Swaddling

[SecretCermonials]

So im watching the midwives show and she has advised two women not to swaddle their babies... I swaddled DS who always slept brilliantly and was planning to Swaddle this one, but obviously if this is now linked to sids i wont. Confused!!

I was thinking the same- am a bit confused now!!

I've just had a look at the FSID website and they are saying that there isn't enough evidence to say if there is a risk or not.

Ahh man! I wish there were! I suppose it relates to temperature also? Oh how confusing!

It is overheating that is the risk surely? So long as you don't swaddle the baby in a fleece blanket whilst it is wearing a velour sleepsuit you should be fine. Swaddling increases the toggage of bedding. So if it is only cool enough for one blanket in the cot, it is therefore too hot for swaddling with that same blanket - use a cotton sheet, a thinnner blanket or even a muslin swaddle instead. Unless it is cold perhaps just swaddle over a vest rather than vest plus babygrow. And make sure the legs are not swaddled too tight, they need to be able to go in the froggy position.

I looked into the info and it does seem to be temp related, swaddling carries the risk of over wrapping in several layers, however if you uses something like teh swaddle pod /woombie (like a sock with a zip up the front) then there is only one layer, I have used these with lots of babies, put them in only a short sleeved vest inside and then use a cellular blanket over the top if the room is cool, also you can now get the woombies in bamboo and merino which helps to regulate babies temp. My baby is due in Dec and I already have my pods lined up ready. Key is to make sure you do not over cover the baby, check down back of neck with a finger, I know many people who have not swaddled but have def had way too many layers on baby!

Im glad swaddling isnt a no no, i feel confident in being able to work it with temp i am certain hoping that was the key to ds1s brill sleeping so glad i can do that again! Or at least try

I think it's because that baby in particular was very layered up,
it looked as if she had on a vest, sleepsuit, cardi, booties, mittens, a thick swaddle blanket and a furry hat!

I will still be swaddling. It's the overheating that's the risk.

hopefully NCT will teach me about it a bit. Scary business- isn't it!! Knowing what is best argh!

Lolo for me id not heard of it until DS was having his second night and not settling (was still in hosp) the midwife swaddled him and he slept brilliantly! At home i swaddled him in very thin (probably the thickness of two muslins) stretchy fleece blankets, and just adjusted what he slept in based on the weather.

I swaddle in either a muslin when tiny or a proper swaddling blanket. Also only swaddle in a vest, then if needed you can put blankets over the little sausage.

I was a bit dismayed initially when I saw Midwives as had been planning to swaddle - baby due mid-winter and was going to buy a merino one as it's a breathable fabric and also great for differing temperatures (it has kept me warm in the Himalayas in sub-zero temps and also in extremely humid jungle, back in the days when I didn't spend all my spare time on the sofa...)

I do still think it is best to follow your instincts and do what is best for YOUR baby - clearly swaddling in a big fleece with a hat and pillow is not great, but I'm sure it is fine if you have a bit of common sense and hopefully the baby will tell you if she/he is not happy.

I'm still half-expecting to have a midwife come storming into my house bollocking me for doing everything wrong now though!