I need to know about swaddling...

[makipuppy]

I like the idea of swaddling blankets - there's a nice one on the NCT website which has fastenings which I might get, but I was wondering whether one is enough? If more are needed is there a more basic version that's perhaps a bit cheaper? Do you dress your baby in a sleepsuit as well, or swaddle straight onto skin (I'm due next week so warm weather...)?

[phdlife]

can't help you with advice - I went out and bought a swaddle blanket only to find ds wasn't having a bar of it. Just be warned, SOME of them are like that! good luck

[Holymoly321]

I swaddled both DS's in a swaddle blanket - the ready made type that you just wrap and stick with velcro. Both of them loved it - kept them calm as they both would wave their arms around and wake themselves up! Dependant on weather, they were either in sleepsuit or vest, and I don't think they needed a blanket on top - they may have done, if so it would have been a cellular one. I never swaddled them in just a nappy, but then they were Sept and Nov bubs so it was never that hot at night. you'll get a feel for it once your beautiful baby is born - I know it may not seem like it now, but you will! Good luck. But get two of them so you will have one clean when washing the other

[makipuppy]

Interesting. So perhaps I'll get one and can always get another if it goes down well. Can you swaddle in one of those extra large muslins?

Thanks Holy, deep down I know you're right

[colditz]

You don't need a swaddle blanket. In this weather I would suggest dressing the baby in a vest, and swaddling with a cotton jersey cot sheet. You will (I assume) already have some of these. You'll need more than 1 because babies vomit a lot.

[colditz]

I mean the jersey oones that are a bit stretchy - they seem to hold quite well? I see what you mean re sleep and transport though

[makipuppy]

I checked out the miracle blanket - cheaper and looks nice and stretchy...
Colditz I just have ordinary cotton moses basket sheets so far but we have a cot coming to us through the family, so if cotbed sheets work, might be economical to get them in advance and use them for swaddling?

[colditz]

They work well enough for me, but I have never tried a proper swaddling blanket so maybe I really missed out....

[juuule]

Swaddling with cot sheets worked well for us. Used the smaller moses basket sheets to start with. I really don't understand why people pay for special swaddling blankets when sheets do fine.

If the weather's hot then I've swaddled them in just a nappy and vest (the babies, not me)

[Pearlnz]

we swaddled with muslin when baby was little, then moved to a miracle blanket and once started escaping that but not sleeping we got a Peke Moe sleep sack (keeps arms in but they can move.) our LO loved it! We got muslin one for summer which was lovely and cool but kept the wind chill off bubs skin.

[designerbaby]

Second what phd said - don't buy too many - I bought 3 or 4 quite expensive ones, but DD would go WILD when I rteid and cry inconsolably - got really hysterical. So gave up. Sevarl ££££s wasted. Apparently quite common with large strong babies - and DD was a whopper.

Still I kept 'em and will try again with DC2... I'm laying off the pain au chocolat this time in the hopes that DC2 will be weedy and will give in easier...

db
xx

[LittleCheese]

makipuppy

I found a swaddling blanket in pumpkin patch for around £8 i think. I have invested in just one as they only had one neutral one and will send mum or dh to get another when baby is born so can get a pink or blue one.