Swaddling

[LikeACandleButNotQuite]

Im not sure im in the right place but wondered about swaddling.

I have bought some lovely muslin swaddling blankets, but am unsure as to what else I need do I put a blanket over the top too? Seems odd putting the baby down just wrapped in a cloth?

n.b. LO due mid-dec, so am preparing early! Oh, and its a relatively cold bedroom

[sleepevader]

I'm not a fan of swaddling personally.

However I'm fairly sure no extra blanket on top and keep head uncovered due to risk of cot death. Excess heat is expelled through head and hands in babies.

[goodnightmoon]

you could tuck another light blanket over baby if it's really cold. swaddling has its fans and foes - seems to work best if you do it early and often and baby gets used to it. definitely a good idea for super twitchy babies - my son slept his best ever in the early weeks when a friend of mine swaddled him up for me. I could never do it as tight as she would though!

[LikeACandleButNotQuite]

well, if the irish dancing in my womb is anything to go by, the LO will be a restless sleeper so thought id give swadding a go.

[latrucha]

IMextensiveE of two babies, some like it and some don't! They'll let you know.

If you think LO is cold, put a light blanket over the top, but they recommend babies are kept quite cool.

IMextensive experience of one baby who liked it, if they like it, they like it tight!

[Fresh01]

I have swaddled all three of mine. I started as I had my first in Australia and where I was we were encouraged to swaddle them with large muslin wraps. Since had 2 more kids in the UK and due my 4th in December. Speaking to midwives and health visitors in the UK who have commented on me swaddling the babies, the issue seemed to arise in the UK that people were using blankets to swaddle babies rather than muslin so the babies were getting far too hot.

The only baby who got put down to sleep wrapped in just the muslin was DD1 who was a summer baby in Oz and it was over 35 degrees. She only wore sleeveless vests for the first 6 weeks of her life! Subsequent two were an October baby and a January baby in UK. They would have been wrapped then a cellular blanket put over the top, usual toes to bottom of cot and blanket tucked in. I treated the muslin wrap as the sheet you would typically put over them before the blanket.

[MamaChoo]

I swaddled in a cellular blanket then put another tucked in cellular blanket over the top. Agree that if you are going to swaddle, swaddle hard! Not only do they like it tight, you don't want it coming loose and floating round the cot.

[phlossie]

I swaddled my DS with a stretchy cotton blanket - it helped him because he would twitch himself awake. He was a Feb baby, and I'd have him in a babygro, swaddled in a blanket and sometimes with an extra cellular blanket depending on how cold it was.

My DD hated being swaddled though - she didn't like being restricted. It's amazing for some babies, and not for others.

Don't bother buy one of those miracle swaddling blankets, they're rubbish.

[LikeACandleButNotQuite]

I think I have what you describe, fresh, large muslin squares (Aden and Anais...took me ages to decide what print!).
Think ill go for tight swaddle, over vest and babygrow, with cellular blanket to wedge them in.
It'll be winter, and is a cold room, so rekon that'l be about right.

[Fresh01]

Yes, they do look like the ones I have but mine are an Australian brand called Living Textiles, you can get them online in the UK. The Aden and Anais patterns look lovely but I don't think I can justify more wraps : ) The size is great for wrapping tightly.

Remember the best way to check the babies temperature is to slide a few fingers down onto their chest under their clothes. Their heads and hands will be cool if the room is cool. If breastfeeding you do get use to the shock of a cold hand being shoved in your arm pit in the middle of the night when feeding : )