Swaddling

[Soph903]

Hi,
Baby is just over two weeks old and we've been swaddling him with his arms in for the last few nights, it's the only way he will go down for a few hours in his next to me! However the health visitor has said that we shouldn't due to an increased risk of SIDS, i think from overheating. She mentioned to look on the lullaby trust but it doesn't say anything about SIDS on there . I know once baby starts to roll he can't be swaddled but as a newborn i thought it was okay. Really unsure what to do as it's the only way we get any sleep. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

Your HV is wrong, swaddling a newborn is pretty standard. I got taught how to do it by the midwives in hospital.

Do make sure he's not overheating so adjust layers according to temperature.

Perhaps get one of the swaddling sleeping bags ( tommee tippee I believe ) you can then buy the correct tog for the time of year

When I had my first 5 years ago I think the hospitals were moving away from keeping the arms in a swaddle, and just wrapping them loosely with the arms up. At no point were we told not to swaddle the traditional way though.

I don't think overheating is an issue as long as you make necessary temperature adjustments.

Personally I found swaddling (with arms in) was the best way to settle my first until around 2 months. My second though would never tolerate it.

Lullaby trust does talk about if done wrong increases risk of SIDS

midwives in my hospital don’t recommend it any more

One midwife told me off for swaddling when in the hospital. However after having a sleepless night I ended up swaddling him again and no one else said anything.
Definitely becareful of overheating, depending on what size blanket your using, obviously the more times they're wrapped, it counts as an extra layer. As previous poster suggested, getting a specific swaddle bag could be good.

Just to add I only ever swaddled using a large muslin

I'd not have gotten through without swaddling - I'll just say what I did.

Wrapped in a super thin blanket so if/she pulled it over her face she wouldn't overheat or be unable to breath.

I sometimes wrapped her little hands but because she kept covering her face with a blanket I perfered to let her hands be free (they sleep with them up by their faces don't they) - but I'd hold her arms down until she slept so that reflex thing didn't wake her. A warmer blanket was on the lower part of her.

I gave a dummy but if it fell out twice I considered that a rejection so I started singing.

I also put a projection on the ceiling from a month old and strongly recommend it - better than my singing!!

SIDS is terrifying isn't it - about a month ago I woke her at 3am because she was too bloody quiet

Oh, and the bit where they start rolling is loads of fun because they're so happy 😊. So please look forward to it.

Lullaby Trust says it's fine as long as baby doesn't overheat or the swaddle could come loose. We used one of the specific swaddling wraps, and when warmer weather, only a vest underneath.

Thanks for everyones replies. We make sure the room is cool enough and use a specific tog swaddle so he doesnt overheat. I'd rather not swaddle but he wakes himself up so easily otherwise, he doesnt settle at all during the day as we only swaddle at night.

That's BS you stop swaddling when they start rolling. Just make sure the temp of the room is ok in and around 20 degrees is optimal and when it was really hot I left a fan on all night facing away from baby as it's meant to dramatically reduce the risk of SIDS also make sure baby is dressed appropriately and has the right tog swaddle for the room temp .

The day I read on mumsnet that a health advisor had said not to eat broccoli while breastfeeding 🤣🤣🤣🤣 - gives the baby wind apparently 🤣🤣

I use one of the love to dream swaddles - the super thin ones are designed for 24-27 degree weather so can’t see how baby is more likely to overheat in it.

When I work on the maternity ward the midwives show us how to swaddle
All the babies are swaddled

I was taught to swaddle by HV. Did so until 4ish months as that was only way she slept. In the summer I used a muslin so she didn't overheat.

Another vote here for the love to dream swaddles and sleeping bags!
My little one absolutely loved them

Love the sleeping bags - Check for the size / weight of baby and the tog

I think HVs just err on the side of caution. I'm sure there are a lot of parents out there who will not correctly swaddle their infant.

What's the problem if a temperature-appropriate swaddle and clothing is used, the swaddle is secured and won't come loose, and the infant is placed in a safe place?

Just be smart and safe about it.