How to Swaddle Your Baby
Swaddling your baby is much more than simply wrapping her in a blanket. As a newborn, swaddling provides warmth, comfort and security. It also prevents baby from flailing her arms, and scratching her face. While there are some babies who don't like swaddling, as newborns go, most do. While in the hospital, nurses may swaddle your baby for you. Once you get home, however, you may find it difficult to replicate the tight little cocoon the hospital staff provided your baby. Follow these steps to keep your baby bundled nice and tight!
First, spread baby's blanket out with a corner pointing up (like a diamond). It's easiest to use a square blanket, but these may be easier to make than they are to find! Next, fold the top corner down towards you, to make a flat crease. Place your baby on the blanket (on her back), with her neck lying across the crease. Take one corner of the blanket from either side (closest to the arm), and pull it gently (but snugly) across the arm and body, tucking that corner under the arm opposite from the side that it was pulled. Next, take the bottom corner (below baby's feet), and bring it up over the body, and tucking the corner into the piece of material previously pulled over baby. Make sure not to bunch baby's feet up too tightly. Finally, take the last corner and drape it over baby's other arm, and across her body. You can secure this corner by tucking it into the folded material behind baby. If you find that your little one is unhappy with the lack of freedom available, you may follow these steps, while allowing baby's arms to be free. Swaddling is designed for newborns to four weeks old. If baby isn't happy with swaddling, don't feel obligated to do it. Just dress her enough to keep her warm and comfortable!
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