Swaddling your newborn is an effective way to make your baby fall asleep faster. However, you may be wondering what type of blanket to use for swaddling.
You can use three kinds of blankets to wrap up your baby – like the traditional one, swaddle pouch, and swaddle pod.
Isn’t it adorable to see a baby wrapped up like a mini burrito? Besides the fact that it makes sleeping better, it also makes the parents get some needed shut-eye.
Looking out for a newborn can be exhausting, and you need all the rest you can get.
In this article, we’re going to talk about all about swaddling and what blanket you should get for your little one!
What Is Swaddling?
Back when the baby is still in their mother’s womb, they were used to being in a tightly contained area.
It’s no surprise that they may long for that same feeling in a tight space when they come out.
Swaddling will help newborns be comfortable enough to sleep and make them feel like they’re back in their mother’s belly again.
This is a technique used for thousands of years. It involves wrapping a baby with a thin and breathable fabric.
Why Is It Important?
Swaddling protects your newborn from their Moro reflex, which wakes them up in their sleep.
Moro reflex is an involuntary response characterized by the flinging of arms or legs.
Wrapping your baby up will help them avoid this reflex as swaddling restrains movement.
Swaddling is also an excellent way to introduce a positive association with sleeping.
It means that when you swaddle your little one, your baby will quickly catch on that it’s time to nap.
It helps your baby understand what will happen next and begin to calm down before dozing off.
What Type Of Blanket To Use For Swaddling
Traditional swaddles
This is just your ordinary thin blanket that you can use to swaddle your baby.
It is often made from materials like muslin or cotton, which are the usual fabrics used to make baby clothes.
It is typically this large square-sized blanket with no snaps or closures.
This is the most basic one because you’ll need some serious swaddling skills. It is just a plain blanket with no clasps that would help you make the work easier.
Read here to know the step-by-step procedure on how to do it right.
Swaddle pouch
If you’re a first-time parent, you may be confused about how to swaddle correctly. One wrong move can be dangerous, or worst deadly.
Fortunately, swaddle pouches are here to make swaddling more manageable than ever.
This kind of blanket is also known as swaddle suits or swaddle sacks.
It offers a hook-and-loop feature, zippers, and velcros that will keep your baby secured while napping.
It is also this unique shaped blanket that helps to swaddle faster and efficiently.
Some swaddle sacks also feature different designs for different arm positions. There are styles where you can get one arm up and the other on the side.
There is also a swaddle pouch design where both arms are inside the blanket.
Swaddle pod
A swaddle pod is generally made with a stretchy material that allows slight movement underneath the blanket.
Unlike the swaddle pouch, it doesn’t offer any other holes for arm positions.
This kind of blanket is made like that to resemble the womb with an extra room for stretching.
Even though swaddle pods are easy to use, it has its disadvantages.
If you have a persistent little one, your child may get their arms out due to its flexible material.
You may also watch out since it’s not that tight compared to the traditional one.
How To Choose The Right Blanket For Swaddling
Step #1. Check the fabric
Children usually have more sensitive skin than adults, especially newborn ones.
Since you’re going to wrap this blanket all over your baby, you’ll want a soft and snuggly material.
We recommend you go for Cotton swaddle blankets since they’re usually hypoallergenic.
Step #2. Consider the size
You also need to consider if your baby would fit in the swaddling blanket you’re eyeing for.
It should not be too small because you will not be able to swaddle your baby properly.
However, it should not be too big to avoid too much warmth or cause suffocation for your infant.
Step #3. Check its durability
Raising a child will cost you a lot of money. Naturally, you’ll want to buy things that will last a long time to save you money that you would rather spend on something else.
If you want a long term one, use traditional blankets since it doesn’t have velcros or zippers that can weaken over time.
Step #4. Easy to use
Each type of swaddling blanket has its own pros and cons that you need to weigh in to figure out which one would be easier to use.
Swaddle pods and pouches are easier to use than the traditional blankets since you won’t have to learn special wrapping abilities to use one.
Conclusion
Picking and learning what type of blanket to use for swaddling can be pretty overwhelming.
However, the tips above and the guidance of your primary healthcare provider should make swaddling a tad bit easier.
Even though swaddling offers various benefits, it’s crucial to practice safe swaddling to avoid health risks.