Swaddling the newborn is a tradition developed over the years. However, more and more modern parents prefer to "free" the kids from the first days of life. Those who decide to swaddle a baby should know how to do it right.
A bit of history
For a long time there was a tradition of “twisting” babies. They continued to use this method in the 20th century. Often it was a necessary measure. In the postwar years, women had to go to work almost immediately after childbirth. The kids were in special nurseries. With the help of diapers, medical personnel were able to quickly wrap the babies. Thus, the children remained warm. Yes, and erasing cuts of matter was easier than sliders and blouses. Then a special swaddling technique was used for the newborn, which allows wrapping both the baby's body and head.
The need for swaddling remained in the first days after birth. After all, diapers did not exist, and it was not always possible to quickly change clothes. And again, diapers came to the rescue. The debate about the need for swaddling began in recent decades, when disposable diapers became available on sale.
Despite this, even today many prefer to adhere to the tradition developed over the years. "Diapering scheme for a newborn" is a mandatory topic in almost any school of motherhood at the antenatal clinic. Young mothers seek to study the issue in the first months of pregnancy.
Benefits of Swaddling
Why do many decide to restrict the baby in movement? Many experts are confident that in this way the child will feel more comfortable from a psychological point of view. The baby, who was just born, is used to limiting the space in the mother’s womb. Proper swaddling of the newborn will ensure good nights in the first days after birth. However, it should be understood that the diaper will not be able to protect from discomfort associated with hunger or a dirty diaper.
Many grandmothers advocate tight swaddling. They are sure that a free baby has a much greater chance of an incorrect body formation. Often you hear the saying "if you do not swaddle, the legs will be crooked." There is absolutely no reason for this statement. Curvature of the legs develops at the stage when the baby begins to stand and walk. Curvature may be associated with rickets, but not in the absence of swaddling. However, tight swaddling is also beneficial. If you fix the legs and arms of the baby, he will sleep more calmly, will not scare himself with chaotic movements.
Arguments against"
Many modern experts oppose swaddling a newborn baby. In the sliders and blouse, the baby feels free, can make any movements, develops faster in the physical plane. In addition, many pediatricians indicate that abdominal sleep is very beneficial for colic. And the baby will not be able to sleep in this position during swaddling.
In the first months of life, many babies cannot easily endure simple hygienic procedures (cutting their nails, cleaning their ears). Parents have to solve such problems when the baby is sleeping. In this case, again, the diapers will have to be abandoned.
The rejection of diapers has many advantages from an aesthetic point of view. Modern children's stores offer a huge selection of clothes for babies in their first days of life. Parents can "mod" immediately after discharge from the hospital. And thanks to disposable diapers, you don’t have to change clothes every hour.
Clad Swaddling
This swaddle pattern of the newborn is the most common. This is the method used in medical institutions. The work uses only a hat, a vest and a diaper. The technique is universal, suitable for both feeding the baby and sleeping.
First of all, you need to put on a hat and a baby undershirt, to smooth out the formed folds on the back. You can reassure the baby during swaddling with the help of songs or a story. In the warm season, it is recommended to use a chintz diaper. In winter, flannel material is ideal. Knitted diapers are also popular. They are very warm and quite simply fixed.
To perform closed swaddling, the diaper is laid in a rectangle. The baby should be laid so that the edge of the diaper is at neck level. The material is wrapped around the baby's body and fixed under the back. Lastly, the bottom edge is bent.
Open swaddling
This swaddling pattern of a newborn is practically no different from the previous one. The only difference is that the edge of the diaper is placed at the level of the belt. Thus, only the baby's legs are fixed, and the handles remain free. This method is perfect for wakefulness. The child feels more at ease. In this case, the legs remain warm.
It is advisable to use open swaddling of a newborn up to 4-6 months, when the baby lies still a lot and does not show interest in movement. However, some babies begin to roll over very quickly, and the entire structure ceases to hold.
Tight swaddling
If we consider the advantages of swaddling a newborn, then this method will be most preferable if parents favor a quiet sleep. The technique makes it possible to completely immobilize the baby. The child will not be able to fully move his legs and arms, so he will not wake himself with chaotic movements.
Previously it was believed that such swaddling contributes to the correct orthopedic development of the child, the alignment of the legs. However, subsequently abandoned the methodology in maternity hospitals. Moreover, improper tight swaddling can lead to a delay in the psycho-emotional development of the baby and a violation of air ventilation.
Wide swaddling
This pattern of swaddling the newborn by many young parents is used today. The bottom line is that a baby in a diaper can take any physiological pose, calmly move both the arms and legs. The technique is ideal for walking on the street or waking at home. The baby can be immersed in a diaper completely (with handles) or partially (to the waist).
During a swaddling swaddling baby can take a frog pose. It is natural for most babies in their first months of life. Specialists can prescribe wide swaddling for dysplasia of the hip joints.
This is the most “humane” method of swaddling a newborn. A photo depicting a swaddle pattern can be seen below.
Diaper changing
What did parents do twenty years ago when diapers were out of the question? Then homemade gauze diapers were used, which were quickly washed and dried. And young mothers had to learn swaddling techniques very quickly. Making a disposable diaper is quite simple. You need to take gauze and lay out a triangle with sides of about 30 cm in 4-5 layers. In this triangle and swaddled baby.
Many young parents use this option today. At home, it is worth giving up disposable diapers. The baby's skin should breathe. Gauze diapers are also recommended if there are rashes or diaper rash on the baby’s skin.
Swaddling with a head
This pattern of swaddling a newborn is ideal for the first months after childbirth, when the baby spends most of its time in a dream. The diaper is spread out in a rectangle and the baby is laid across. The edge of the material should be significantly higher than the head of the newborn.
Initially, it is necessary to wrap the child’s head, put the free edge of the material under the arm. The same thing is done on the other hand. For a denser fixation, a second, denser one is applied over a thin diaper.
Swaddling in a blanket
Regardless of what types of swaddling the newborn is used, while walking on the street will have to additionally use a blanket. An exception may be too hot days. But even on summer evenings, the baby should be wrapped in a thin plaid. It is important to focus on weather conditions and air temperature.
Initially, the baby can be dressed in a blouse and sliders, or you can use one of the swaddling methods described above. Next, a blanket or blanket is spread with a rhombus, the baby is laid in the middle. Wrapping must be carried out according to the principle of closed swaddling. You can fix the structure with a scarf or ribbon. One corner of the blanket can serve as a kind of hood. It will protect the baby from the wind and direct sunlight during sleep.
How to choose a diaper?
Despite the fact that many parents today respond to swaddling, everything you need for this procedure can be found in specialized children's stores. A large assortment of diapers is available in standard sizes. The most common is chintz and flannel material. Bike and knitted terry diapers are also popular in winter.
What material to choose? It all depends on the weather. It is also worth remembering that calico diapers dry out much faster. Thin material can be used instead of gauze diapers.
How long does a baby swaddle?
Any methods of swaddling a newborn can be used up to 6 months. However, practice shows that it is most advisable to do this up to 2-3 months, while the baby sleeps most of his time. Every day the baby is becoming more active. He needs free arms and legs in order to explore the world and fully develop in the physical plane.
Very convenient is night changing. It can be used up to 8-9 months. Being constrained, according to the reviews of young parents, babies sleep better. They fully get enough sleep, therefore they behave more calmly during daytime wakefulness.
Safety precautions
For swaddling, it is necessary to use a special table suitable for parents' growth. It is absolutely forbidden to leave a baby here unattended. During the manipulation, it is necessary to ensure that rough folds do not form on the vest and the diaper itself, which will rub the delicate skin of the crumbs.
It is impossible to swaddle the baby too tight. This can lead to impaired blood flow. Never knot around the neck of the child. If there is no confidence in the correct swaddling, such manipulations should be abandoned.