From the minute the labour and delivery nurse swaddled Joanne Sacchetti?s newborn twins, Nico and Serafina, the pair were happy and content cocooned in their wraps. ?After being so compact inside, I guess it made sense that they would yearn for the same on the outside,? she says. But four months later, while Nico didn?t stir from his ?baby burrito? during sleep time, Serafina would Houdini her way out, wiggling her hands and then her arms until she broke free. She slept soundly once her arms were out, but she soon learned to roll over. It was time to say ?so long? to the beloved swaddle.
Swaddling, or wrapping a baby up in a blanket so their arms and legs are snug and secure, is an age-old technique that can help newborns sleep longer and cry less. It?s designed to recreate the cozy feeling of the womb. In North America, 90 percent of infants are swaddled during their first few months of life. While swaddling is wildly popular, it can also be a contentious topic, and there are ever-changing guidelines on how to do it safely. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), swaddled babies should always be placed on their backs, never on their stomachs or sides. Parents should use swaddling only for sleep and give baby plenty of time when awake to explore and move. And it?s important to leave some room for the legs to move to avoid hip problems. The CPS also warns against overheating the baby with too many layers. Still, when it?s done properly, swaddling is a great way t...