For parents who have recently had a baby and are in the newborn and first-time period, this period can provide some of the most precious and rewarding – and challenging – moments of parenthood.
Two of the challenges that many parents face are helping their child sleep through the night and crying when he wakes up.
Parents have been using swaddling for years as a way to help with both challenges. However, recently there has been a lot of debate about the practice, because some organizations that look into the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have analyzed data and found that swaddling can contribute to SIDS.
The Dangers of Swaddling
Swaddling can cause health problems or even be a risk factor for SIDS for a number of reasons, including:
- Good management in the heart. If the child is strapped too close to the chest, they may not have enough room to breathe freely.
- Swaddling as soon as the baby can roll over. If the swaddle baby turns over on its stomach, this increases the risk of SIDS because it is more likely that it will be able to roll back onto its back. But there is strong evidence that babies who sleep on their stomachs are at greater risk for SIDS.
- Swaddling is not very difficult. If the baby is swaddled properly and the blanket comes back, there is a risk that the blanket will cover the baby’s face and may cause suffocation.
- Swaddling greatly promotes sleep. Although deep sleep sounds good for a baby, it can be harmful in some cases. If a child is fast asleep, it may not wake them up in an uncomfortable sleeping position, such as if a blanket is in front of them.
- Use a cloth cloth. If a child has a blanket and is too warm, this can increase the risk of SIDS.
- Good foot control. Traditional swaddling keeps the legs together and straight, which can cause hip problems – which can be hip dysplasia. Read the article on how to keep the baby’s waist.
So, what should parents do, especially if their child is often angry or won’t sleep at night for nothing? If the family decides to move, here are some DO’s and DON’Ts, which follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations.
The do’s and don’ts of parenting your child
Do:
- Do swaddle using the appropriate method, until the baby shows signs of turning
- Do put the baby in a swaddle on their back (not a box or side)
- Do leave two fingers space between the baby’s chest and the blanket
- Do leave enough space for the child to bend his legs up and out at the waist
- Do consider a sleeping bag (which allows the hips to move up and out) as an alternative to sleeping
- Do A swaddle uses a small blanket to keep the baby from getting too hot
Do not:
- Don’t do it swaddle tightly around the chest, legs and waist
- Don’t do it swaddle so much that the blanket stops
- Don’t do it swaddle over 2-4 months, or when the baby starts to turn
- Don’t do it Place the baby in a swaddle on their stomach or side
- Don’t do it use an extra layer of fabric
