear of having to take it away. This fear is totally normal, but the benefits to swaddling greatly outweigh this drawback.

And, Swaddelini offers transition sleep sacks to help with the transition from sleep sack to blankets.

Parents may have negative feelings about being contained. This can cause them to feel anxiety about putting their baby in a swaddling blanket or sleep sack.

However, most babies, especially premature babies, have fewer episodes of crying when swaddled. This is because swaddling reminds them of the containment they had in the womb.

If you are looking for a sleep sack for your baby, check out the Swaddelini.