Newborn care: how to swaddle in the hospital and at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

One of the most important skills a new parent should have is swaddling. It helps to gradually adapt to the unusual world of the baby, who until recently was in a cramped mother's womb, and relieves the pain of a small tummy (colic). Improper swaddling can lead to diseases and abnormalities in the development of the child, so during the procedure it is necessary to adhere to generally accepted norms. This article will focus on how to properly swaddle a newborn: tips, methods and step-by-step recommendations will be given below.

Is it necessary?

Until recently, the question of whether to swaddle a child did not arise. Today, this topic is becoming a frequent cause for disputes between specialists, generations and young mothers. A tightly wrapped infant is said to have difficulty breathing. In addition, his legs are forcibly pulled out, which can lead to various pathologies. Why are all children swaddled in maternity hospitals? This method has undeniablebenefits:

• newborn feels calmer, as swaddling partly imitates the mother's womb;
• thermoregulation of babies is poorly developed, and in a warm diaper they do not freeze;
• baby fast asleep;
• diapers significantly save the family budget.

Already during pregnancy, the expectant mother is concerned about the question of how to swaddle? In a hospital, a young parent can be taught this by a doctor, but often even a few illustrative examples are not enough to master seemingly simple manipulations. For this reason, you should learn the science of swaddling in advance.

Preparation

As a rule, a woman learns how to properly swaddle a baby in the hospital. Here, everything you need is already prepared by nurses - you do not need to wash and iron baby diapers yourself. Ensure that the tissue is clean, sterile and soft. Otherwise, irritations will appear on the delicate and vulnerable skin of the baby, which can cause pain and discomfort to the little one. The procedure is carried out in a certain sequence.

1. Wash your hands.
2. Wash baby.
3. Put on a diaper (if necessary), a vest.
4. Spread a warm diaper on the changing surface, thin on top.
5. Swaddling your baby in a convenient way.

In the room where swaddling will be carried out, it should be warm. A light draft, imperceptible to an adult, can easily provoke a cold in a baby. It will be easier for a young mother to carry out manipulations while standing, and a changing table will greatly facilitate the process. A soft, washable mattress should be placed on it so that the baby is comfortable.

Loose swaddling

Parents rarely have to talk about how to properly swaddle in the hospital. The first days of life, the baby is tightly fixed in the diaper, but after a few days the “grip” can be loosened, allowing the baby to explore the new world and his body. According to experts, free swaddling is safe, and therefore the best option for babies - it does not constrain the body, does not impede movements (which, as you know, do not harm anyone), and does not interfere with blood flow.

1. The baby is placed in the center of the diaper.
2. The edge of the fabric is at armpit level.
3. The sides wrap around the body and are fixed behind the back.
4. The bottom of the diaper is lifted and tucked into the formed folds.

With this method, the arms and legs of the baby remain mobile, so the method is not suitable for shy and weak children.

Tight swaddling

Many mothers are wondering how to swaddle in the hospital? After all, there are several different ways. In modern maternity hospitals, a conservative method is usually used - tight swaddling. At the same time, the child's body is securely fixed with a cloth, and the arms are tightly pressed to the body.

1. The baby is placed in the center of the unfolded diaper so that its edges are at neck level.
2. Arms and legs stretch along the torso.
3. Edges alternately tuckedunder baby.
4. The bottom of the diaper straightens out.
5. The ends wrap around the baby in the chest or neck area, depending on the size of the fabric.
6. The remaining edges are fixed in the "pockets" formed during the swaddling process.

The diaper should fit snugly to the body of the newborn, while it is important not to overdo it. If the baby cries after swaddling, you should loosen the fixation.

How to swaddle a baby correctly: photo with instructions

In the maternity hospital, a baby is brought to a young mother already wrapped in diapers. Moreover, many nurses help the parent and “pack” the baby on their own. Once at home, many women are lost. How to swaddle? In the hospital, in the hands of experienced doctors, everything looked so simple!

The sequence of actions for tight swaddling of a newborn is shown above. The corner that bends over the child's head can be released after manipulation. Then you get a kind of envelope in which the little one will be completely hidden. This method is suitable for swaddling in a blanket while walking.

Every mother should know how to properly swaddle a baby. In the hospital, the medical staff is far from always free, who will patiently teach the woman in labor the necessary skills. You should prepare in advance for the birth of a child and familiarize yourself with the basic requirements of care, including swaddling.