Children are, of course, the flowers of life. Parents from early childhood take care of their babies and try to give them only the very best, despite the fact that sometimes it is almost impossible. So, in the life of every young mothers and fathers, there comes a moment when they understand that it is time to start weaning your baby from the diapers. But how to wean a child from swaddling and is it necessary to do this? Children's doctors unanimously say that you can swaddle and even need as much as the child himself needs, he sleeps calmly in swaddling clothes - let him sleep.
Swaddling tradition in Russia
Few have ever thought about where this strange tradition came from - wrapping children in cloth. It turns out that in Russia from the earliest times it was customary to wrap newborns in swaddling clothes, as our ancestors called long strips of hand-made fabric. They were decorated with colorful (often red) patterns in the form of flowers, curls or crosses. They did this because there was no children's clothing for newborns, and it was possible to establish a child’s sleep only by “linking” him in this way.
There was even a special tradition of swaddling: first, the baby was wrapped in cloth, and a layer of swaddling was applied on top. By the way, it could be transmitted from generation to generation, as it was believed that a thing accumulates strength and positive energy for the further development of the child.
However, now all types of swaddling are considered incorrect and infringing on the personality of the little man. Young parents are taught that diapers are a relic of the past, shackles that prevent babies from moving normally and getting used to the environment.
Swaddling Types
Before you begin to wean your child from such constraints in movements, it is worthwhile to figure out why to swaddle a child and what types of swaddling exist.
There are two of them: tight and free. The first method is used in the initial weeks of the baby’s life in order to supposedly reduce the psychological trauma of the baby after birth. It occurs with the help of two diapers with the straightening of the legs and arms. In this position, the child is not free in movements, the first and most energetic and sharp movements of the arms and legs slow down, as does the development itself.
You should also think about breathing, if you accustom yourself to this method, the baby will just begin to suffocate, he literally will not learn to breathe normally. In addition, he will be forced to constantly be in an unnatural position, restricting the impulses to pull the handle or raise the leg and even nullifying them. Tight swaddling can cause incurable problems with bones or muscles. Sometimes the diagnoses made to the baby immediately after birth are exacerbated by such swaddling. In this situation, you need to think about how to wean a child from swaddling.
The free way is much more useful, because the child has the ability to at least somehow move and breathe normally. A freely swaddled baby can lie in the way that suits him, he also feels warm, but at the same time does not sweat, as the diaper passes air. A good step from this type to bedtime without diapers is a sleeping bag. In it, the child will feel even freer, will learn not to be afraid of his constantly twitching hands and objects, which they touch. Having overcome the test with a baby bag, you can put on baby romper pants and a vest for the night.
Why is swaddling necessary?
Newborns still do not know how to control their bodies, their own arms and legs scare them, as if they were some kind of foreign bodies. But it is impossible to avoid sharp jerking, these are the features of the development and process of babies getting used to themselves. By the way, such movements have a scientific term, they are called throwing. It is easy to calm a child, if he suddenly gets scared of his own body: you just need to press him to him or touch him, so he will feel the presence of something warm and cozy.
Why swaddle a baby? Now wrapping the baby in the fabric is due to the desire to direct him to the correct development. Because in order for him to develop feelings, it is worth placing him in conditions where these feelings are needed. In the case of swaddling, this is a touch. The kid needs to constantly touch something, whether it be the hands of parents, a toy or a diaper.
What will happen if you do not swaddle?
Why start swaddling if you can’t do this? Many young parents immediately use baby romper and other clothes, so as not to torment themselves and the baby with diapers. They act in terms of benefits for the baby, but everything should be within reason. It is noted that children who, from a very young age, have been taught to sleep without any restraint, grow up restless and irritable. Their sleep becomes intermittent and too sensitive, they wake themselves with their restless hands and begin to cry, giving parents a lot of trouble.
When to stop swaddling?
Nevertheless, children's doctors believe that swaddling is necessary, and it is necessary to finish when the baby “asks” about it, for example, cries at night, tries to get out of the “cocoon” or turns over. All these signs signal that the baby is growing and is ready for him to have his own baby clothes for newborns, in which he will sleep.
Of course, it is impossible to name the exact age of farewell to the diaper, and the weaning can last from 10 days to six months. By about three months, young parents begin to think about how many months to swaddle their baby. But in the end, the baby himself will understand that sleeping freely is much more convenient than in this hated diaper.
How to wean a baby from diapers?
All the parents are looking forward to the moment when the child starts to sleep normally without swaddling, because they think that with such changes a good dream will come without constant awakenings of all the inhabitants of the house. How to wean a baby from swaddling, if you feel that the time has come? It must be remembered that in no case should you take him with you too often, because it will be too difficult to wean him to sleep with his parents.
First step. Wean from tight swaddling and go to the free, and then to the bedroom bag and baby clothes.
Second step. Do not swaddle during the day (after three months), let the child get used to his hands. At night, swaddle is weaker and weaker.
Third step. Before falling asleep, swing the baby in her arms, and then transfer to the crib.
Fourth step. When the diaper’s time in the life of a child has passed, do not immediately put it on clothes, let it sleep under a rug.
Useful advice
The only thing parents should know about how to wean a baby from swaddling is that everything needs to be done gradually. Yes, the baby will get used to sleep without touching the fabric, but even this will become a shock for him, which also needs to be somehow overcome.
Moms and dads should wish only zeal, good sleep and patience in such a difficult matter as weaning from the diapers.