Monthly Archives: April 2019

Are you swaddling Safely?  Swaddling is a common parenting practice that has been around for ages and it is recommended for infants because of how it reminds them of being in mother’s womb. While swaddled, baby feels safe and comforted allowing them to self-soothe so they can fall asleep and stay asleep longer periods of time. The problem is,

many new parents are unaware if they are swaddling safely not.  Not swaddling safely can pose risks of suffocation, hip dysplasia, and overheating (a risk factor of SIDS). Here are some tips from our friends over at Woombie for how to swaddle baby safely:

Use a swaddle that makes it easy for you

Swaddling with something easy to use helps ensure you are swaddling safely.  Swaddling baby with a traditional square blanket can be confusing and ultimately lead to improperly swaddling your baby. The nurses in the maternity ward make it look so easy to wrap your baby up in a little perfect burrito, but it’s not as easy once parents try themselves. There is a great solution to swaddling safely and effectively with complete confidence.

One of the best baby swaddles that is easy to use, is the Woombie! Just place your baby inside and zip up!  No wrapping required, which means no risk of the swaddle blanket coming unraveled and covering baby’s face (suffocation hazard), no risk of over swaddling baby in too many layers causing overheating, and no risk of swaddling too tightly causing issues with baby’s hip mobility.

The Woombie works so well because it mimics the feeling of touch, warmth and cuddle, re-creating the womb environment baby felt prior to birth. This is important for calming baby and preventing flailing arms as well as the startle reflex.

Place baby on his or her back to sleep

Placing baby on her stomach is a big no-no. It can cause baby to rebreathe her own exhaled air which can lead to SIDS. The most important thing to remember is back is best.  However, if your baby is swaddled and they roll over, this could put your baby in great danger.

However, if your baby does successfully roll over onto her stomach, using a breathe-through crib mattress like the SafeSleep Breathe-Through Crib Mattress will reassure you that baby will be safe even if facing down.   The SafeSleep Breathe-Through has been scientifically tested to keep your baby safe while sleeping, even if swaddled and face down.   This unique mattress is the only air permeable mattress on the market that Pediatricians write prescriptions for infants who must tummy sleep for health reason.   The mattress is made with a 1/8 inch thick open weave fabric stretched firm over a hollow base with open sides.  Constant airflow goes in and out of the open weave fabric – fresh oxygen to your baby, and harmful carbon dioxide away from your baby.

Do not over swaddle

You are not swaddling safely if you over swaddle.  If you are using a regular blanket, you must be careful to avoid over swaddling your baby.  Never use more than one blanket. Using layers of blankets can make your baby overheat – another risk factor for SIDS.

(Another great benefit of our SafeSleep Breathe-Through Crib Mattress is that it helps to regulate baby’s core body temperature – not too hot and not too cold.)

Don’t swaddle too tightly

Again, with traditional swaddle blankets, it’s easy to swaddle baby too tightly. This can also make baby overheat and can lead to hip dysplasia. The Woombie helps you swaddle safely because it  allows baby to have a good hip range of motion to prevent against future hip issues.

Stop swaddling once baby is ready

If you find your baby is starting to roll over, this means it’s time to stop swaddling. There are different ways to transition your baby out of the swaddle, such as using an arms-free swaddle like the Convertible Woombie.  Once your baby begins to roll, you can no longer swaddle safely.  You want baby’s to have free arm movement once they begin to roll.

 

Be sure to consult with your pediatrician or certified child sleep consultant if you have any questions about your baby’s sleep habits or to double check that you are safely swaddling your baby. Reach out to the Baby Swaddle Guru/Inventor of the Woombie Swaddle, Karen Barski, with any questions at http://www.woombie.com/swaddle-guru/.

Following these sleep tips when traveling with your baby will make your trip less stressful.  Keeping your baby’s sleep on track when we travel is a common concern. Many families put off traveling with a baby because they don’t want to disrupt their child’s sleep routine which they worked so hard to perfect. Traveling with a baby is known to be disruptive to sleep schedules which can really take its toll once you return from your trip. The trick is to prepare as much as possible before the trip and try to make a few adjustments during your travels that will help you keep your child’s sleep on schedule as much as you can. Not everything will go as planned during travel, but these sleep tips will help you keep on track and maintain your baby’s sleep habits.

1. Keep to your Schedule

This is really the most important sleep tip when traveling with baby to follow because it will help the most once you’re back from your trip. Try to schedule your flight, car trip, train, etc. when traveling with baby to accommodate your child’s sleep schedule so you can stick to it. Also keep your child’s regular nap times, even if that means having to go back to your hotel in the afternoon for an hour or two. It will be worth it not to have an overtired, cranky baby at the end of the day who can’t fall asleep.

2. Bring familiar sleep gear

Another sleep tip when traveling with baby is to bring their familiar sleep gear.  Chances are your baby probably has a couple of accessories that have become an essential part of his or her sleep routine. These things might include a swaddle, pacifier, lovey, white noise machine, book, etc. Whatever is part of your child’s regular routine should come with you on your trip to help maintain consistency. You can even bring your breathe-through crib mattress with you to ensure your baby will have a safe sleep and sanitary environment wherever you go.

3. Get creative

Another good sleep tip when traveling with a baby is  having a separate sleep area for your child if possible. If your family is sharing a hotel room, get creative at bedtime. Try dimming the lights in the room and closing curtains and even stepping out onto the balcony so baby can fall asleep on his own while you can still keep an eye on him.

4.  Adjust to time zone changes

If you are traveling with a baby somewhere in a different time zone, this sleep tip is a must.  Start adjusting your child’s sleep schedule slightly a few weeks before the trip starts. Start by shifting the schedule by 30 minutes and follow that for a few days and then make another 30-minute shift for a few days, and so on. Adjust nap times and meal time accordingly.

5.  Plan a day of rest

When traveling far or going overseas, it’s best to plan for one full day of rest when you arrive is a sleep tip when traveling with baby you will want to use. Everyone should try and take a nap and get settled in so they can wake up feeling refreshed for a day of activities. Just make sure that baby doesn’t nap for so long that he or she has trouble falling asleep in the evening – same goes for adults and older kids!