The Advantages of Wrapping Your Baby

Most parents have heard about baby wrapping. It is considered to be one of the better ways to get your infant to go to sleep on his own and involves tightly wrapping or swaddling the infant in a piece of cloth, to prevent movement.

This might sound cruel to some, but think about it. Your baby just spent 9 months in a very small space which was extremely cramped at the end. He is accustomed to having warmth and not being able to move much. In the same way that listening to a recording of a heartbeat can make a baby feel more comfortable and familiar, so can wrapping.

When a baby is wrapped, he is unable to flail his arms about, something which often wakes infants up. They tend to sleep much sounder when they are restrained by wrapping. The natural startle response of a baby to noise is to throw his hands up in the air, which usually startles him awake, even if the noise didn't.

Wrapping is very simple. You can buy a pre-made wrapper which comes with Velcro tabs which makes it even easier to wrap your baby, you just press the tabs and are done. However, it isn't necessary to buy a special wrap made for the purpose, you can make your own easily.

The best fabric for wrapping your baby is one that is light enough it won't suffocate your baby if he manages to get loose and bundle it up around his face. Old sheets work well. Cotton is best because it allows for absorption of sweat and also lets air through, something which is very important when you are wrapping your baby during the summer.

You can use either a rectangular or triangular piece of fabric, the choice is yours. I have personally found that the rectangular holds better, but many people prefer a triangle. You will need enough fabric to wrap around the baby's body at least 2-3 times.

For a rectangular wrap, lay it out on the bed and place the baby centered on the fabric, then move him about 6" to the left. Take the short side of the fabric and use it to tuck under his body, holding his arm against his body. Repeat with the other side. Your baby should be tightly wrapped up in the fabric, with only his head sticking out.

The triangle works in a similar manner, only you tuck the corners under the baby. It is also better to center the infant with the triangle wrap. This one may not hold as well and is best for small babies who will not be able to wiggle their way out.

Most parents use the baby wrapping technique until their children are about 4-5 months old, or when they can get out of the wrap on their own. It is best to use this every time you are putting the baby to bed so he will learn to associate being wrapped or swaddled with sleep.

This technique is best begun when your baby is very new, or he won't like it. Starting at three months seldom works. So, if you have a newborn, go ahead and try swaddling him. You'll be surprised at how much better he sleeps.