Swaddling a newborn is a great way to help your infant move from the safety and security of the womb to the harsh outside environment. Swaddling, or wrapping the newborn in a blanket, can help ensure that your infant is warm and comfortable and feels as safe as he did before he was born. It can also stop the baby from being disturbed by his startle reflex (bodily jerks while sleeping). This article gives instructions on how to swaddle a baby correctly and safely.

How to Swaddle a Newborn

It is important to swaddle a newborn correctly. When done improperly, swaddling can damage hip and knee cartilage leading to further medical problems as the child matures. Some improper swaddling may even suffocate a baby. The correct procedure for how to swaddle a newborn is a very simple 3-step process:

Step 1

Start by spreading out a thin blanket. Fold over one corner of the blanket and place the newborn face up with his head on the folded corner. Pick up a corner of the blanket and pull it across the newborn’s body and tuck it under his body.

Step 2

Now, grab the bottom point of the blanket at the newborn’s feet and pull it up loosely. The baby should be able to move his feet and legs inside the blanket.

Step 3

Finally, pick up the last corner of the blanket and bring it across the baby’s body and tuck it underneath his body. That’s it! Your newborn will be safe and warm. If you want to see a video showing the steps of the swaddling process, check out the following video:

What if Your Newborn Does Not Like Being Swaddled?

Occasionally, you may come across a baby who does not seem to like being swaddled. This might be due to a couple of reasons. First, the baby may simply be way too tired to want to submit to going to sleep. Try rocking him after swaddling and see if that solves the fussiness. He may also be agitated and fatigued, for which you need to find ways to soothe him and calm him down.

If that does not work, you may have to consider the possibility that the baby may have outgrown the need for swaddling. By the time some newborns are two month old, they may no longer need the security of swaddling.