When babies are swaddled for sleep they miss the benefits of movement.
When babies are restricted from moving they can’t effectively build strength and coordination in their bodies. The only way they can learn how to move and use their bodies is to actually do it.
If babies rarely stretch their arms, move their legs, wiggle their toes and touch their bodies, their learning and development may be delayed.
Newborns have protective reflexes that make them automatically turn their heads from side to side and bat things away from their faces. These reflexes diminish over time. Swaddling poses a suffocation risk for babies who are starting to roll from back to side and from back to front. If they have been allowed freedom of movement they are able to lift their heads and shift their weight. If they have not developed sufficient strength and coordination due to swaddling, they may become stranded face down when their newborn protective reflexes naturally diminish. This is especially true if they are swaddled when it happens.
Two months is the suggested age for stopping swaddling entirely. We recommend stopping it much sooner.
What are the benefits of swaddling?
- Swaddling helps soothe an awake fussy baby in the first couple of weeks.
- Babies who are placed on their backs for sleep may sleep longer if swaddled.
- Swaddling for sleep may dampen the startle (Moro) reflex which could arouse a drowsy baby.
- Denying access to their hands may prevent babies from scratching themselves.
- Swaddling is an extra layer to keep a baby warm.
What are the downsides of swaddling?
- A blanket can come undone and obstruct the baby’s mouth or nose, making it hard to breathe.
- Swaddling may cause overheating.
- Lack of body mobility opportunities may delay development.
- Swaddling may increase the risk of hip dysplasia if wrapped too tightly around the baby’s lower body.
- It interferes with normal motor skill acquisition by restricting shoulder mobility and arm movements. Babies need to develop shoulder girdle strength in order to get ready for crawling.
- It inhibits skin to skin contact.
- Swaddling may cause babies to sleep when they should be awake feeding. This may affect their growth and possibly jeopardize the milk supply.
- Swaddling for sleep increases the time it takes the startle (Moro) reflex to go away. It takes practice.
- Swaddling deprives babies access to their own hands.
Babies need access to their hands:
- for hand eye coordination development.
- to show hunger cues.
- to learn about their own bodies.
- to calm themselves.
- to learn about the world around them.