Swaddling.

Swaddling is the art of wrapping a baby or infant so that they are held firmly in cloth binding. This is a practice that has been carried out through the ages since biblical times. Originally swaddling was a method of restricting the movement of the child, and was thought to encourage strong, straight growth of the child's limbs. The degree of swaddling, which used to involve several different bindings altered in about the 17th century when it was decided that this was too restrictive a practice. Since then swaddling has been refined to the wrapping of the infant in a single piece of cloth or a shawl.

Many cultures still swaddle children until they are independantly mobile. In the west we swaddle newborn babies but some people think that swaddling should be discontinued at 8 or 12 weeks. There is no evidence to suggest that this is good practice, in fact the research completed in 2002 and 2005, and quoted in Pediatric journals, suggests that swaddling has a rich variety of benefits for the child and for the parents.

Swaddling a newborn makes the baby feel secure. While in mothers womb only limited movement was possible, baby was confined by mothers womb and abdominal muscles. Swaddling gives the baby the sensation of being held. Surrounded by the deep pressure of a breathable wrap, only baby's head is left free. This "holding", without physical contact, allows baby to relax and sleep on his/her back. The startle reflex, which causes baby to abruptly open arms and swing unco-ordinated hands and arms, can result in an unswaddled baby hitting themselves and can waken an otherwise settled baby.

Swaddling calms a fussy baby because it makes baby feel secure. One well recognised Pediatrican points out that this is one of the "four S's which calm and settle babies!" Today many mums are discouraged from maintianing swaddling after 12 weeks on the grounds that after this time swaddling impacts on a childs growth and motor development. Again, there is no evidence to back up this eroneous claim.

Swaddling has the following positive benefits;-

1) Swaddled babies sleep longer and better. Startles are reduced, there are fewer awakenings during deep sleep, and there are shorter arousals during REM sleep.

2) Swaddled babies are kept at a warm temperature without the risk of loose bedding covering their face and head.

3) Swaddling reduces fussiness and may even help eliminate colic.

4) Swaddling keeps baby sleeping on his/her back which is recommended for the prevention of Sudden Infant Death.

5) Swaddling is associated with increased awareness of environmental auditory stress, so although baby sleeps longer and deeper baby is also more alert to danger.

6) Swaddling makes it impossible for baby to scratch themselves or jerk their limbs and wake themselves by the unco-ordinated limb movement.

As babies grow stronger and more mobile they will wriggle free of the swaddle but there is no evidence that swaddling will inhibit a childs development in any way. Of course, as the child grows swaddling should only be done for naps and night sleep. The rest of the time baby should be able to use their limbs freely and experience the world.

As recently as July of this year researchers were being quoted as having further evidence of the benefits of swaddling even in older children. It is never too late to swaddle although some children do take a little time to get used to this if it has been discontinued earlier.