Swaddling is the age-old practice of swaddling your baby comfortably in a blanket. It has recently been re-popularized by Dr. Harvey Karp’s book The Happiest Baby on the Block. The restriction of movement provided by the swaddle reproduces the uterus and thus provides warmth and security to the newborn. Many parents say that swaddling has helped their newborn fall asleep, stay asleep, and calm down more easily. When a baby is swaddled properly, it prevents his arms from rising and startling him, or from scratching his face.

Parents struggling with colic have been especially supportive of diapers as they have found that it can be of great help in calming their fussy baby.

You can keep a newborn swaddled during the day and at night. Since your baby has just emerged from an environment where all movement was restricted, this is what your baby knows and what has made him feel safe. They have just been thrown into a large open world. Giving them a familiar feeling can often be what is needed to calm them down.

Once your baby is about a month old, it is generally recommended to decrease the number of waking hours in which you swaddle him, as it can prevent mobility and development. It’s okay to stay swaddled for naps and nights if your baby sleeps better that way.

Once your baby is able to roll over (between two and five months of age), there is a concern about swaddling him tightly at night or during naps. A child in swaddling clothes can roll upside down, but cannot roll backwards. Sleeping on your stomach is a risk factor for SIDS. Instead, this would be a good time to teach your baby to fall asleep without swaddling. If your child still sleeps better while swaddled, wrap him loosely or leave one or both arms open to give your baby more mobility. Remember to make sure your baby is not sleeping in an overheated room when swaddling, as overheating is also a risk factor for SIDS.

If your newborn doesn’t like being swaddled, you can try loosening the blanket or leaving one or both arms open.

For helpful tips on wrapping, take a look at this easy-to-follow video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSYPqGtFBYQ