Swaddling your newborn at night can help your baby sleep longer stretches at night.The purpose of swaddling is to help reduce the “startle or Moro” reflex. Yes, you should swaddle your newborn at night.
The startle reflex is a primitive reflex that is present and birth and is a protective mechanism. With any sudden noise or movement, your baby is “startled” and her arms will extend away from her body, she’ll arch her back and neck. It slowly starts to disappear around 12 weeks and in most babies is completely gone by 6 months of age. References 1,2,3.
Sometimes this startle reflex can be confused with some muscle twitches that happen during REM sleep. Rapid Eye Movement sleep is also known as “dream” sleep. In newborns they have less “deep” sleep than babies 6 months and older. Typically newborns transition from light or into REM sleep. When falling asleep they typically drop into REM sleep. Reference 4. Newborn REM sleep is different from REM sleep in older babies and adults. In adults, in REM sleep a person is dreaming but their voluntary muscles are paralyzed. You will NOT see any arm or limb movement. In newborns, it is different. In newborn REM sleep you WILL see vocalizations, smiles, grimaces and twitches or jerks. They are not awake when you see these things. Remember when your baby was sleeping and she started smiling. You thought maybe she was passing gas? She was likely in REM sleep. All good. All normal.
Why is swaddling important?
Swaddling is important to prevent your baby from startling herself and/or startling herself awake. It also prevents her from distracting herself with her arms and preventing sleep.
You don’t have to swaddle your newborn at night but it absolutely helps. I’ve worked with lots of parents who say their newborn doesn’t like the swaddle. That may be true but I would keep trying while changing another variable when you try to swaddle, such as the time of day. Then you could also experiment with different types of swaddles. There are weighted swaddles, arms up to the side swaddles and traditional blanket swaddles. You’re looking for 100% cotton or natural materials. Synthetics such as polyester can trap heat and lead to overheating.
How long can you swaddle a baby at night?
You can swaddle your baby all night long. I also swaddled for naps. The only thing to watch out for is that you aren’t swaddling too tight around the hips over for a large portion of your 24 hours for weeks to months. One tiny study showed the possible increased risk of hip dysplasia. Reference 5. Newer models of swaddles have tried to be loose around the hips and tight around the upper torso and arms.
Can babies sleep swaddled overnight?
Yes your baby will likely sleep better swaddled overnight. Sometimes I didn’t even take her out for the feed once I got really good and efficient at breastfeeding.
When should I swaddle my newborn?
In my Helping Newborns Sleep Class our number 1 goal is to keep your baby well rested. When your baby is well rested this actually helps get you MORE sleep and decreases your chance of increased crying and being fussy. Swaddling helps you keep your baby well rested during sleep periods by eliminating the distraction of the startle reflex and bothering herself with her uncoordinated arms. You can swaddle for naps and bedtime. When she’s awake, that’s a great time to work on tummy time to start developing those strong core muscles to help with rolling.
When Should I Stop Swaddling My Newborn?
You want to stop swaddling when your child shows that she might be able to roll. Rolling in a swaddle could pose a risk as your child could get stuck in a position that might compromise her airway. In addition you would want to stop swaddling when you are working on sleep teaching and having your baby become an independent sleeper. Independent sleepers can be put in the crib completely awake without feeding, rocking or being drowsy and put themselves to sleep. She’ll need her hands available to be able to do that so they should not be swaddled in that phase. Until then you will absolutely want to swaddle your newborn at night.
References cited in this post:
1. Parmelee AH., Jr. A critical evaluation of the Moro reflex. Pediatrics. 1964;33(5):773–788.
2. Prechtl HFR. Problems of behavioral studies in the newborn infants. In: Lehrman DS, Hinde RA, Shaw E, editors. Advances in the Study of Behavior. London, UK: Elsevier/Academic Press; 1965. pp. 75–98.
3. Rönnqvist L. A critical examination of the Moro response in newborn infants—symmetry, state relation, underlying mechanisms. Neuropsychologia. 1995;33(6):713–726.
4. Sheldon SH. Sleep in infants and children. In: Lee-Chiong TL, Sateia MJ, Carskadon MA, editors. Sleep Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley and Belfus Inc; 2002.
5. Abd El-Kader Shaheen M. (1989). Mehad: The Saudi tradition of infant wrapping as a possible aetiological factor in congenital dislocation of the hip. Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 34(2), 85-87.
Swaddling your newborn at night can help your baby sleep longer stretches at night. The purpose of swaddling is to help reduce the “startle or Moro” reflex. Yes, you should swaddle your newborn at night. The startle reflex is a primitive reflex that is present and birth and is a protective mechanism.
Swaddling should only be introduced when your baby is a newborn. As soon as they show signs that they're learning to roll over or they can already roll over, you need to transition them away from swaddling (Pease et al, 2016; The Lullaby Trust 2021; McDonnell & Moon, 2017; Nelson, 2017).
Babies don't need to be swaddled, and some actually snooze more soundly without being wrapped up. Though before you give up on swaddling altogether, you might want to consider looking into a Velcro or zipper swaddle wrap.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep their babies swaddled for 12–20 hours per day for the first few weeks after birth. This relaxes babies. Swaddling a baby correctly also protects her from overheating, injuries and sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
We do not recommend layering swaddles, sleep bags, or sleep suits, as this can increase the risk of overheating or suffocation - which can lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Instead, choose an appropriate garment for the room temperature and if necessary, lightweight layers that can be worn underneath.
The arms-down method is the OG swaddle style that's been used for generations. It's designed to mimic the fetal position, offering maximum comfort. This position is usually ideal for newborns and those in the first few weeks of life. With arms down, your baby might find it easier to self-soothe and drift right off.
If your baby is less than 1-year-old and rolls over onto their side or stomach at night, reposition them onto their back. If your baby is older than 1-year-old and rolls onto their side or stomach at night, you can leave them like that but should still put them down for bed and naps on their backs.
There isn't a universal age for coming out of the swaddle; instead, you'll want to stop swaddling when your little one is showing signs of rolling. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)(1), we typically see babies begin to roll around 3-4 months.
It's important to stop swaddling once your baby starts trying to roll over. This can be as early as 2 months of age. Sleep sacks or wearable blankets that don't compress your baby's arms and chest can be worn up to about the age of 2 or about 30 lbs.
Should I swaddle my newborn for naps during the day? Yes, I recommend swaddling your newborn for daytime sleep when your baby is sleeping in a crib, bassinet, or play yard.
You should start to transition your baby out of a swaddle by 3 to 5 months old. The process will take a different time for every baby so be patient and don't give up! Most swaddle transitions will take anywhere between 7 to 10 nights.
After a few days of having both arms or legs out, you can try to let your little one sleep without a swaddle. As babies are unique, some might take a couple of days to get used to this, while others won't need that much time to adjust. It really just depends on your baby. But don't worry; they'll get there!
Some child care centers may have a policy against swaddling infants in their care. This is because of the increased risks of SIDS or suffocation if the baby rolls over while swaddled, in addition to the other risks of overheating and hip dysplasia.
Some babies have trouble with sleeping on their backs because they startle themselves awake; when they are swaddled, that's less likely to happen. But there are downsides to swaddling. Because it keeps the legs together and straight, it can increase the risk of hip problems.
If possible, do the diaper change before (or even in the middle of) the feeding. Avoid unswaddling, when possible- If your baby will still take a good, full feeding while swaddled, keep them wrapped up throughout the feeding. However, for some babies, unswaddling is the key to a full feeding in the night.
“Actually, the goal should be to swaddle as little as possible,” says Dr. Srinivas. “In particular, an awake baby should never be swaddled. Once fed, if they are awake and active, it is essential that they have free use of their arms, legs and voice (no pacifier) to promote development.
You should stop swaddling your baby when they start to roll over. That's typically between 2 and 4 months. During this time, your baby might be able to roll onto their tummy but not be able to roll back over.
Sleep Sacks or Wearable Blankets: Sleep sacks or wearable blankets are designed to provide a cozy and secure sleeping environment while allowing freedom of movement for your baby's arms and legs. ...
Baby Sleeping Bags: Baby sleeping bags are a popular alternative to traditional blankets.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
