Swaddling Guide

Why Swaddling is the Easiest and Most Effective Way to Help Babies Sleep

Swaddling is a tried and true method, used across many cultures and many generations of mums to get babies to sleep. It's taught in all pre-natal classes and recommended by every leading baby sleep expert.

Sadly, many parents give up on swaddling too early and miss out on the benefits. They mistake 'swaddling not being effective' with 'not being able to effectively swaddle' their baby.

To understand why swaddling works so well you need to understand the reasons babies can have trouble sleeping in the first place.

Babies want to sleep - they need to sleep - but they sometimes find it hard to do. Babies are used to sleeping while they are in the womb. That's where they are snugly held and in a perfectly temperature controlled environment.

Once they are born, it's like they've crash landed on an alien planet. If they are left to sleep without being properly swaddled their involuntary movements will startle them awake. They may even scratch their face or cause their blanket to rub against their cheek making them think it's feeding time. Also, as they move about under their blankets different parts on their body are warmer or cooler than others which can also make it difficult for them to settle.

Babies that wake up for any of these reasons are simply not getting the sleep they need - no wonder they wake up crying!

And that's why swaddling is so effective. It helps babies gradually adjust to their new environment and get the sleep they need. It keeps them nice and snug so they can settle into their sleep. It stops the involuntary twitches that usually startle babies awake and keeps them at an even temperature.

At Last! A Guaranteed Swaddling Solution

As a parent-to-be you were probably told about the benefits of swaddling. You probably sat through a demonstration at a pre-natal class where they made it look easy (especially if they were using a doll instead of a real live baby). But swaddling a newborn baby with a normal blanket is no easy feat and many parents don't receive the help they need.

Once your baby is born, you may watch a nurse or your mid-wife swaddle your baby and think it looks easy enough. But they no doubt have years of experience. For new parents, with so many other things to learn it's not that easy.

That's where the Miracle Blanket comes to the rescue. Invented by a dad who was frustrated at not being able to swaddle his son effectively he wanted to find a sure-fire swaddling solution. After hours of research and many prototypes he finally perfected the Miracle Blanket.

The Miracle Blanket's promise is simple - when you use it, you just can't go wrong. It guarantees that every parent can perfectly swaddle their baby to ensure they get the sleep they need.

Four Simple Steps

The Miracle Blanket's unique design guarantees a perfect swaddle every time. 

Step One - lay baby between the arm flaps with the shoulders slightly above the top of the blanket. Fold the arm flaps over the arms and tuck them loosely under baby's back. Be sure the arm flaps are flat, but not too snug under baby's back.

Step Two - pull the foot pouch up over baby's feet. If baby's feet do not reach the bottom of the pouch, fold the bottom up so the feet touch the bottom of the blanket.

Step Three - fold the short side of the blanket over baby's belly and tuck it under the left armpit. This flap should wrap all the way under baby's back.

Step Four - wrap the long side of the blanket over the top of baby's belly and all the way around until you run out of blanket. It is important to pull the blanket snug. Be sure the top of the blanket is slightly below the tops of the shoulders. Make sure you correctly position baby so the top of the shoulders is just above the top of the blanket to ensure the blanket does not brush against their face while they are asleep.

To further enhance effectiveness, try the following:

• After swaddling, cradle your baby on your forearm facing down or forward.

• Gently rock or jiggle your baby while making long shushing sounds in baby's ear.

• User a dummy if your baby likes it

FAQs

My baby squirms and seems to fight when he's swaddled. Does this mean he doesn't like it? - Most babies squirm quite a bit when swaddled, especially at first. This does not mean they don't 'like' it. The fact is, very young babies don't have very much - if any - muscle control and their arms and legs flail without them being able to control them. Swaddling actually helps limit this movement so the baby can relax and calm down. If your baby continues to squirm, and doesn't calm down after 5-10 minutes, take him out of the blanket and give him a few minutes to rest and try it again. Eventually, your baby will relax at the mere sight of a swaddling blanket.

Why should I swaddle? - Many experts suggest that swaddling in the first several months eases babies through the shock of suddenly being out of the womb by duplicating many of the sensations of the womb. Many babies do not handle this transition well, and some recent research suggests that this may be the main cause of fussiness.

Swaddling seems so confining. Is it good for a baby's development? - This question is the main reason Western cultures have all but abandoned the practice of swaddling over the past 100 (or so) years. However, new born babies have just come from an environment where there was total darkness, near complete silence and where they were held very snugly. Suddenly they are thrust into a world of light where their little arms and legs flail and flinch without control. Their little razor-sharp nails scratch their little face and their heavy head lolls without support. Giving your baby a few more months of some of the snug, supporting, and warm sensations of the womb is a great way to help your baby adjust.

Can my baby overheat because of swaddling? - Swaddling alone cannot cause overheating. However, here a few simple measures that will eliminate this concern altogether:

• Wrap baby in the Miracle Blanket and diaper only.

• Be sure the room in which baby is sleeping is not too warm. The room should feel comfortable to a lightly dressed adult.

• If overheating is still a concern, wrap baby in the Miracle Blanket with his/her feet outside of the foot pocket.

How Can I tell if my baby is overheated? - If baby's tummy feels overly warm to the touch, or he/she is perspiring, then this may be a sign they are overheating. If this is the case, please follow the suggestions listed above under 'Can my baby overheat because of swaddling?'

Can swaddling make it hard for my baby to breathe? The University of Washington published a study in 2002 that shows that this is generally not a concern - as long as the wrap is not exceedingly tight. Swaddling works best when your baby is wrapped "snugly" but comfortably. The Miracle Blanket is very effective in keeping the hands and body in the proper position. Keep in mind that most babies LOVE to be wrapped very snugly ... it feels more like the womb.

My baby squirms and grabs while eating. Does swaddling help this? - One of the greatest things about swaddling (of any kind) is how much easier it makes it for mum or dad to hold baby still while feeding. Baby's arms are secure, he is comfy and he is very easy to position.

My baby likes one arm free to suck his thumb. Can I still swaddle? -- Absolutely. Although you should try to get your baby used to the feeling of having both arms inside the blanket to avoid scratching and twitching, you can certainly leave an arm free if your baby likes that better. In fact, one advantage of the Miracle Blanket is that you can actually leave one arm free and maintain the total effectiveness of the blanket. Many people use it this way, and love it for that reason.