Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Don't mean to lecture but.....SWADDLE up already!



After a newborn baby has emerged from the womb the following weeks can feel very uncomfortable for the baby who is use to being a secure and warm environment they encountered while in the womb. Swaddling, or wrapping your baby in a blanket, can help him feel warm, secure and comfortable as he adjusts to his new environment. Many midwives advocate this practice and it is now often taught to new parents in hospital. Research has suggested that swaddling can help to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in young babies. Further research concluded that swaddled babies who use a swaddling blanket are not easily disturbed as they experience a deeper sleep than those simply placed under sheets or blankets.

Why Baby Swaddle?

A baby often has trouble sleeping because he's easily startled by a loud noise or his own muscle movements wake him up (called 'moro' or 'startle' reflex). If your baby has a startle reflex you can wrap him up in swaddling blanket to recreate the secure environment the baby enjoyed in the womb. You can also prevent a baby having startle or moro reflexes by wrapping your baby up in a swaddle blanket which will restrict movement of their arms and legs and creates pressure against their skin making for a more peaceful nights sleep. Some babies can feel uncomfortable for no apparent reason and a baby swaddling blanket can help to keep the baby calm and comfortable. Baby swaddling also helps keep a baby on their back as well as getting rid of unnecessary sheets which can cause SIDS.

Baby swaddling with a baby swaddle blanket can help reduce the amount of Colic which is crying more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks. Colick is known for keeping a newborn baby awake at night.
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Last week, my friends and I donated about 500 baby blankets. My main purpose is for Fabella hospital to use it to swaddle the newborns. I really do hope that the Fabella doctors implement baby swaddling. Not only will they reduce the risk of SIDS and reduce the amount of Colic, they will not get bitten by mosquitoes. PLEASE!! I beg.

Unswaddled babies.



A baby swaddled.



How to swaddle.



For more information, please click on link below.
What is Baby Swaddling?

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