It always feels instinctive somehow to wrap a baby in a blanket and babies love to be swaddled as they feel cosy and secure like they did in the womb.

If you choose to swaddle your baby then doing so correctly is vitally important so that you are encouraging safe sleep and healthy hips. Babies mustn't be too tightly swaddled or allowed to overheat and hip movement must be unrestricted when babies are sleeping. Babies naturally lie in a frogs legs type position and this is natures way of ensuring healthy hip development.

The Lullaby Trust, who offer our gold standard advice around safe sleep do not advise for or against swaddling, but do offer advice on how to swaddle safely.
(https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/swaddling-slings/)

I almost always suggest the swaddling of babies up until around three and a half months, or until they are starting to show signs of rolling. It's not safe to swaddle a baby who may roll and this often happens around four months.

You may also be concerned about missing feeding cues if you use a swaddle (as your baby won't be able to fling their arms around.....a deliberate reflex which wakes the baby to feed) but if your baby is feeding regularly and gaining weight then you may actually be quite pleased to see your little one sleep for slightly longer periods.

(https://swaddlingresearch.com) for further reading, this article contains research findings around safe swaddling and amongst other things, suggests that a baby who is back sleeping and correctly swaddled is 30% less likely to fall victim to SIDS than a baby who is back sleeping and not swaddled.

Whether or not to swaddle is personal choice and as with all of my Top Tips, I would encourage you to go with your gut feeling on what feels right for you and your baby ❤

Look out for my post tomorrow when I will share a photo of the little one I am currently looking after, in her favourite swaddle.