Better sleep for baby = better sleep for Mom.

When I was growing up, my mom used to teach me how to swaddle my baby dolls so that they would "stop crying and sleep better." (Of course in a perfect imaginary world my baby wouldn't cry at all). But life isn't perfect, and babies cry- it is what they do best. Swaddling may be one of the best ways to calm the baby and get them to sleep. By keeping a baby swaddled, you prevent them from being startled by their own jumping reflexes and allow them to stay warm while their temperature regulators are starting to kick in.

This technique is also taught in hospitals, and chances are you had a lesson in Swaddling 101 before taking your baby home for the first time. Just make sure you do a few things- make sure your baby isn't poopy, hungry or tired when he is fussing. If he or she is clean, full, and certainly not tired, swaddling may be the best way to calm your baby, especially if they might be overstimulated. (Over stimulation occurs a lot when babies are passed back and forth to family and friends multiple times. The same thing happens to adults, sometimes we just want to be left alone, and that is NORMAL!)

After about a month, the baby should be adjusting to being outside of the womb and may not need to be swaddled so tightly. Keeping babies swaddled while they are awake after the first month of life may inhibit their motor skills and development process. While babies are sleeping however, it is okay to keep swaddling them as long as they seem happy. They will find ways out of the blanket to let you know they are done being swaddled, just watch for it.


STEPS TO SWADDLING:

•  Lay a blanket on a flat surface and fold down the top-right 

corner about 6 inches.

•  Place your baby on his back with his head on the fold.

•  Pull the corner near your baby's left hand across his body, 

and tuck the leading edge under his back on the  right side under the arm.

•  Pull the bottom corner up under your baby's chin.

•  Bring the loose corner over your baby's right arm and tuck it under

the back on his left side. If your baby prefers to have his arms free, 

you can swaddle him under the arms. This gives him access to 

his hands and fingers.

This is an awesome way to keep your baby calm and cozy.
Catch some zzz's while the baby does the same.
Happy Sleeping!

information received from Baby Center.

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