The swaddling controversy
In recent years, there has been a controversy about whether to swaddle babies and when to stop.
When should parents stop swaddling?
Some babies will feel comforted by swaddling in the early weeks while others will try to break out of their swaddle creating the risk that baby’s face become accidentally covered by the swaddling blanket.
In the US, for those babies who enjoy swaddling, many doctors recommend to stop swaddling at about 2 months when they start trying to learn to roll-over. “By about 2 months, your baby will be moving around more in sleep, and swaddling could make her uncomfortable and contribute to night waking,” says Judith Owens, a pediatrician and director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.
In some European countries, the recommended maximum age is only one month.
The issue of hip dysplasia
There have also been some concerns with hip dysplasia. In 2011, a study by the National Resource Center on Child and Health Safety (NRC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concluded that swaddling can increase the risks of “serious health outcomes” and concluded that “swaddling is not necessary or recommended” in any childcare setting.
The AAP named several specific swaddling-related concerns, including:
- Hip dysplasia or dislocation (tight swaddling increases the chances of hip problems.)
- Loose blankets in the crib (if a baby breaks free of the swaddle, the blanket can cover his face, increasing the risk of SIDS.)
- Stomach sleeping (if a swaddled baby is placed on her stomach to sleep, or if she rolls from her back to her stomach while swaddled, it increases the risk of SIDS.)
Here are two useful links on these topics:
- http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/34/6/34.1.full
- http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=660487#.UysDSf1D1g1
With all of this controversy, a baby sleeping bag such as the baby deedee sleep nest can offer an alternative to swaddling.
Why a baby sleep bag may help your baby sleep better?
A baby sleep bag can keep your baby warm and covered through the night.
A baby sleeping bag can also help establish a sleep routine for you baby. Your infant will begin to associate putting on his/her sleeping bag with bedtime. Sleep associations are very important for young children as it helps them know what to expect. Most babies thrive when they have a predictable routine and baby sleep bags can help them achieve this.
Some babies may feel comforted by being covered with a . It is recommended to put babies down to sleep on their back. In the same way adults often feel reassured by being covered while they sleep, a baby sleep bag enables babies to sleep without the risk of having a loose blanket in the crib.
What makes baby deedee special?
Our product is the only one on the market with a patented center zipper and snap design in sizes up to 36 mos. This feature makes all the difference when trying to place a sleeping or a standing baby in the sleep nest. Designs with zippers that go all the way around are way bulkier and more difficult to use!
No more struggling with a zipper. Extra quiet oversized YKK zipper with custom toggle for midnight diaper changes.
Breathable and warm. The sleep nest is the perfect weight for nurseries 65 to 74. The fluffy batting lets air circulate keeping baby comfortable all night long.