Is Swaddling Safe?

Four-month-old Reneja never woke up from her sleep. Her 24-year-old mother found her wedged between the wall and the soft mattress of the bed they shared in their Milwaukee home. Each year, over 200 parents in the UK go to greet their baby in the morning only to find them blue and lifeless. These infants die either from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or from the increasingly common problem that befell Reneja, accidental suffocation. In 1992, medical professionals discovered a key cause of SIDS: stomach sleeping. Shortly thereafter, public health groups launched the Back to Sleep campaign. Back to Sleep reminds parents that the only safe sleeping position for babies is on the back. Over the past 20 years, we have also learned that parents can lower their baby’s cot death risk by avoiding smoking (during pregnancy or in the home after the baby is born), overheating, and removing bulky, soft bedding from the baby’s bed.

Today, these life saving recommendations are taught in hospitals, clinics and medical  offices across the nation. And, we have cut SIDS deaths by over 50%. It is an enormous success and cause for celebration, but our work is far from done. The Lullaby Trust  took a step in that direction by issuing a set of guidelines to prevent these deaths. 

The recommendations include:

• Back sleeping…only
• Room-sharing…but no bed-sharing
• Encouraging breastfeeding
• Keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
• Use a mattress that's firm, flat, waterproof and in good condition
• Do not sleep on a bed, sofa, or in an armchair with your baby
• Avoid overheating 
• Don’t cover your baby’s face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding

This is important advice. But, it overlooks one of the leading causes of unsafe sleep: infant irritability. Many babies hate sleeping on the back. Exhausted parents often spend hours trying to ease these criers back to sleep. Frustrated, some simply give up and lay their babies down on the stomach (tummy-down babies tend to fuss less and sleep more). Or, overcome with fatigue, they accidentally fall asleep — their baby nestled against their bodies — on an unsafe surface, like their bed, a recliner or couch. Either way, too many parents are tempted into a situation where the risk of SIDS and suffocation death increases significantly. 

Swaddling Newborn for Sleep

A key solution for reducing fussing — and thus promoting safe sleep — is swaddling. When done correctly swaddling a newborn for sleep offers the potential to:

• Reduce the lure of placing babies on the stomach. (Swaddled babies sleep just as well on the back as unwrapped babies sleep on the stomach.)
• Reduce the chance of falling asleep with the baby on a dangerous surface. (Exhaustion causes similar brain numbness as being drunk. No wonder tired parents can put an arm over their baby’s face without even realizing it.)
• Reduce the chance of rolling into a dangerous position (into a pillow, against a wall or onto the stomach).
• Increase breastfeeding success. (Breastfeeding cuts SIDS risk in half, but infant crying is one of the main reasons mums give up on the breast.)
• Reduce maternal cigarette smoking. (Smoking is a common trigger for SIDS and it is often related to the stress of exhaustion and infant irritability.)

And, the potential benefits of swaddling a newborn for sleep do not stop there. When combined with other calming techniques (like white noise, swinging motion and sucking) snug wrapping may reduce other serious problems triggered by infant crying/parental exhaustion, such as:

• shaken baby syndrome, 
• postpartum depression, 
• breastfeeding failure, 
• car accidents 
• maternal obesity. 

These problems place large emotional burdens on young families and significant economic burdens on communities. They result in lost productivity (due to worker exhaustion and absenteeism) and add well over $1 billion per year to health care costs. Many children’s health groups, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society, recommend swaddling. 

Can Babies Sleep Swaddled? 

Not only can babies sleep swaddled, but swaddling is proven to promote restful and calm sleep. One common concern with swaddling during sleep is overheating. However, products (like our Sleepea Swaddle) that use breathable fabric, avoid this issue. But, like infant car seat use, we must teach correct swaddling so that it is done safely and effectively.

Is Swaddling Safe?

The keys to safe swaddling are:

• Avoiding overheating
• Using the correct technique (to avoid unraveled blankets)
• Protecting the hips (allowing them to be flexed and open)
• Waking for regular feedings
• Never allowing stomach sleeping

Final Thoughts: Is Swaddling Safe?

If you are having trouble with swaddling technique, our Sleepea Swaddle will have your baby swaddled and safe in 5-seconds, top! It was specially designed with baby safety and parent sanity in mind.

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