wrapped up - coles baby club

Many midwives recommend swaddling, or wrapping, babies to help them sleep. It’s worth asking the midwives how to properly wrap your baby before leaving hospital.

An ancient practice, swaddling places a slight pressure around your baby’s body, holding him in a foetal position, recreating the sense of being in the womb, or being embraced. While some babies don’t like having their arms and legs contained, many drift off to sleep as soon as they’re swaddled.

Swaddling your baby

Spread a cotton sheet, bunny rug or muslin wrap out flat with one corner folded over. Lay your baby with his neck resting against the fold. Wrap the left corner over his body and tuck it under him. Fold the bottom corner over his feet and then wrap the right corner around him, ensuring his head can’t be covered.

Don’t use a blanket to wrap baby or over-dress him as this may cause over-heating. Don’t wrap your baby so tightly that you affect his circulation.