The Secrets of Baby Swaddles: A Sleep Helper for Better Baby Sleep!

2022.07.25

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What troubles do new parents face when their baby sleeps?

Many new parents are worn out and sleep-deprived during their child's first year for one reason: baby suddenly wakes during sleep and won't go back to sleep no matter what you try. So hard!

Newborns generally sleep about 16 hours a day, but with short gaps between sleeps, often only about half an hour, and sometimes 3 to 4 hours at the longest. Among two-month-old babies, 50% can sleep 7-8 hours straight without feeding; by four months, most babies

can sleep8 hours straight without feeding. Breastfed babies, though, may take until 5 months to reach this goal.

3 Main Reasons Newborns Wake at Night

Good sleep quality helps baby develop normally and gives parents a peaceful night. So how to help baby sleep through the night, with fewer night wakings and night feedings, is a real skill for new parents. We suggest every new parent learn why babies wake at night, so you can address sleep problems at the root and everyone gets good sleep! Here are three common reasons babies wake at night.

Babies have shorter sleep cycles: It is completely normal for babies to wake after a short sleep, because compared with an adult's 90-100 minute sleep cycle, a baby's cycle is only 45-60 minutes. Babies also sleep lightly, so slight noises, room temperature changes, or larger body movements easily wake them. A good sleep environment is therefore very important. A secure, comfortable sleep environment helps baby go back to sleep on their own after waking, without fussing or needing to be soothed!
The room is too cold or too hot: A newborn's temperature regulation takes time to mature. If the room is too hot or too cold while baby sleeps, baby feels uncomfortable and wakes up crying. To help baby sleep more soundly and reach deeper sleep that is harder to wake from, keeping the room at a steady temperature is very important. Parenting products such as swaddles and baby blankets can also provide warmth and help baby fall back asleep.
Wrong ways of putting baby to sleep: For good sleep and fewer night wakings, how baby falls asleep matters. If an adult holds baby, feeds baby, or stays by the bed to get baby to sleep, then when baby wakes at night in a different situation, baby feels uneasy and cries. So we suggest training baby to fall asleep alone, so that even when baby wakes at night, baby doesn't fuss at not seeing parents and gets used to going back to sleep alone.

4 Ways to Help Baby Sleep Through the Night

Use a swaddle to give baby a degree of security: When it comes to newborn essentials, a swaddle is a must. In hospitals, nurses swaddle newborns. A swaddle, like the womb, wraps baby warmly and gives enough security. A swaddle also effectively limits baby's movement. Babies can have reflex movements in their sleep, and large movements can startle baby awake, so a swaddle limits those movements and lets baby sleep more soundly.
Take baby outdoors: Before 6 months, babies secrete less melatonin and find it hard to establish a body clock. To promote melatonin secretion, we suggest parents take baby outdoors more during the day, to spacious parks and gardens with relatively better air quality. Daytime sunlight helps increase melatonin secretion at night, which supports sound sleep and reduces night wakings.
Train a regular routine: To help baby build a regular routine, new parents can record baby's feeding, waking, and sleeping times and adjust them to their own work schedules. This not only starts building baby's routine but also eases the load on new parents, so baby isn't too excited to sleep when seeing parents, and has enough time with them.
Create a good sleep environment: If baby wakes soon after falling asleep, try creating an environment suited to sleep. For example, after putting baby in bed during the day, draw the curtains, and turn off the lights at night. This lets baby know that dimming lights means sleep, and less light stimulation helps improve sleep quality. We also suggest avoiding unsuitable TV programs for 2 hours before bed, otherwise baby may have trouble falling asleep or have nightmares, leading to waking at night.

Does Using a Swaddle Improve Baby's Sleep Quality?

Babies under 1 year old can't yet regulate body temperature as quickly as adults in response to outside temperature changes. Using a swaddle correctly can effectively improve baby's sleep quality and reduce night waking and crying.

A swaddle helps regulate baby's body temperature and mimics being wrapped in the womb, giving baby a familiar feeling of being back in mom's womb, which helps stabilize emotions, build security, and keep baby warm.

A swaddle also effectively limits baby's movements, reducing reflex movements such as "kicking," "trembling hands," and "waving arms" that startle baby awake. A swaddle also gives baby steady pressure, and this moderate pressure can support musculoskeletal growth and development.

How to Choose and Use the Right Swaddle

When choosing a swaddle, consider material, suitable season and size, ease of washing, baby's activity level, and diaper-change frequency. Parents can start by choosing a size by baby's weight, and buy a soft, breathable, sweat-wicking swaddle. Buy at least two, one thin and one thick, so you can switch for hot and cold weather. A simple structure works best; an overly complex design leaves parents fumbling and makes baby impatient during diaper changes.

Note that traditional swaddles may not stay secure; if the blanket has poor elasticity, it can easily cover a newborn's nose and mouth, causing suffocation or chest tightness.

Bedtime Baby Swaddle Product Introduction

The back-position arm design helps baby get used to sleeping on their back, with arms beside the head and the shoulder muscles lifted, which helps block rolling over onto the front. This greatly reduces the chance of rolling to the stomach, so caregivers can rest easier and sleep fully at night. (Click here to buy)

▶ More Related Products:[Mang Mang] Face 2 Face Bedside Crib

Cooling Summer Bedtime Baby Swaddle Product Introduction

Cooling and stretchy material in low-saturation Morandi colors, with playful animal illustrations drawn by designers. Understated and calm, soothing and elegant, it helps baby settle down peacefully and drift slowly into sleep. (Click here to buy)

Purchase Notes

Baby swaddles are "personal hygiene items" sold sealed for hygiene reasons and cannot be resold once opened, so baby swaddles are "not eligible for the 7-day trial period or no-questions-asked returns and exchanges." Be sure to check the size chart before you buy.

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