Wrapped in Love: 5 Benefits to Using a Custom Baby Swaddle

Did you know that about 90% of infants are swaddled in the first few months of life in North America?

Historically, this has been an almost universal process. Now, there has been a comeback in western countries because of the benefits it offers.

What are the benefits of using a custom baby swaddle?

Let's take a look at five of them.

What Is Swaddling?

Swaddling might have originated as long ago as 4000 B.C. Some historians and authors even claim that this practice dates back to the paleolithic period. Throughout history, there are depictions of babies wrapped in a swaddle fashion, found in objects such as Bronze Age votive offerings, Medieval and Rennaissance paintings, as well as depictions of the baby Jesus as told in the book of Luke.

There have been recent studies that have found that swaddling infants can lead to them having more stable and lower heart rates, along with helping them sleep more and cry less.

Swaddling is when you wrap a baby in a blanket securely so that only their head is exposed out of the blanket.

A good swaddle will be snug. This is why a custom baby swaddle can ensure that your swaddle fits securely.

When a swaddle is snug around your baby, it helps to avoid setting off their startle reflex. The moro or startle reflex lasts between twelve weeks and six months after birth. It causes babies to become startled with large movements or loud noises.

Is It Safe to Swaddle a Baby?

The short answer to this question is: yes. However, it's important to swaddle your baby correctly in order for it to be safe.

When can swaddling be dangerous? Here are some situations that might make swaddling dangerous:

• If you bundle the baby in too many layers, increasing their temperature
• If you wrap the swaddle either too loosely or too tightly
• If you bind the hips and legs too tightly, which can cause hip development issues
• If you keep swaddling once a baby has the ability to roll over onto its stomach

While you can basically start swaddling a baby right away, it's important that the first few hours and days after giving birth that the focus be primarily on allowing skin-to-skin contact.

1. Promotes Sleep

Because swaddling creates a cozy environment that mimics the womb, it can help your baby sleep more soundly. By dulling the startle reflex, your baby is less likely to be awoken by movements or noises.

When your baby is awake, you'll want to make sure to outfit them in the cutest imaginable outfits. Check out this list of the top three must-have outfits for baby girls.

2. Dulls a Baby's Startle Reflex

As mentioned earlier, swaddling your baby can dull their moro or startle reflex. This can help them stay calm, quiet, and sleep more soundly.

3. Helps Regulate Your Baby's Temperature

When you swaddle your baby correctly, it can help to regulate their temperature. When you swaddle a baby, their skin should be a comfortable temperature to the touch and not feel too warm.

4. Reduces the Risk of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is every parent's worst nightmare. This occurs in infants that are less than one year of age and typically happens while a child is sleeping. While the exact cause of this disorder is unknown, the American Association of Pediatrics has reported that swaddling babies can help to support proper sleeping position.

Some studies have found that an infant that sleeps on their stomach is at an increased risk of SIDS. Swaddling helps a baby sleep on their back in the supine position.

Once your baby is able to roll over from their back to their front, it's time to stop swaddling. This is also true if their swaddle becomes too disruptive to their sleep or if they're able to break free from their swaddle.

Another danger that can occur during sleep is that an infant can suffocate on loose bedding and blankets. When you swaddle your baby and constrain their arms, they aren't as able to pull other objects over their head. You will still want to be sure to keep loose clothing or bedding out of the crib and no longer swaddle your baby once they start to roll over on their own.

5. A Custom Baby Swaddle Mimics the Womb and a Parent's Touch

A baby has gone through a big recent transition: moving from the comfort of the womb out into the world that is cold and bright. When you swaddle your baby, the feeling mimics the womb and can be very comforting and cozy to them.

A swaddle also mimics the feeling of being touched soothingly by a parent. This can help to lower cortisol levels and stabalize blood pressure and heart rates.

Because of the comfort that a swaddle brings to a baby, their sleep can have fewer disturbances and be more restful.

When you swaddle a baby, they tend to stay asleep more consistently and fall asleep more quickly. As you know, when your baby sleeps, you get a good night's sleep, too!

You Can Get Your Handmade Custom Baby Swaddle and Baby Hair Bows From Stevie Js!

A custom baby swaddle is a great way to ensure that your baby is comfortable and safe. When you order your baby swaddle from Stevie Js, you'll also want to check out our collection of baby head wraps and hair bows.

Check out our collection of newborn essentials today!