How to wrap your baby

If only you could keep your baby warm in your hands forever like this little baby squirrel. But you'll be pleased to know that there is another solution and it is an essential skill that every mother needs to know.

In this article we will tell you the in's and out's of knowing what wrap to use throughout the year as seasons change and also importantly, how to wrap or swaddle your baby!

Different types of wraps available 

As you may have found out already, there are many types of wraps available on the market. To reduce your headache in picking the right ones, we've pulled together a list of blankets and wraps that are essential to have in any nursery to ensure that baby feels comfortable no matter what the season.

For cooler seasons:

During the colder seasons it’s important to make sure you don’t overheat baby. The common mistake of many new parents is they use too many blankets causing the baby to become too hot. You want to aim to keep your baby feeling comfortable and not too cold or hot and this is when the cotton weave baby blanket comes in. This blanket is perfect for those colder months to keep your baby warm. All you need to do is to just place it over your wrapped baby and that’s it! It’s also ideal to use in a pram if you’re going out or just as a comfy blanket to use all year round.

What makes the cotton weave blanket so great and a must have, is the design of the stitching. It’s thick enough to keep baby warm, but open enough to allow baby’s body to breathe. 

The double-layered organic cotton blanket can also be used for colder months to keep baby warm while also allowing baby's body to breath so they don’t overheat. This is a thicker cotton wrap and can be used either as a wrap or in the cot as an extra blanket. This is also a must-have blanket to use during the colder months. But the best thing about this blanket is that it can also be used during those cooler nights of summer as the fabric is amazingly soft to touch and breathable.

For warmer seasons:

One of the most recommended wraps to use and the MUST HAVE for all parents is the 100% bamboo muslin wrap. 

The bamboo muslin wrap is perfect to use during those warmer months of the year to keep baby cool and they can also be used while baby is sleeping during the colder months if the heater is on or when covered by another blanket. It is simply ideal to keep baby feeling comfortable all year round.

Now that you have the essential wraps you need to make sure your adorable baby is feeling comfortable, the next step is learning how to wrap baby :)

How to wrap your baby

There are a few different ways to wrap your baby, but the most common 2 ways will be explained in this article: 

• Option 1: Using a square or rectangular blanket shape
• Option 2: Using diamond blanket shape

Option 1: The square or rectangular blanket shape technique

• Step 1: Using one of the wraps mentioned above, fold the top edge down. It will depend on the length of your wrap to how much you fold down, but it’s recommended to fold down from the shoulders around half the length of your baby on; average around 20cm.
• Step 2: Lay your baby gently on the wrap making sure the baby’s shoulder is in line with the top of the blanket and place one arm under the edge of the top fold from Step 1.
• Step 3: Gently pick up the side edge of the wrap and fold it across the front of the baby tucking it in on the opposite side. 
• Step 4: As per Step 2, place the other hand of the baby under the folded top edge of the wrap.
• Step 5: Then repeat step 3 in the opposite direction and bring the wrap across the front of the baby’s body and tuck it under the baby’s back.
• Final step: Gently tuck the bottom of the wrap and any extra length loosely under the baby’s legs.

The baby at all times should be comfortable and the wrap should be firm, but not too tight!

Option 2: The diamond blanket shape technique

• Step 1: Lay the blanket down so it looks like a diamond and then fold the top corner down again. It will depend on the length of your wrap and your baby on how much you fold down, but it’s recommended to fold down from the shoulders of your baby to their hips or around half the length of your baby; on average around 20cm.
• Step 2: Lay your baby gently on the wrap making sure the baby’s shoulder is in line with the top of the wrap and place one arm alongside the baby holding it firmly.
• Step 3: Gently pick up and bring the side corner edge of the wrap and fold it across the front of the baby and tuck it in on the opposite side of the baby’s body making sure their arm is still alongside their body.
• Step 4: Fold the bottom corner of the wrap and bring it up over the front of the body of the baby, making sure the wrap is not too tight.
• Step 5 and final step: Repeat step 3 in the opposite direction and bring the wrap across the front of the baby’s body and tuck under the baby’s back. 

The baby at all times should be comfortable and the wrap should be firm, but not too tight!

Final thoughts

We hope this article has helped make things clearer and a lot easier for you when it comes to swaddling your baby. Now you can make sure your baby is wrapped up correctly and maintain them feeling comfortable all year round! :)

Here are a few final tips when wrapping your adorable baby: 

• Make sure the wrap never covers the face of the baby as this could prevent the baby from breathing properly and could be a danger for the baby. So below is an image of what is wrong.

• Make sure the wrap is not too tight. The baby should feel comfortable and not too restricted and should still be able to move their legs.

All in all, every baby is different so try a combination of all the different wraps to see which one is best for your adorable baby.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have fun taking care of your adorable baby and keep them safe! 

 Esther @ The Little Baby Shop  

http://www.littlebabyshop.com.au

Demonstration Videos 

For some further information, we've listed below some demonstration videos that show you how to wrap your baby:

• By Mothercare - How to wrap your baby
• By Mothercare - How to position your Baby for Sleep
• By International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) - How to Hip-Healthy Swaddle your Baby

 

* Please note that all information and commentary provided within this article is for informational purposes only, and shall not be taken as medical advice. If readers require any medical attention or specific advice they should contact a doctor or other appropriately qualified medical professional. The information contained within this article is based on the author's own experience only, and no warranty is given for its accuracy in any way. There is no assurance that any statement contained within this article is accurate, up-to-date or precise and readers shall contact a medical professional before acting upon any information provided. The author is not a medical professional and the information provided herein is, at best, of a general nature, and it shall not substitute the advice or guidance of a medical professional. The Little Baby Shop and its authors shall not take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented within this article.  

All images courtesy of mayoclinic, abc, Boykung from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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