Swaddling - yay or nay?

[jessica3692]

Mums who have tried swaddling - would you recommend?? I am due in 4 weeks and have heard positive things about it so how did your baby find it and what product did you use? Thanks!

A cot blanket cut in half along the short edge - so that you have two very long, thin sheets. This gives you two swaddle blankets perfect size for a newborn.

Absolutely no need to buy a special product for swaddling, unless you just like spending money of course

Swaddling is like marmite - Some babies like it, some babies hate it. You won't know until baby is here.

A cot sheet (not blanket)

We had a special swaddle blanket but it was only about £8 if I remember correctly and we used it for months (and we've kept it for future DC). We started swaddling DS with it at about 4 weeks and he slept so much better once we did. He had a very strong startle reflex!

I used one of these zip things called a woombie. Reason being I think swaddling is a bit of an art that isn't passed down so much anymore. Plus late night nappy changes are made easier when you just need to unzip the bottom.

However. Swaddling made no difference to my boys' terrible sleep.

We were given a 'gro swaddle' which turned out to be good for our ds

I used a cot sheet.
I was shown how to do this by the midwives when I had my first child. I went on to do it with all three of them. It worked brilliantly when they were so tired they didn't know what to do with themselves. It stopped them flailing about all over the place.

There isn't anything complicated about swaddling. It just means wrapping baby tightly an securely.

Baby in middle of sheet. One arm across body and that side of sheet wrapped over arm and underneath body. Then other arm across body and wrap other side of sheet over and underneath body. All done tightly and securely. You need the width on the sheet in order to have enough to keep it secure.

I found it calmed ds when he was fussy and he slept well swaddled, but we did it from birth so I can't say he wouldn't have slept well without. (Have a search for the "5 S's" by Dr. Harvey Karp and loads of youtube videos on how to swaddle)

I bought some large muslin squares second hand on fleabay by anais and anais 70cmx70cm. Dh did the swaddling, much firmer than me, ds always "escaped" when I did it!

And as FATEdestiny says, baby will either love it or hate it!

Congratulations and good thoughts sent your way for an easy birth

We swaddled DD using a cot sheet. She had a very strong startle reflex and seemed to like being wrapped tight and secure. She slept well (not sure if it was to do with swaddling) we swaddled her until she was about 6 months and only stopped because it was too hot in the summer!!

Midwives at hospital were very good at showing me how to with sheets and blankets, dd loved it for first month and then wouldn't have it, ds refused from day one to be swaddled.

Ds loved being swaddled, from birth until he went into his own cot around 5 month at that point he wanted to move around, but had a very strong startle reflex. Would recommend looking at how to guides on web, but try it, if it doesn't work, stop doing it!

You can use any blanket or a big muslin. I also bought a gro swaddle off eBay. Great for stopping crying I found as when she's having a moment arms and legs are flying everywhere!!

I bought the proper swAddle mega muslins. There is a stretch that sheets just don't have. Most used baby product ever. Doubles as feeding cover, lay on floor on pAls carpet so baby can lie down, tie around toddler when forget bib etc. I even treated myself to the ££££ Aden and anais ones for dc2.

also use a hAndknitted shawl - again it's got the stretch.

Excuse the odd capitals - cheapie replacement touch screen on phone.