Today, there are a huge number of special courses for expectant mothers, where experienced teachers teach how to swaddle a newborn. However, in reality this case is far from being so simple and very exciting. After all, a newborn baby is different from a smiling doll, on which many parents trained. This is what most happy moms and dads discover after arriving from the hospital! A newborn baby waves with little hands and bangs its legs, sometimes even crying bitterly. But do not be upset - very soon practical experience will also be added to the theoretical foundations on how to swaddle a baby correctly!
There are two main ways of swaddling your baby: tight and wide. However, many pediatricians unanimously argue that tight swaddling is harmful to the health of the child, and recommend
swaddling in a broad way as an alternative. Because this type does not constrain movements.
How to swaddle a newborn?
You will need: 2 thin cotton diapers, a large flannel diaper, 2 vests (cotton and flannel). It is worth noting that the baby needs to be dressed and swaddled according to the season, as excessive heat can cause sweating. Now we turn to how to swaddle correctly.
- First, you should put on a baby a thin vest, the smell of which should be behind. On top of it, put on a more dense flannel vest. You can also use a bodysuit or a suit-man, which is more convenient than underpants.
- We spread the diapers. The flannel diaper should be at the very bottom, a thin cotton diaper spreads on top of it. The top of each diaper should be bent inward to a distance of 5 cm.
- We put the second thin diaper in a triangle and place the child on it. The lower edge of the triangle is passed between the legs of the baby, and we wrap the side corners around the body and hide behind the back. It turns out that the side corners reliably fix the lower edge of the diaper. If the baby is wearing a diaper, this item can be skipped.
- Now the most important aspects of how to swaddle a newborn. The free edge of the thin diaper is slanted obliquely under the back of the newborn. In this case, one handle remains open. We perform the same action with the second edge. After the edges of the diaper have disappeared under the back, we straighten the lower edge, turn it upwards, wrap it around the body and fix it to the upper edge of the diaper.
- Now we are doing the same with the flannel diaper. It should be remembered that swaddling should not hamper the movement of the baby's legs
It is also necessary to mention that swaddling can be complete and partial. Full swaddling is suitable for newborn babies, while partial swaddling is the perfect swaddle for a three month old baby. For boys, it is preferable to use reusable diapers from a diaper folded into a triangle.
Now you probably know how to swaddle a newborn. You should not be upset if at first you will not succeed or succeed in swaddling, but not in the way you would like. A little skill and dexterity - and you will succeed.