Safe sleeping for baby

[likeacrow]

Baby hasn't arrived yet hence posting this on pregnancy board. Apologies if not the right place.
First baby and we've got those sleeping 'gro-bags' for her to sleep in but have just noticed they're for babies above 10lb so their head can't slip through I think. So what do we do when baby arrives if she's under 10lb (which I hope to god she is...)? Do we buy smaller gro-bags for those first few weeks or do we 'swaddle' instead, which I'm a bit scared of getting wrong, until she's big enough? What sort of bedding do I need to buy if so? She'll be in a moses basket.
Thanks in advance.

[SockswithSandals]

You can either swaddle (tho the guidelines have recently changed and swaddling isn't recommended anymore) or you would just use a blanket tucked under baby's arms and make sure baby's feet are at the bottom of the crib/basket so they can't shuffle down under the blanket. We have sleeping bags that we could use from 8lb onwards

[HandbagFan]

We used a blanket for the first few weeks and once he was 8lbs we could put him in the sleeping bag. As PP, feet to the base of the cot wth the blanket no higher than his armpits.

[likeacrow]

Thank you socks. Where did you get the 8lbs sleeping bags if you don't mind me asking?

[BlahBlahBlahEtc]

A blanket tucked under the arms is fine. They don't move much in their baskets etc.

[Twinnypops]

We used blankets that were tucked under their arms (the type that have holes in rather than fleecey ones just in case they did end up over their faces). They only started being able to kick off the blankets when they were a little older, at which point they could go in the grobags.

[GinIsIn]

Most of the sleeping bags are fine from 8.5lbs - M&S, John Lewis etc. The way to check is as long as their heads can't get through the head hole then it's ok.

[Lunalovepud]

You can get small bags from Jojo Maman Bebe with sleeves on so baby doesn't slip underneath... Great for the early days, plus they look adorable.

DS was 7.11 when he was born and he was in these JoJo ones until he was big enough for the standard grobags - some of the standard bags also have poppers under the arms for when the baby is only just big enough - I think the Mothercare ones do but I could be wrong...

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/elephant-print-newborn-sleep-sack-b1500.html

[DomesticAnarchist]

We used swaddle pods for DC2 and they were Amazing!

I liked these Woombie ones best, the 'swaddle-up' ones weren't quite as good for us. He slept beautifully until the hot summer and we had to ditch them

[MoonlightMojitos]

We've got a grosnug so like the normal sleeping bags but suitable for 5lb-12lbs and with poppers you can do up on the arm holes as a swaddle if you want, so that's another option :).

[Oysterbabe]

A blanket will be fine. They aren't very wiggly at first. If she's anything like my DD she'll only sleep in your arms anyway

[Sunshinegirl82]

Gro bag do a newborn version that we had our ds in for the first few weekend, you can have their arms in or out, will see if I can link. They were great!

[Sunshinegirl82]

www.mothercare.com/baby-sleeping-bags/gro-snug-2-in-1-swaddle-and-newborn-cosy-sleeping-bag/LF8191.html?dwvar_LF8191_color=Grey&cgid=bedding_sleepingbag#start=10

[FATEdestiny]

"You can either swaddle (tho the guidelines have recently changed..."

No, they have not

Some believe swaddling young babies can help them settle to sleep. Whilst we do not advise for or against swaddling, we do urge parents to follow the advice below. If you decide to adopt swaddling, this should be done for each day and night time sleep as part of a regular routine:

• use thin materials
  
• do not swaddle above the shoulders
  
• never put a swaddled baby to sleep on their front
  
• do not swaddle too tight
  
• check the baby's temperature to ensure they do not get too hot

[savagehk]

We used a merino kids cocooi and I can highly recommend it. (I think I got it on sale first time around and on eBay second time around - normal price is a bit costly!)

www.merinokids.co.uk/sleep-bags/newborn/cocooi-sleep-bag

[FATEdestiny]

You don't have to spend money on a 'product' for swaddling.

Cut a single bed sheet in half along the long edge = 2 cot sized sheets

Cut a cot sheet in half along the short edge = 2 swaddle sheets

A good swaddle sheet should be a very long, thin rectangle. Place baby in centre, wrap one side over one arm, under baby and put the other side. Repeat on other side. Because of the length of the rectangular sheet means it wraps all the way around and under baby. So baby's physical weight stops the swaddle coming loose.

1 cotton single sheet = about £3 = 4 swaddles.

Or

1 cotton cot sheet = about £5 = 2 swaddles.

[MinnieNoush]

We have bought the Grosnug.

[bobbis]

I went to an antenatal class last week and the senior midwife from the hospital running it said that we can swaddle the baby but not to be put to sleep in.
This was never the case 5 years ago with my son, so that surprised me.
I have bought cellular blankets, grobags and a grosnug.

[FATEdestiny]

I went to an antenatal class last week and the senior midwife...

A HCP* who spouts personal opinion as "facts", even when these don't follow NHS guidelines. Shock horror. Alas, not unusual.

*choose from many Health Care Profressionals: midwife (senior, junior, whatever), practice nurse, district nurse, health visitor.

Fact remains that NHS advise on safe swaddling, as informed in the research collated by the Lullaby Trust, has not changed in over 10 years.

It is exactly as I wrote in my post above (since that was a copy and paste).

[Oysterbabe]

I thought the thing was the hips, there was some relatively recent research that the swaddle shouldn't be tight around the hips.

[Oysterbabe]

hipdysplasia.org/developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/hip-healthy-swaddling/

[FATEdestiny]

I think the hip research was 2009. Then The Daily Mail ran an artical in 2013 on this research (in response to Prince George's birth and him being swaddled leaving hospital) which gave rise to some public hysteria on the matter of swaddling. In responce the NHS published an article which explained why they do not advise against safe swaddling.

NHS offers advice on safe swaddling, in the same way they do for safe cosleeping. They do not advise for or against either.

The research isn't recent.

It didn't change NHS policy against safe swaddling.

[SockswithSandals]

Calm down @fate I was only repeating what I had been told when I had my baby 12 weeks ago. My NHS Trust advises AGAINST swaddling altogether so I assumed the whole guidelines had changed.

[geekaMaxima]

We used a merino wool pouch. Looks like a hot water bottle cover but it's the best thing ever, especially if your newborn baby is able to kick off every blanket within minutes...

It's lovely and soft, and hugs the chest up to the armpits so no danger of it covering baby's head.

[likeacrow]

Thanks all.
Lunalovepud I like the look of those. How long would you say the newborn one lasted your DS?

[mowglik]

If you can get a thin large size muslin they are great for swaddling, nice thin material. You fold it into a triangle, then place baby on the triangle with the point facing down, pull the point up onto their chest then tuck in the 'wings' either side of baby. It doesn't hold too tight but it's nice and cosy for the little uns