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.
I’ve got my eye on the Aden + Anais muslin wraps for baby #4 – I’ve never tried them before, but they look lovely.
They are fantastic. You’ll love it!
We are almost outgrowing swaddling now, but I’m curious to try the new way. I’m not sure he would have slept through as much if he could move his legs more, though, and the sleeping is really important.
I love Aden + Anais! Pinned this post. Thank you!
I like the new guidelines, Whatever is safest for baby plus this new guideline will help for squirmy babies like mine
I absolutely love the Aden + Anais blankets!
I like that the swaddlers infant’s arms and torso are snugly wrapped, but the legs are wrapped loosely, ensuring the legs are bent up and out. I definitely would like to have this for my newborn son.
I like using sleepsacks.
We had a child die of SIDS years ago, so I am very in favor of the Halo sleepsack.
I feel that the new recommendations are awesome! I am due with our third child mid-July, and it’s nice to know the correct ways to swaddle our new baby girl!
We use our Aden & Anais blankets for everything but swaddling. Might have to try them for that again.
We have an Aden & Anais swaddle and love it. It is still plenty big enough to swaddle my 11 lb+ baby girl!
I think these recomendations are great! I will have to give them a try!
This would be awesome to win! I love swaddling…Im expecting a new little man end of next month! My swaddlers from my son were very well loved..so I could use a new one!
I think the sleepsacks are wonderful. They were not available when my kids were babies.
I always thought the sleep pea pods were too restrictive and did the blanket swaddle. I think the sleep sacks are really the best option – can’t get loose and are still comfy.
i’ve heard great things about both products and am bookmarking the video – we’re due in november with our 1st!
We used a halo sleep sack and aden + anais swaddling blankets with my son and loved both products, the only ones we liked!
I sure do wish I had one of these when my kids were babies!
Thinking of you, and many hugs.
Congrats!
Hope you are feeling good!
I think it’s great & i llove a company who is concerned with safety like they are.
It makes sense to me. Swaddling really worked well with my first child, but we used a different product, similar to the Halo Swaddle. It too had a bottom velcro which could be attached very tightly over the hips — we will have to watch out when Baby #2 comes in July!
We’re expecting our first in September so we’ve been busy researching and learning all types of things- we hadn’t heard about the new swaddling techniques. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the Halo Sleep Sack! Swaddling Sleep Sacks are the best.
I am a HUGE Aden and Anais fan. Love all the muslin!! Their designs are sooo cute too. Definitely a fan of swaddling too. Some can’t get it at first, but it’s really worth figuring out. Or buy a sleep sack. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I love Aden + Anais swaddle blankets! We use them for everything! I like the new guidelines as well. I always have to swaddle my son loosely from the waist down because he never likes his legs wrapped up but loves his arms wrapped. Thank you for this great giveaway!
I think it is a good idea to keep the legs loose to move around
I am a fan of the new way to swaddle. I also understand about now swaddling the legs to tight. I also found that a baby that with cloth diapers that are thicker between the legs help keep the hips in place. I learned this because of helping raise a preemie for the first year of his life. When we got him home his hips were so stiff from being swaddled by the nurses all the time he was in the NICU. The doctor recommended doubled diapering until he realized that we were using cloth they he said his hips would be fine because his hips and upper thighs were held a part with his diaper. We also got him use to not being swaddled with in a month of coming home.
The new swaddling guidelines seem to be safest. I’ve never tried it though. So when I have my next baby, I will definitely try it out.
I feel like the new recommendations make sense. I’m all for keeping my new baby girl happy and healthy- thanks for bringing this to my attention!
They look and sound really nice!!!
I will definitely try these new swaddling techniques on my son (due in September). Anything to keep him safe and comfortable!
We are planning to cloth diaper our second and that is a side benefit I hadn’t considered. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve heard great things about both of these products!
They look wonderful! Would love to try with the new baby on the way!
they are great
Wonderful! I’ve always wanted to try the Aden + Anais muslin wraps.
I’ll always do anything to keep LOs safer so I’ll try out the new recommendations! And A and A are the best!
I think it makes sense.
Would love to win these for my newborn. I think the recommendations make sense- I will try them out. Thanks!
I think they are good recommendations. I am a big fan of the muslin material because it is breathable and I love that about aden + anais!
I love that these blankets allow a baby to be swaddled without using heavy hot material
They seem awesome – I wish I had them for my kids! (I would love to win for my best friend who is due in August)
good to know about the safe swaddling tips. ty
I think they sound great and would be perfect for a new baby! Thanks for the chance to win!
Love HALO ! Awesome company !
I’m expecting, so all the comments and video have been so informative! Thanks!
They look wonderful and super cozy! 🙂
I love the sleep swaddle, looks cozzzzzzy
I have used both of these and liked them both. The Aden + Anais blankets are so useful beyond just swaddling.
this is exactly how we’ve always swaddled our kids. Great advice.
They are good products
I’m glad that techniques are still being researched so that we can discover the safest way to do things. I like the sleep bags so the legs have the most free movement.
They look so awesome! I’d love to have these!
I will for sure try the new way of swaddling after our baby is burn next month! Thank you for the lovely giveaway!
Erin E
busymom369 at gmail dot com
i didnt have any ‘swaddle’ type blankets with my first.. and frankly i did NOT know how to swaddle a baby until i received an aden and anais muslin blanket with my baby (who is 7 months and still loves being swaddled from time to time!) … I recommend the swaddlers to all my pregnant and new-mommy friends.. they are truly the best and they are great
Would love to win this for my niece.
i think new guidelines sound reasonable – you dont want them to be too cramped. i have also heard to leave their arms out, but to me that seems like it defeats the purpose of swaddleing.
I think the guidelines are good for the safety of the baby. I will be trying them on my new baby this fall.
Any research that contributes to the well being of our children can’t be bad.
I like the new guidelines, great review learned alot
They are fabulous aren’t they. And can be used for so many other things like a previous commenter mentioned.
I love the Halo SleepSacks!
I’m pregnant with number 2, and have been doing alot of research on the best products out there. everywhere I read, someone is raving about Aden & Anais! I hear that for swaddlers, they are the best!
It is SO important to follow these guidelines, and other new guidelines that are released for infant safety…even if it wasn’t the way you did it with previous children and those children “turned out just fine.” I was an intern at SIDS Network, and we heard it over and over – “My baby sleeps (insert unsafe sleep practice) and nothing bad has happened to them.” Ok, that may be true…but you got lucky. As we find out more about what causes SIDS, we know better how to prevent it. Proper swaddling also helps prevent overheating! (Sorrrryyyy, stepping down from my soap box now!)
What we tell people at SIDS Network is to try swaddling your baby with her/his arms in, and if they don’t like it, leave their arms out. Your baby will make it clear whether or not they like having their arms in. Same goes for a pacifier – it can reduce the risk of SIDS by keeping their brain active & sleep lighter…but if they don’t like it, don’t force it. =)
Great tips! Thank you for sharing them.
No. I think it is so important to have these discussions so thank you for sharing your thoughts. Everything is valuable!
I think the guidelines are there to keep babies safe and I like that!
As a FTM due in october I am willing to learn anything and everything about taking care of my new LO. I think this is important research and it makes sense that tight swaddling can damage hip development.
The new guidelines are really great!
I have a close friend who swears by swaddling. Now my co worker is having her first girl and I would love to get these for her– I don’t think she knows much about it. I know she will love it though.
I love the products. I also think it is worth looking into new recommendations.
I would love the Halo because I worry about sids
I love the swaddle blankets.