When I held my little baby for the first time after delivery, she was wrapped up in a swaddle. She was so tiny that I was afraid to take her on my lap; who knows if she might fall through! Yeah, I can vividly remember that moment. However, the nurse taught us the first thing before leaving the room was to swaddle the baby properly. The baby is just out of the womb now; she is perplexed at her best. Now, the more we can create an environment like a mother’s womb around her, the better she will feel. In this process, the first step is swaddling. It holds their hands and legs in a way that they feel comfortable pressure and warmth. This is essential for a baby to feel secure and have a comfortable sleep.
Now that you are home with a brand new baby, there is no nurse to help you through the swaddling process. But fear not, it’s very common to feel nervous to take care of your baby after arriving home for the first time. Over time, it will get easier, and you’ll get comfortable with the process. After repeating the swaddling process over and over again, I got a sense of some steps which could help you master the process in the least amount of time.
**Step-by-Step Guide to Swaddle Your Baby:**
1. **Prepare the Blanket:** Lay down a blanket on a firm surface, forming a diamond shape with one of the corners at the top. Fold the top corner around 10 inches down.
2. **Position Your Baby:** Place your baby in a way so that the top folded portion stays under the baby’s neck.
3. **Begin Swaddling:** Follow these steps if you are right-handed; otherwise, do the opposite:
a. Hold the baby’s arm down with one hand.
b. With the other hand, lift the upper left corner of the blanket and bring it across the baby’s body, tucking it under the baby’s side.
c. Lift the blanket material at the feet and bring it up and over the other shoulder.
d. Take the remaining upper corner and bring it across the baby’s belly.
e. Roll the baby slightly and tuck this corner underneath as you roll, ensuring a snug fit.
You may want to practice it several times, but I can assure you that the amount of time you need to spend on swaddling will eventually master you on this. It is okay to apply a bit of pressure while swaddling; there is nothing wrong with this. Babies rather love this pressure; they feel secure inside it. Over time, you will find the optimum pressure for your baby, understanding their likes and dislikes.
It is okay to keep your baby swaddled while sleeping. If one hand is outside, then it’s fine. Even a baby swaddled with both hands outside is perfectly okay. Just keep in mind not to swaddle over their belly. The pressure from it can hinder their breathing. Another important thing to keep in mind is to never put anything in the crib or their bed while they are sleeping. During the initial 12 months, this is very crucial. Any object in the crib during sleep could harm your baby, hindering their breathing and potentially leading to death. So, this is a big NO!