Swaddling babies was common before the 17th century and is still common in certain regions of the Middle East. Although in our environment it is not such a widespread practice, an increase in this technique is being seen in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States.
Wrapping your baby in a blanket can remind him of the womb and help calm them. Swaddled babies have been seen to sleep longer and have fewer awakenings; What parents wouldn’t want this? However, swaddling babies could have risks .
What are the benefits of swaddling babies?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that using the technique correctly, swaddling babies can help calm them and promote sleep . And it is that swaddling babies reduces awakenings, favors a calmer sleep and reduces crying time, especially in the little ones.
In addition, it has other benefits in specific groups. Thus, swaddling very low-weight-for-gestational-age babies improves their neuromuscular development, and premature babies who are swaddled have fewer behavioral disturbances. For babies with neonatal withdrawal syndrome, swaddling improves sleep and calms them.
Are there risks of swaddling the baby?
We have just mentioned that swaddling the baby favors sleep and reduces awakenings; However, what would seem fantastic to most parents, can also pose a risk; Swaddled babies seem to have more difficulty waking up to an adverse event , and this could be a risk factor for sudden death.
In 2016, a meta-analysis was published that looked at several studies in relation to swaddling and sudden infant death. We know that placing a baby on his tummy to sleep is a risk factor for sudden death. In this meta-analysis, it was found that swaddling the baby and placing him to sleep on his side or stomach multiplied the risk of sudden death by two compared to those who were not swaddled. In addition, this risk increased with age, being much higher after six months of life.
There are also other risks; Swaddling may increase the risk of hip dysplasia (especially if improperly swaddled) as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory infections. It can also cause a rise in temperature in these children.
“Swaddling the baby and putting him to sleep on his side or stomach multiplies the risk of sudden infant death by 2 compared to babies who are not swaddled; and this risk increases with age. In addition, swaddling or girdling the baby could increase hip dysplasia and pneumonia and upper respiratory infections “
How do we do it safely?
The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2017 gave a series of guidelines for swaddling babies safely.
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Always face up . This recommendation is nothing new. To prevent sudden infant death, all babies should be placed on their back (face up) to sleep. But this seems to be even more important in the case of swaddled / swaddled babies, as we have seen previously.
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Do not swaddle the baby beyond two months . One of the dangers of swaddling the baby when they start to move a lot is that they can turn over and lie on their stomach, greatly increasing the risk of sudden death and suffocation. That’s why the American Pediatric Association (and Dutch guidelines) recommend stopping before they start trying to roll over.
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Do not over tighten the blanket on the legs, leaving some freedom of movement to avoid hip dysplasia. In the upper part, we should be able to insert a hand between the blanket and the baby’s chest, to avoid respiratory problems, but without leaving it too loose as it could come loose.
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Be aware that swaddling can make your baby less awake. This, which most parents see as an advantage, can also be a problem in case something happens to the child and it costs him more to wake up.
In addition, we must carry out the rest of the recommendations to prevent sudden infant death:
- Sleep on a firm mattress.
- Cradle free of objects (no stuffed animals, blankets, positioning cushions …).
- Vaccines are a protective factor.
- Avoid smoking in the rooms where the baby is.
- Breastfeeding is a protective factor for sudden infant death.
- The use of the pacifier to sleep is also a protective factor.
- It is preferable that he sleeps in his own crib, at least the first 3 months of life.
Photos | Pixabay, iStock
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