Swaddling

Newborns just spent nine months “hugged” in the womb. Pediatric nurses swaddle newborns to give them back this feeling of security.

To swaddle, lay a receiving blanket out on the diagonal. Fold down the top corner about six inches. Place baby on the blanket with his head on the fold. Hold baby’s arms down and wrap the right side over baby and tuck it under the left side of baby’s body. Pull up the bottom of the blanket over baby, not too tight that his legs can still move slightly. Wrap the left side over baby and around baby’s back. Do all of this wrapping snugly, with only baby’s head exposed.

A crying newborn that is not hungry or wet should stop crying immediately after being swaddled. This also takes away your feeling of the baby being too fragile to hold.

If the baby doesn’t stop crying right away, don’t feel you’ll be spoiling him if you hold him for a while. Holding your baby helps you two to bond and get to know each other. And, he may just still be a little scared after the shocking experience of being born.

If he still cries, he may just be too hot. Letting his little feet out of the blanket will allow him to still feel the comfort of swaddling but will also cool him down quickly.