If a baby is swaddled too tight around the chest, he may not have enough space to breathe freely. Swaddling once a baby can roll over. If a swaddled baby rolls over to her stomach, this increases the risk for SIDS because it is less likely that she will be able to roll back over to her back.
How do I know if I have my swaddle blanket tight enough or too tight? A good rule to follow is that your swaddle should be tight enough that you can still slide your hand in between the swaddle blanket and your little one's chest.
Babies do not need to be swaddled, but it can help soothe them and reduce their startle reflex. There are some risks when swaddling. If baby is placed on, or rolls to, the tummy while swaddled, baby may be unable to breathe. If baby is swaddled with a blanket, it could come loose and become a suffocation hazard.
A: To stop the Moro reflex without swaddling, you can try creating a calm and soothing environment for the baby, using gentle touch and rhythmic movements and gradually introducing more self-soothing techniques as they grow.
Never place a swaddled baby on their stomachs. Don't swaddle your baby too tightly. Babies who are swaddled too tightly may develope problems with their hips.
No matter which sleep clothing option you use, always put your baby to sleep on their back to reduce the chance of SIDS. Even if your baby doesn't need a swaddle, avoid using loose fabrics, pillows, stuffed toys and other such items in your child's crib.
Don't swaddle your baby above their shoulders – their neck and head should never be swaddled. Ensure any material is secure and won't come loose as your baby moves, to avoid suffocation (The Lullaby Trust, 2021). Use hip-healthy swaddling techniques to reduce the chance of hip dysplasia.
But according to the Contemporary Pediatrics guide, Swaddling 101, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), many babies can stay calm with no swaddling at all. The guide however, suggested that fussier babies can be calmed with the help of a swaddle.
An exaggerated Moro reflex is a more pronounced startle reflex where baby's arms would extend out in a more exaggerated manner. It's not uncommon to see an exaggerated Moro reflex, and there's no need to treat it differently.
The short answer is that swaddling must stop when your baby can roll. While every baby is different, some little ones start rolling as early as 2 months. The longer answer: In general, babies do best when swaddling lasts until they're 4 to 5 months old…but that won't work for early rollers.
Baby should look (and feel) calm and soothed, but not so tight that she appears uncomfortable and fussy. You should be able to place two to three fingers between your baby's chest and the swaddle. Also, make sure that the blanket isn't too tight around their hips so that baby can move her legs easily.
If your house is below 65F at night, a long-sleeve onesie or one-piece pajamas worn under the swaddle should be enough to keep your baby comfortable. But if your house temperature is over 65F at night, dressing your baby in a short-sleeved onesie for sleep should work fine.
Swaddling is meant to mimic life inside the womb where baby has lived so snuggly for the past nine months. If you're wondering why do babies like to be swaddled, it's because that wrapped, tight feeling helps baby feel comfortable, safe and secure – and who can resist how cute he looks as a little baby burrito?!
In order for swaddling to allow healthy hip development, the legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips. This position allows for natural development of the hip joints. The baby's legs should not be tightly wrapped straight down and pressed together (refer to image below).
Firmly wrap your baby's arms bent up to their chest or under their chin (this is more comfortable for your baby than straight arms). Loosely wrap around the hips to ensure legs can move freely. Swaddles should be firm without being too restrictive.
Experts suggest that it's okay to leave one or even both arms out of the swaddle, unless baby is so squirmy that having her arms out could be hazardous and the gets so loose that it covers your baby's nose and mouth.
Remember, babies develop at their own pace. That said, if your older baby still has the Moro reflex well past about 6 months, there may be something more serious going on. Get in touch with your pediatrician, who will be able to perform a test to find out if there's anything wrong.
The Moro reflex is often called a startle reflex. That's because it usually occurs when a baby is startled by a loud sound or movement. In response to the sound, the baby throws back his or her head, extends out his or her arms and legs, cries, then pulls the arms and legs back in.
Infantile spasms can be caused by problems with the way the brain developed in the womb, infections, brain injury, or abnormal blood vessels in the brain (such as an arteriovenous malformations). Infantile spasms also can happen in babies with some types of metabolic and genetic disorders.
You can absolutely put your baby in a onesie or even pajamas underneath their sleep sack depending on the temperature. Babies, like adults, sleep better when they're cool as opposed to too warm, so keep this in mind when dressing your baby for bed.
However, there comes a time when your baby just starts putting up a full-on fight with you when you try to swaddle them. This can be lots of kicking, punching, and maybe some crying. If this is the case and they are a little older, it may indicate that they want to sleep more freely.
Make sure your little one is swaddled securely before placing baby on their back to sleep.
First is the developmental window of vulnerability. SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable.
An immobilized infant can't crawl into dangerous asphyxiating environments. Also, swaddling prevents infants from pulling bedding over their heads. Both are risk factors for accidental suffocation and/or SIDS.
Pay close attention to signs of overheating.
Check your baby's core (back or chest) to make sure they are not at all sweaty. Also watch for their face becoming red, and for rapid breathing.