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Debunking the Myths About Swaddling
Picture this: you've spent months in a cozy, secure cocoon, where warmth and darkness envelop you, and you're always accompanied by the soothing sounds of your mother's body. Suddenly, you're thrust into a world of bright lights, loud noises, and unfamiliar sensations, all on your own. It's a monumental shift for anyone, let alone a tiny newborn.
But fear not, because there's a simple way to help ease this transition for your little one: swaddling. By recreating the snug, comforting environment of the womb, swaddling can work wonders in making your baby feel safe, secure, and comforted.
From the moment they're born, babies exhibit what's known as the Moro Reflex, or startle reflex, where they involuntarily flail their arms and legs as if startled. This reflex can disrupt their sleep, leading to frequent awakenings. However, swaddling helps to mitigate this reflex by providing gentle pressure and support, allowing your baby to sleep more soundly—and giving you the gift of a better night's sleep as well!
Despite its many benefits, swaddling can sometimes be shrouded in myths and misconceptions, leaving new parents feeling uncertain and apprehensive. So, let's debunk some of these common swaddling myths once and for all!
HERE ARE FOUR COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SWADDLING
Myth 1: Babies Don't like Swaddling
This is one of the biggest myths about swaddling!! You hear it all the time “my baby didn’t like being swaddled”.
The truth is all newborn babies like being swaddled as it helps calm the startle reflex the first few months of life, but not all babies like being swaddled the same way.
It might be the way that you are swaddling your baby that they don’t like, or it may be too tight or too loose for them.
So, this means that you might need to change it up and try a new technique… which brings us to myth number 2.
In contrast, pink noise features lower frequencies, resulting in a softer, more soothing sound compared to white noise. Imagine the rhythmic thump of a heartbeat, the gentle crash of ocean waves, the pitter-patter of rainfall, or the delicate rustle of leaves in a breeze—all examples of the tranquil tones of pink noise.
Myth 2: All babies need to be swaddled a certain way
Nope!!! There really is no right or wrong way to swaddle a baby, as long as you are still adhering to the AAP Guidelines for Safe Sleep.
Every baby is unique, and their preferences for swaddling can vary greatly. While some babies may feel most comfortable with their arms up, others may prefer their arms down or by their chest. As a piece of advice to new parents, I always recommend observing the various swaddling techniques demonstrated by midwives and finding the one that resonates best with your baby's needs and preferences. After all, discovering what works best for your little one is all part of the journey into parenthood!
Myth 3: Swaddling a baby is uncomfortable for them
So, here's the scoop: swaddling a baby is like giving them a little taste of what it was like in the womb (yup, it was cozy in there!). By recreating that snug environment, you're helping them transition to the big, wide world outside and—fingers crossed—giving yourself a better shot at some sleep, too.
Myth 4: Swaddling can increase your baby’s risk of SIDS
Every new parent is understandably concerned about reducing the risk of SIDS. Swaddling a baby, when done correctly during the first three months of life, can actually help in this regard. By keeping the baby securely on their back, swaddling prevents accidental rolling onto the tummy, which is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. Moreover, a properly swaddled baby is more likely to sleep soundly through the night, reducing the likelihood of parents unintentionally falling asleep with their baby in unsafe sleeping arrangements.
Swaddling with the Koala Hugs
A clever reinvention of the traditional square swaddle blanket based on a method of baby wrapping used by many midwives and maternity hospitals.
Why it works
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- Provides the secure, womb-like sensation that new babies love to help them relax into a deep and restful sleep.
- Gives your baby a long and restful sleep needed for healthy growth and development.
- Guarantees a perfect and inescapable wrap every time.
- Removes the guesswork of complicated baby wrapping.
- Removes the need for tight wrapping that can do more harm to your baby's physical development.
- Offers flexible ways of wrapping - arms across chest, arms up or down.
Genius!
"What an amazing idea these wraps are! My little escape artist finally met her match and I am so thankful. So easy to use and so amazingly effective in giving bubs the security of being swaddled and staying swaddled. I will definitely be recommending to my pregnant friends".- Katie W
Best decision ever!
"Buying this wrap was one of the best decisions I made in the early days of bringing my newborn home. Swaddling can be difficult at the best of times, even more so if you are dead tired. However, this wrap has made the process quick and easy. It is loved by the whole family:) A definite must have!"- Melissa G
Life Saver!
The koala hugs we recently purchased has been a life saver for us and our little one. Our houdini was a master at getting her arms out, now she's snug and sleeps amazing. Thank you!" - Leigh L
Swaddling with the Sleepy Hugs
A uniquely designed sleep sack for babies who prefer unrestricted arm movement but still need some security to calm their startle reflex.
Great for when babies start to roll and for tummy sleepers.
Why it works
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- Allows baby to sleep in their natural sleeping position.
- Safe for when babies start to roll.
- Allows access to their hands for self-soothing.
- Fully enclosed arms helps prevent scratching, great for eczema.
- Hip friendly wide-sack for healthy hip development.
- Bottom opening zipper for easy diaper changes.
Best Sleep Sack We Have Tried!
"Amazing! We couldnt get our baby out of a swaddled we tried everything and as soon as we got this he took to it straight away"- Cindee D
Did Not Disappoint!
"Looked high and low for the perfect sleeping bag for my 5 month old and was not disappointed. She loves the comfort of having her hands being warm and covered but needed to be safe when rolling in her sleep"- Allison M
Game Changer!
“At 7 months my baby was impossible to transition out of his swaddle. A friend suggested the Sleepy Hugs and we haven’t looked back. It’s amazing! Pat loves his Sleepy Hugs” - Erica B