It all started with the walker…and now it’s the swaddle!

As a professional dedicated to educating and supporting parents on how to care for their newborns, it infuriates me when products are pulled off the market because they are used incorrectly. There are so many products
that have been developed over the years to help parents with their babies and because our lack of educating parents on these products, they are used incorrectly and ultimately banned for sale or use because it was posing dangerous issues, injury or death.  If we would just take some time to educate parents rather than assume they will figure it out on their own, these situations could have been prevented.

The newest target effecting new parents is swaddling. Are you
kidding me!! Do you realize what will happen if you they ban swaddling. Babies will have a harder time sleeping, parents will have a harder time soothing,  postpartum depression will increase, the risk of SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome will increase. It angers me that rather than taking some time to teach proper swaddling techniques and the proper time to use swaddling, they just want to
take it away. When did our highly educated society become so against education? It saddens me that parents are left with little direction and support on caring for newborns and then we are the ones they blame.

Obviously I am an advocate for swaddling! 

Yes, it does help babies sleep better because it reduces the startle reflex! 
Yes, it does give parents a tool to help soothe and calm babies because it makes them feel safe and secure!
Yes, it decreases Postpartum Mood disorders because parents and
babies are sleeping better!
Yes, it decreases SIDS because parents are not tempted to place
babies on their belly to sleep or bed sharing!
Yes, it decreases Shaken Baby Syndrome because parents don’t
become frustrated when they can’t calm their baby! 

 
However…and here’s your education portion for today…listen up
“leaders” who keep banning everything because they don’t want to spend the money on babies and parents!
 
1. Make sure to focus swaddling efforts on your babys arms and leave the legs and hips loose to accommodate for proper hip growth and development. 
 
2. If you are using a blanket, make sure it is a 42x42 inch thin blanket that is secure and tucked around their body so that it does not get loose causing a suffocation hazard. Also be sure not to swaddle the head or face area. 
 
3. It is preferred that parents use a product such as a Halo Swaddler or Woombie Swaddler which offers an easy swaddling system that will leave ample room for leg and hip growth and less room for swaddling errors.  

4. Swaddling helps baby sleep better so it is important that parents do not let babies oversleep and miss feeds as this could cause baby to go into shock, be malnourished and reduce breastfeeding success. Babies should be fed regularly throughout the day without exceeding more than 2-3 hours between feeds in those early months.  

5. Never place baby on their tummy to sleep…never place baby on their tummy to sleep while swaddled!

6. Do not over heat baby by placing them in too many layers. Diaper, Pj and swaddle is usually enough. Do not layer blankets or extra clothing on baby.
 
You can learn proper swaddling techniques through one of our
professional team members or at one of our NEW Babeez Ed Classes which is revolutionizing parenting by educating parents on newborn care topics before baby comes!
 
Stop banning and start  educating!!!

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