Swaddling

[NicNac100]

Hello all, some advice please - I've bought a Snuzpouch for sleeping
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073D75P8R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s03?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

However have heard good things about swaddling in case baby wakes itself up too often with free hands in the Snuzpouch

what are your thoughts on swaddling, does it help them sleep longer and feel more settled/cocooned?

and would you suggest being swaddled tight with their arms down like these traditional swaddles?
www.amazon.co.uk/Swaddle-Newborn-Blanket-Organic-Swaddles/dp/B07KRMD9T4/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&s=baby&keywords=swaddle&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1587621163&sr=1-4

or having the arms up position like a Love To Dream swaddle
www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Original-Swaddle-Blanket-Essential/dp/B07NB7SR71/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&s=baby&keywords=swaddle&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1587621185&sr=1-5

Thanks so much in advance :)

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MNHQ

I'm clueless about swaddling so following your link to see what others think. However the only thing I have been told by NCT lady is that they like to be quite snuggly tight so I'm wondering if the first one would be better as looks more snug?

DS loved being swaddled. I wrapped him in a giant muslin.

Every baby is different some babies don't like yo be swaddled some do so I would buy the first ones as no to expensive if your baby doesn't like to be swaddled

My 1st didn't like his arms being swaddled so we ended up just using the sleep bags in the end I will be trying swaddling again this time round xx

We used to swaddle our babies when they were crying for a lengthy period, but we always unswaddled them once they were asleep. They never slept in their cots swaddled.

There is no official recommendation on swaddling so it really depends if your baby will like it or not, which of course you don’t know just yet! A big muslin would be fine
until you know what your baby is like I image. I personally would not swaddle the arms at night though if you can avoid it as babies use their hands to self regulate and aren’t able to do that natural instinct if they can’t touch their face.

It was the only way to settle my dd

We used grosnugs for our little girl for the first three months or so, they are like a cross between a swaddle and a sleeping bag. She didn’t like being zipped into them but once she was in slept so much better swaddled than not. And we still use them sometimes but with her arms out now like a regular sleeping bag.

I would say rather than buy a tonne of swaddle wraps etc see how the baby likes being wrapped up in a blanket/muslin first. I found my son preferred to be a baby burrito in a blanket with his arms free and I didn't end up using the wraps I bought. Then when he was big enough for baby sleeping bags he loved them!

We’ve bought the Love to Dream swaddles for our boy. Read so many good things about them, so hopefully he likes them!

Advice is to only swaddle for first few weeks, and definitely not once baby can roll, as this can affect SIDS risks.

Sleeping bags should only be used after 4 months.

The NCT website has some good advice and info on swaddling!

Both of my babies were born in heatwaves and for the first few weeks I swaddled them with arms out in a big muslin before moving to grobags at approx 6 weeks. A big muslin is a useful investment as a lightweight blanket or window shade so worth buying one even if it turns out that baby doesn't like to be swaddled.

There is some evidence that swaddling isn't great for some babies' hips so proceed with caution if you have any history of hip dysplasia in the family.

Sleeping bags should only be used after 4 months

That's not the case, @IslayBrigid. Lullaby Trust recommends sleeping bags as long as the baby reaches the minimum weight (4kg for the smallest Grobags) and the bag is well-fitted under the arms to ensure that it can't be pulled over the head. If baby is big enough then some sleeping bags can be used from birth.

Ah woops I got confused between 4 months and 4 kgs :) @EstebanTheMagnificent

Great, thank you all, maybe I'll try swaddling with a big muslin first in case she doesn't like it then eventually go onto a grow bag - much appreciated all!

We tried to swaddle DS but he hated it and cried until we took his arms out. He was a big baby so was fine to go straight into sleeping bags.

I had ds2 6 months ago and was told several times that swaddling is no longer advised. I mean, you can still do it but be aware midwives/health visitor might tell you not to.

I swaddled my babies (who are late teens now), just in a normal large muslin. Arms down, although one of my boys always managed to get a hand out by his face.

It was the only way to settle them in the early weeks, before we moved on to Grobags.