According to the American Association of pediatrics, swaddling is an effective way of calming babies and promoting sleep when done effectively. You will learn how to swaddle your baby from the nurses in the hospital. You need to follow a few guidelines to make sure you swaddle your baby correctly. You should never put a swaddled baby on her stomach. It increases her risk for SIDS and accidental suffocation.

However there may be some risks associated with swaddling. The baby’s arousal is decreased so it’s harder for the baby to wake up. The decreased arousal is one of the many reasons why babies die from SIDS.

You should also know that babies who are swaddled tightly may develop problems with their hips. It can lead to hip dislocation or hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip-joint where the top of the thigh bone is not held firmly in the socket of the hip. Swaddle the baby in a way that allows her legs to bend up and out.

How to swaddle a baby

• spread the blanket out flat with one corner folded down
• Place the baby’s  face up on the blanket. Her head should be above the folded area
• straighten her left arm and wrap the left corner of the blanket over her body . Tuck  it between her right arm and the right side of her body
• tuck the right arm down, and fold the right corner of the blanket over her body and under her left side.
• twist or fold the bottom of the blanket loosely . Tuck it under one side of the baby
• It is essential to make sure the blanket is not too tight and her hips can move. You should be able to get at least two or three fingers between the chest and the swaddle. Leave enough room so that the baby can bend her hips up and outwards

You can swaddle the baby until he is about 3 months old. After this time, it may hinder his movement  and interfer with his development. When the baby starts to kick the covers or tries to roll over, she no longer wants to be swaddled.