Until what age are children swaddled? Until what age should a baby be swaddled?

11.02.2020

Historical reference

Diapers: pros and cons

To swaddle or not

Conversations about whether it is worth swaddling a newborn have been going on for decades. Swaddling has its supporters and opponents: some believe that it allows you to “straighten” the baby’s arms and legs, others believe that tight swaddling is a direct path to the development of childhood neuroses. Which of this is true and which is not? Why are newborns swaddled or can this practice be completely abandoned?

Why swaddle newborns: positive aspects

Proponents of swaddling cite the following arguments in support of this process:

Restful sleep. The baby falls asleep much faster and calmer and is less likely to wake up due to sudden movements of the legs or arms.
Feeling comfortable. A baby in a diaper feels safer and more protected.
Child safety. Caring for a newborn baby requires certain skills that young parents simply do not have. Swaddling greatly reduces the risk of injury to your baby while caring for him.
Convenience for parents. Many mothers and fathers note that feeding the baby and putting him to sleep is much more convenient when he is in a diaper.
Child's comfort. Due to the absence of seams and creases, it is much more comfortable for a baby to be in a diaper than in a vest or pants.

Is it necessary to swaddle a newborn - negative reviews

Opponents of swaddling babies give their arguments against this procedure, but they all mainly relate to the so-called tight swaddling. Unlike free, this type is used less and less by modern parents. So, the reasons “against” swaddling a newborn baby are:

Baby's discomfort. When swaddling tightly, the baby may experience discomfort due to the fact that he cannot move his legs and arms.
Overheating of the baby. In the summer, such a procedure may disrupt the toddler’s heat exchange, and he may overheat.
Low practicality. Diapers are larger than a typical baby's wardrobe, so they take up more space and use more washing powder.

There are different opinions on the question of whether a newborn baby should be swaddled. Proponents of this procedure note peaceful sleep, comfort for the baby and convenience for parents. Opponents believe that the use of diapers entails excessive consumption of washing powder and discomfort if wrapped too tightly. Therefore, parents should focus on the needs of their child and his health. If the baby falls asleep restlessly and some of them wake up from moving their arms and legs, you can try tight swaddling; if not, loose or complete refusal of diapers.

Modern mothers have at their disposal items and things to care for a newborn, which women could not even dream of a few decades ago.

Diapers are:

regular
(square chintz or flannel) or Velcro;
in the form of an envelope
, allowing swaddling up to the shoulders;
with a hood
, in which you can wrap your baby’s head, creating the best conditions in the cool season;
special diapers for the arms
, in which the legs can move freely, if such an order is given by the doctor.

How many

need a diaper?
You should take them to the maternity hospital on the basis that you will need 5-6 pieces per day
. Diapers are often worn in the maternity hospital, but a supply of diapers is necessary.

When the mother returns home with the baby, the situation changes. Parents themselves decide whether to swaddle their child or not. If the answer is yes, you will need up to 20 pieces per day in the first weeks of life.

A lot - you say! Not at all! The child urinates about 20 times a day; diapers need to be changed even when he is dry. Add a few more to put the diaper on the changing table and in the crib.

In summer time

You will need fewer diapers,

and more in winter Without swaddling in a cool room, the baby will simply freeze. Flannel ones are great for keeping a tiny body warm.

A month later

Fewer diapers are needed. The child urinates less often, spends more time in the romper, coordination of movements improves, and the need for constant swaddling disappears.

Do you need a diaper for a diaper?

The skin of a newborn is very delicate. Any wrinkles, bumps or angles that get in the way can lead to irritation and chafing.

Don’t create a “greenhouse effect” by putting on a diaper and then swaddling your baby. Endure the time when children urinate frequently.

In addition, diaper

First of all,
parents need it to sleep peacefully
, and
the baby needs a diaper so that he can feel comfortable
and calm in a soft cocoon.

Any diaper restricts movement, and pediatricians additionally do not recommend wearing it.

How to properly swaddle a baby?

A young mother should definitely learn how to swaddle her baby before giving birth in order to make the process automatic. Proper swaddling will make life much easier immediately after childbirth.

Relatives of women who already have children, courses for young parents at antenatal clinics or private clinics will help with this.

Swaddling technique: basic rules

You only need to swaddle a clean and washed baby

. Otherwise, the skin will become inflamed and the baby will cry constantly.

The fabric must be clean and ironed

. Some mothers dry the fabric and use it again without even washing it. A newborn's urine is almost clear, and after drying there are practically no stains left.

Unscrupulous parents

They think that “it will do.”
They doom the baby to suffering
due to constant irritation on the skin caused by discharge.

If you are going for a walk in the cool season, immediately lay a warm diaper on the table, and on top of it - a thin one made of chintz or cotton.

You can swaddle babies in several ways.

Ordinary

spread out the diaper;
Place the baby so that the edge of the film is under his head;
Wrap the top edge around the baby, passing him under the handle on the other side. Fold the second edge in a mirror image;
Cover the baby with the bottom of the diaper;
tuck the resulting ears under the back: the right edge - from right to left, the left - from left to right;
secure the corners in the resulting bag by tucking them in.

"Envelope"

place the diaper so that the baby's head is on the upper corner;
subsequent steps are similar to the previous method.

What's good about this option? The child is protected from the sun or cold while walking outside.

Swaddling feet

After some time, mothers notice that the child is trying to free his hands and does not want to keep them inside the diaper.

In this case, when swaddling, simply place the cloth at chest level and wrap the baby on both sides, creating a cocoon. Fold the bottom edge under and pin as usual. The handles will remain free.

Swaddling with hands

Required for easily excitable children

so that they do not flinch during involuntary movements of the limbs. It is carried out at the earliest stages of the baby’s life.

Use the regular method or the Envelope option. After time, you will understand which method suits you best.

Swaddling with head

Used for newborns in the first days of life

The baby is put on a vest with closed sleeves and no seams;
the baby is placed across the diaper so that the head is lower than the edge;
the head is wrapped with the free edge, then it is brought behind the hand, wrapped tightly and tucked behind the other side;
do the same with the second end;
another diaper is wrapped on top.

When to stop swaddling your baby?

Modern pediatricians, after systematic research, have come to the conclusion that it is not worth keeping a baby in diapers for longer than 2-3 months.

. The ideal period is 1 month.

Staying in a cramped state for a longer period of time slows down development, prevents muscles from becoming stronger and deprives you of the opportunity to experience the world around you, reducing tactile sensations.

Stick to loose swaddling, which is the healthiest for your baby.

To make the process of swaddling a newborn as comfortable as possible for both mother and baby, even during pregnancy the expectant mother needs to enroll in special courses

, where they will teach you all the tricks of caring for a baby.

If the future dad also goes there, the benefits will be much greater. Caring for a newborn together brings the family together. And mastery of swaddling techniques and a sufficient supply of accessories will allow you to feel confident and calm.

Swaddling a newborn baby - Home Economics program

In many countries, they still use the traditional method of wrapping babies - swaddling, although modern pediatricians do not consider this procedure mandatory. It is very difficult to decide whether or not to swaddle your child on your own, since this method of dressing has both advantages and disadvantages.

Komarovsky: is it necessary to swaddle a baby?

In fact, regarding whether or not to swaddle a newborn, Komarovsky believes that his mental and psychophysical development does not depend at all on whether he was wrapped in diapers or put on undershirts.

Due to the fact that previously in our country many could not afford to buy a large number of baby vests and onesies, but could only afford diapers, which were passed down from older children to younger children, the tradition of using only diapers took root. There is an economic component, and not scientifically proven benefits or harm.

Traditional medicine advocates the possibility of physical activity, and the more the better. When the baby wakes up and is wearing a romper, he begins to move actively, and if he is wrapped in a diaper, he begins to scream and cry.

Benefits of going diaper free:

in a hot room, a swaddled baby may overheat;

washing vests requires less water, detergents and is easier to dry;

the child may turn around at night and become hypothermic;

more freedom of action.

On the other hand, if you have about twenty diapers left from your older children, it is completely unreasonable to throw them away, why not use them again? After all, economic benefits and the nervous state of parents are no less important.

There is a version that when a baby is wrapped in a diaper, he feels more protected, like in the womb. The baby's body temperature is not constant and the diaper warms the body, but it is important to prevent overheating.

Sometimes doctors prescribe swaddling for dysplasia or disorders in the development of the hip joint, as well as for premature babies. Often in a dream, a child can wake himself up if his arms or legs twitch involuntarily.

In the heated question of whether or not to swaddle a newborn, Komarovsky answers: “Choosing between diapers and undershirts is a personal matter for a particular family. But in any case, we are not even talking about tight swaddling - only loose wrapping. If you have a preference for diapers, you should choose only high-quality diapers.”

Arguments in favor of the grandmother's method

Swaddling and twisting a baby is a tradition that came to us from our great-grandmothers. Recently, only a few have turned to it and adhere to the arguments for this method.

If we talk about the benefits of swaddling a child, then first of all, we should turn to the origins of the tradition. Previously, it was believed that swaddling contributed to the normal structure of the baby’s skeleton after birth and therefore this procedure was turned into a whole ritual. It is worth noting that among children who were swaddled at night from a very early age, there was a low rate of deviations in the development of the spine and musculoskeletal system.

In addition, every third doctor believes that swaddling can simulate an environment close to the mother's womb. That is, after staying in the mother’s tummy for nine months, the baby gets used to the cramped space. Therefore, if you swaddle your baby after birth, this will help him adapt to the new environment faster. A newborn, wrapped in a warm diaper at night, usually sleeps more soundly, as he feels protected.

There is also an opinion that swaddling babies after they are born ensures a restful sleep throughout the night. The movements of newborns are largely unconscious. Without mastering the technique of controlling their body, babies can move their arms and legs incoherently. As a result, they can wake themselves up in their sleep.

In addition, a baby wrapped in a diaper will not be able to roll over. Therefore, those mothers who are worried that the baby may bury himself in the pillow and suffocate from this may not worry about this if their child is tightly wrapped in a diaper.

From a psychological point of view, swaddling is also useful in that it helps parents introduce certain behavioral boundaries for the baby. Thus, new parents have a chance to clearly show their child that there are some limitations.

When asking the question at what age you can start swaddling your child, you won’t be able to get a specific answer. This decision is purely individual. However, it is worth remembering that early swaddling of a child helps to instill in him the concept of education. The baby, no matter how many months or years old he is, must know about the existing boundaries of what is permitted. Children who have not been able to instill this quality since childhood create certain difficulties when they reach a conscious age.

Dr. Komarovsky expresses an ambiguous opinion regarding swaddling and at what age such education can be introduced. On the one hand, wrapping a child in a diaper gives parents a chance to save on clothes, because children grow up very quickly and not everyone has the opportunity to provide their offspring with things of the required size. But as far as education is concerned, this is a controversial issue, because time and principles and norms of public behavior change. Therefore, Dr. Komarovsky considers such concepts as “swaddling” and “a person worthy of living in the modern world” to be incompatible.

Until what age are children swaddled?

There is no clear answer to this question. Each child needs an individual approach. Not even a single doctor will definitely answer the question of up to what age a child can be swaddled. As a rule, many children experience “throwing up” of their arms. This wakes up babies, they become afraid of their own body and become nervous. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to initially swaddle babies during daytime and nighttime sleep. When the baby is awake, his movements should be free.

In some children, throwing up their arms occurs up to 3 months, in others - up to 6. It all depends on the individuality of the child. When he stops twitching, then you can stop wearing diapers for naps. If you don’t know at what age to swaddle your baby at night, try dressing him in rompers or baby vests once. Watch how he sleeps. If your baby continues to wake himself up at night, then continue swaddling him. Then he will be calm and cheerful.

Opinions about the dangers of tightly wrapping

Many modern parents are at a loss, because the issue of the need for swaddling has been debated for a very long time. Returning again to whether it is necessary to swaddle and from how many months the procedure can be introduced into everyday life, it is worth paying attention to the opinion of experts.

For example, Dr. Komarovsky believes that this method is completely irrelevant for modern times. Moreover, it has long been refuted that swaddling cannot straighten the curvature of the legs. Wise doctors proved not only the pointlessness of the procedure of straightening the legs of a newborn, but also that a wrapped baby is uncomfortable in such a position. Like any other doctor, Komarovsky believes that the physiological position in which the child’s legs and arms are bent is closer to natural and is considered comfortable for him. Therefore, it is advisable not to swaddle your baby at night so that he can breathe calmly and sleep soundly.

But the opinions of doctors from different countries regarding the question of whether it is necessary to swaddle a newborn and at what age to wrap him in a swaddle, from the point of view of educating his personality, differ greatly. Having studied the development of the human personality for a long time, child psychologists came to the conclusion that no matter how many months swaddling is introduced, it can interfere with its harmonious development. That is, by creating an environment for the child to live in, limited by a diaper (even at night), parents infringe on his individual perception of the world.

Many parents perceive this as a cause for concern, because now it turns out that children who were previously brought up and raised in swaddling clothes are uninitiative people who develop in conditions of lack of harmony.

Whatever the opinion of the doctor delivering the baby or the new mother, you can only rely on the parental instinct and observations of the baby’s behavior from the first days of his life.

Sleeping in free flight

As a rule, to wean a child from swaddling at night, no special measures are required: parents simply stop wrapping the baby in diapers and that’s it. But in the case when children are easily excitable, modern baby care products can come to the rescue and teach the child to fall asleep without swaddling: Velcro diapers, sleeping bags, etc. Gradually, the baby will get used to the fact that sleeping without a cocoon of diapers is the same good, as in it.

Discussions about swaddling babies and the optimal methods of “wiping” continue to be relevant to this day. But all parents must independently decide for themselves how many months they can swaddle their baby and whether it is necessary to do it at all. In any case, you should use common sense, taking into account the situation in the family, the temperament and the state of health of the child. The best recommendation that can be given in this case is the advice of one famous television doctor: “Swaddle if you want. If you don't want to, don't swaddle. The main thing is don’t be nervous!”

Alternative Methods

Considering the opinions of experts and those who have already experienced all the delights of motherhood, you need to pay attention to alternative methods of swaddling. If wrapping your baby tightly in a diaper is not suitable, you can try more modern methods:

swaddling without gripping hands, when only the newborn's legs are wrapped;
loose swaddling, when the diaper is not tightened too much;
a sleeping bag for sleeping in which a child is placed at night so that he can take a comfortable position while sleeping, but without waking himself up.

At all times there have been and will be those who are for and against swaddling a newborn. When planning to become parents, you need to think in advance whether you will swaddle your baby, from what age and until how many months.

Time flies quickly, and your baby is growing by leaps and bounds. It seemed like he was born just yesterday, but three whole months have passed, and he has already grown up, you think that it’s time to teach the baby to fall asleep without diapers. How to be? How to teach a child to sleep “like an adult”?

All the impressions that a child absorbs while awake accumulate and are involuntarily “reproduced” in a dream. The nervous system of a newborn is not yet fully formed and reflexes are not controlled while he sleeps, and therefore the baby involuntarily moves. A baby's sleep depends on his genetic and individual qualities and character. The more active the baby is, the more often he wakes up due to the fact that he can move freely in his sleep. The child often shudders, moves his arms sharply and therefore wakes himself up.

Calmer babies, accordingly, sleep more soundly, and therefore the need for swaddling such children is much less. It also happens that kids like it and find it more convenient. These babies sleep better than those who are used to sleeping on their sides or backs. They do not wake themselves up with the movement of their arms and legs and do not require swaddling from birth.

The swaddling myth

Many years ago, doctors, mothers and grandmothers argued that it was necessary to swaddle a child tightly. To date, doctors have dispelled myths about tight swaddling:

1. The longer you swaddle your baby, the straighter his legs will be. This is wrong. It has been proven that heredity is the first thing you need to pay attention to. Much also depends on high-quality and nutritious nutrition, and physical development is also important. If there are not enough vitamins in the child’s body, then there may be curvature of the legs.

2. The tighter you swaddle your baby, the warmer it is. It is a myth. Of course, the child is warm, but he does not have the opportunity to adapt to temperature changes. This will affect his health in the future. Such children get sick very often.

3. Sound and healthy sleep. This is partial truth. However, if a child often twitches in his sleep and wakes himself up with his own hands, you need to pay attention first of all to his nervous system. Overexcitement or fear of the baby contributes to frequent awakenings, regardless of swaddling.

Previously, almost all children grew up on these myths. However, modern parents and doctors argue that children need freedom. Why and what is it needed for? Until what age are children swaddled?

Sleep as an important component of a newborn's life

Contrary to the opinion of child psychologists that newborns simply need warmth, affection and the participation of their parents, some mothers believe that it is possible to teach a baby to sleep on his own without holding him in his arms. Let him scream for a couple of nights, and then he’ll get used to falling asleep on his own; there’s no point in getting him used to holding hands.

Unfortunately, it is not so rare to hear from parents: “I will not rock or swaddle him. Let him cry for a couple of nights, then he’ll fall asleep on his own.” Or: “I let him cry and he’ll stop anyway. It’s him who shows character!”

But what can such an attitude lead to? Definitely – to poor sleep and erosion of trust in parents. The child understands only one thing: that he is completely alone, that no one sympathizes with him. Remember: the most likely result of using the “let someone yell” method is a child’s shattered psyche.

A baby who has just stepped into this world needs the protection and love of his parents, and he can only receive this when he is picked up and warmed up.

The information that a baby receives in the first months of life at the time of activity is processed by him in his sleep, and therefore the moment of falling asleep is very important for a child at this age. Impressions received while awake can become a “brake” and affect the process of falling asleep. Mom needs to help the baby fall asleep. Sleep in the first months of a little person’s life is an important component of the child’s psychological and physical development.

While the baby is resting, he has:

the nervous system in general and brain neurons in particular are formed;
hormonal growth is activated;
the clear and correct functioning of the nervous system is “tuned”;
the speech and motor apparatus is formed;
there is balanced mental development.

Even adults cannot feel alert and healthy if they do not sleep well. What then can we say about the baby? In order for a child to grow and develop properly, it is necessary to provide him with complete and proper sleep. It is unacceptable to disturb the baby’s rest and thereby deprive him of normal psychophysiological development.

We also read:

5 ways to teach your baby to fall asleep without swaddling

Now that it is clear what role sleep plays in the life of a baby, it is necessary to answer the question of when and how to teach a baby to sleep without swaddling and is it necessary to rock him to sleep when he is put to sleep? Of course, there are many more ways to accustom a baby to “adult” sleep. Everything will depend on the character of the baby and the patience of the mother. Experienced mothers advise:

You can start with loose swaddling, lightly tightening the baby’s arms so that he can free himself during sleep. Next, do not swaddle him during daytime sleep, and subsequently refuse to swaddle him at night;
At night, you can carefully turn the baby around and lay him next to him on your bed, covering the baby with a blanket;
You can immediately put your baby with you without wrapping him in diapers. After a while he will get used to sleeping unswaddled.

We also read:

To swaddle or not to swaddle your baby?

Note to moms!

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By three months, the baby has already grown so much that the mother has difficulty wrapping him completely. The activity of the baby does not allow him to fall asleep quickly, so it is simply necessary to begin the process of weaning from diapers. But how to do that? Quickly, cutting off all escape routes and resolving this issue in one fell swoop, or gradually?

There is no clear answer to this question. Everything is decided individually. You need to decide this issue yourself by trying several methods and choosing the one that suits you best. But the main thing in this difficult matter is still the mother’s patience. Patience and, of course, love.

Here are 5 basic techniques for weaning your baby from swaddling:

We fall asleep in mom's arms.
There is an opinion that a baby should not be taught to fall asleep in his mother’s arms; this will become a “bad habit” and an unnecessary waste of energy for the mother. Nothing like this. The mother's hands are protection, and falling asleep on them, the newborn feels safe. But if you are afraid that the child will never be able to become “independent” and fall asleep without your presence, then you can, without waiting for the stage of deep sleep, put him in the crib, but do not go far. And if the child wakes up, then calm him down, letting him know that you are nearby.
I sleep with my mother.
Mothers also get tired and want to rest
.
So why not put your baby next to you? Mom’s warmth, her smell, the beating of her heart and mother’s hands will quickly calm the baby, and he will peacefully fall asleep. Later, you can put him in his crib and cover him with a blanket, the same way he was covered when he slept next to his mother. This method will teach him.
Gradually gaining freedom.
This method of gradually weaning off the “shackles” of diapers is quite effective and suitable for patient mothers. It is necessary to loosen the swaddling each time, watching the baby sleep. Mom's patience will be rewarded. Soon the baby will get used to sleeping in an unfolded diaper not only during the day, but also at night.
We are tourists.
For a child during sleep, the main thing is warmth and comfort. It is quite possible to replace the diaper with a blanket, folding it into an envelope. You can also use a real children's sleeping bag or. It is clear that being in a blanket that is too warm all the time is harmful for the baby, and therefore the mother can unzip the bag and give freedom to the little “tourist”. This method of “unswaddling” has helped more than one mother.
We hold hands.
This method of weaning from diapers is also for diligent and patient mothers. Perseverance will help you be close to your baby and hold his hands while he falls asleep. And since all babies fall asleep at different times, mothers should have plenty of patience. You can remove your hands only when you are sure that the baby is fast asleep. But even then you shouldn’t go far from him. After all, he may accidentally wake himself up, and then you will need to calm him down in a quiet whisper and again put your hands on his arms.

Well, every mother chooses for herself how to wean her baby from swaddling and decides for herself what is better and more comfortable for her and her child - fast or slow weaning. Some babies, for example, quickly fall asleep while rocking. But not all mothers are for this method of sleep training. What to do, is motion sickness necessary or can you do without it?

There is an opinion that by three months the baby’s cognitive activity increases, the diaper hinders his movements - as a result, development slows down. In fact, we need to again turn to the individual characteristics of the child. If he sleeps much more soundly in a diaper, it means it’s comfortable for him. And this is much better than constantly waking up all night and then being cranky during the day (just because the parents suddenly decided to stop using a diaper).