As a Mom that is about to have another baby, I’m already adding more swaddling blankets, like these from Aden and Anais, as well as swaddle sleepsacks, like this one from Halo, to my parenting stash.

Yet, new information has been released about swaddling that any parent – whether you are expecting your first child or fifth child – should know about, and it may affect what products you buy to swaddle your baby.

While traditional tight swaddling may provide a newborn infant with a feeling of warmth and security, studies have found that regularly wrapping a child, below the waist, too tightly in a blanket or cloth, may lead to an abnormal development of the hip joint.

As a result, there are new infant swaddling recommendations and new ways on how to swaddle a baby by the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) are now recommending a more contemporary form of swaddling call “Hip-Healthy Swadding”, where the infant’s arms and torso are snugly wrapped, but the legs are wrapped loosely, ensuring the legs are bent up and out. Thus, the legs should be free to move, and not be wrapped in a ‘straight down’ position.” This recommendation may seem familiar as there has been a similar discussion in the baby-carrier market during the past couple of years.

Here are the new recommended IHDI techniques for safely swaddling an infant in a square blanket:

Option 1: Fold one corner of a square blanket down and place the baby with its head in the center above the folded corner. Straighten the right arm and fold the right corner of the blanket over the baby between the left arm and under the left side. Then, tuck the left arm down and fold the left corner or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of the baby.

Option 2: Place the baby’s head above the middle of one edge, tuck the right arm down and fold the right side of the blanket over the baby between the left arm and under the left side. Then, tuck the left arm down and fold the left edge of the blanket over the baby and under the right side. Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket up and loosely tuck it under one side of the baby.

If you need a visual, here is a video to show you how to do it.

Even if you swaddled the ‘old’ way for baby number one, just like the constant changes in crib recommendations, car seat safety and more, things can change from the birth of one child to another. So even if nothing happened to your previous child under the old recommendations or standards, it is still worth looking into this new technique.

The right products are also key to this new method of swaddling. A good swaddling wrap that is breathable, and has a bit of a stretch, is perfect for swaddling, such as those by Aden and Anais.  If you aren’t comfortable with swaddling yourself, a pre-formed swaddling product like the Sleepsack Swaddle by Halo, are a great must-have.

Thanks to these awesome companies, I have a Halo 100% Cotton Sleepsack Swaddle, and a single Aden and Anais swaddling muslin wrap, in your choice of color, to giveaway to one of you, so you can wrap your baby in one of these fantastic products in the safest swaddling method possible.

For more information on swaddling, visit posna.org, aap.org or hipdysplasia.org.

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Disclosure: I received a Halo Sleepsack Swaddle and a Aden and Anais swaddling set. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and the inspiration for the post is based on the IHDI’s published recommendations.