Washington University in St. Louis – School of Medicine:

A major focus of this research is development of strategies and public health interventions that may result in prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and related causes of infant deaths.

Project #2: The practice of placing infants on their backs for sleep has greatly reduced the incidence of SIDS in the past 6 years. However, many parents (Ca 30%) still place infants on their stomachs for sleep since, in this position, [many babies] seem to sleep sounder with fewer awakenings. Swaddling (tight wrapping) infants for sleep has been used for centuries in conjunction with back sleeping. Swaddling soothes infants and likely reduces spontaneous arousals from sleep in back sleeping infants. Swaddling of infants, aged 1 to 8 months, has been largely abandoned in the U.S. … Our recent research has shown that if a swaddling technique is employed that does not restrict breathing or leg movements the health concerns are largely eliminated and babies can sleep more soundly on their backs. We envision that a revival of the practice of swaddling, using this new technique, could increase the acceptance of back sleeping and thereby further reduce SIDS death in the U.S. and abroad.

To see full study, click here.

TeachMoreLoveMore.org:

Swaddled Infants Sleep Better, Safer

Published: Friday, December 06, 2002
Publication: Health Scout News
By: Ross Grant
Lightweight wrapping helps them wake up less frequently, cuts SIDS risk, study says

"Babies who sleep in swaddling cloths wake up less frequently and get twice as much REM sleep during a nap as those sleeping with normal blankets, says new research. Moreover, swaddling babies appears to help them stay on their backs when they sleep, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, according to the study in the December issue of Pediatrics."

"Now we have scientific evidence to support the age-old belief that swaddled infants sleep better than unswaddled infants," says Gerard, who is also a doctor at the St. Louis Children's Hospital.

To see full report, click here.

BabyCenter.com

Deborah Lin-Dyken, MD:

Swaddling is an age-old technique for keeping an infant warm and secure.

Swaddling creates a slight pressure around your baby's body that gives most newborns a sense of security. A newborn may even sleep better when swaddled because he's less likely to jerk awake when he startles. Some babies, though, don't enjoy being swaddled.

To see full article, click here.

BabyCenter.com

How can I reduce my baby's risk of SIDS?
You can do a number of things to decrease your baby's risk, but at present there's no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS. Here are the most important steps to take:

Put your baby to sleep on her back:
This is the single most important thing you can do to help protect your baby. The "Back to Sleep" public awareness campaign estimates that this technique has saved thousands of lives since the campaign began in 1994.

When your baby is a newborn, you can keep her happily positioned on her back by swaddling her snugly with her hands up near her mouth so she can comfort herself. As she gets older, she'll start to move around a bit at night, so you won't want to wrap her. By the time she's 5 or 6 months old, she'll be able to roll over in both directions, making it more difficult for you to keep her on her back at night. Try not to worry. At that age her risk for SIDS will start to drop, so just do your best to get her settled on her back or propped on her side, and don't fuss if she rolls over.

To see full article, click here.

TheLouisvilleChannel.com

Study: Swaddled Babies Sleep More Soundly

Sleeping On Back Reduces SIDS Risk

POSTED: 9:32 a.m. EST December 2, 2002

Swaddling an infant may sound like something from Biblical times, but researchers say the method helps infants sleep better and keeps them on their backs -- which reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

SIDS deaths have decreased nearly 50 percent since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 1992 that babies be placed on their backs to sleep, according to the article. But when infants reach 2 months of age, about 20 percent of parents in the United States place their babies on their stomachs to sleep because they say they appear more comfortable or to sleep better.

"That's also the time when babies have enough strength and are big enough that they can escape from the typical 'burrito' wrap style of swaddling," said Dr. Claudia Gerard, a clinical instructor in pediatrics and lead researcher in the study. "But in other cultures where swaddling is practiced, it's common to continue swaddling babies until they are much older."

Swaddling is practiced almost universally in newborn hospital nurseries, and various traditional swaddling techniques are practiced in Turkey, Afghanistan and Albania, according to Dr. Bradley Thach, a professor of pediatrics.

The researchers found that the duration of REM sleep was nearly doubled in babies who were swaddled than in those who were not.

To see full article, click here.

David Geller, M.D.

Question: Should I swaddle my baby?

David S. Geller, M.D.: Many newborns enjoy being swaddled, or wrapped tightly in a warm blanket, because it reminds them of being in the womb. Often it helps to calm and comfort them. If your baby squirms and cries when she is being swaddled, it [may mean] she’d rather have her arms and legs free. Try wrapping her more loosely in the blanket and see if she likes that better. Also, be aware that a baby who previously enjoyed being swaddled may no longer want to be confined in that way as she gets older. Caution: Don’t wrap your baby so tightly that it interferes with her breathing, and make sure not to cover her face with the blanket.

David S Geller, M.D. - Biography:

David S. Geller, M.D., originally from Maine, completed his undergraduate work at Brandeis University. After attending the Boston University School of Medicine, he stayed in Boston to complete his residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1996.

Since completing his training, he has been working at a pediatric group practice in Lexington, Massachusetts. His practice offers a full range of pediatric care, including newborn, well, and adolescent care. He is on staff at a number of Boston hospitals, including Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He also teaches medical students at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Geller is board certified and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to his personal inters in athletics, Dr. Geller also has an interest in sports medicine. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their young daughter Hannah.

What does it mean to swaddle a baby?
Swaddling is the art of snugly wrapping your baby in a blanket for warmth and security. It can also keep him from being disturbed by his own startle reflex, and it may even help him stay warm and toasty for the first few days of life until his internal thermostat kicks in. Most important, it's a method that can help a baby get calmer.

Nowadays, you probably won't leave the hospital without a little lesson in this technique. Try it, after you've made sure your baby isn't hungry, wet, or tired. It can be used to help settle your baby down when he's over stimulated or when he just needs to feel something close to the tightness and security of the womb.

To see full article, click here.

Laura K. Knosp, RN

For many years, it was believed that infants did not feel pain. Drugs were not given for painful procedures including some types of surgery. It is now well known that babies do indeed experience pain, especially those born prematurely.

Drugs are usually given for severe pain, but not for simple procedures. This is where comfort measures such as touch can be used.

Touch includes, stroking, holding, rocking, caressing, massaging, cuddling, and swaddling (wrapping baby in blanket). Firm but gentle touch can be applied to your baby to provide comfort and a sense of security.

Touch is the first sense to develop in babies and research shows it can actually help to heal. Babies need touch to grow and thrive, you as a parent can play a very important part of your child's recovery and response to pain.

To see full article, click here.

BabyWorld.com

15th October 2002

SWADDLING BABIES MAY REDUCE COT DEATH (SIDS) RISKS

Swaddling babies may reduce the risk of cot death, according to a new study.

Research in the US has shown that babies who are swaddled, or wrapped tightly in cloth before being put down to sleep, are more likely to sleep on their backs - a position that is known to reduce the incidence of cot death. Swaddling was used almost universally before the 18th century.

The research, … found that the younger the babies were, the more quickly they went to sleep once swaddled. Their breathing rate increased slightly, but they did not experience any reduction in oxygen levels - and they could still flex their hip joints. If the swaddle material was thin they did not become overheated, said researchers.

Swaddling during the first year of life is still common in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia, and in cultures that practice swaddling, where babies normally sleep on their backs, there is a lower incidence of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

To see full article, click here.

BabyWorld.com

3rd December 2002

SWADDLING COULD AID SLEEP

The traditional technique of swaddling babies could help improve their sleep and may even reduce the risk of cot death, researchers claim.

The findings are published in the journal Pediatrics and show that babies who were swaddled appeared to sleep better. Even when they woke up, the fact that they were wrapped in swaddling helped to keep them on their backs and prevent them from moving into a more dangerous sleeping position.

To see full article, click here.

Health World

Colic

© Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D.

(Excerpted from Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child)

Colic has been defined as a long period of vigorous crying that persists despite all efforts at consolation. The term itself comes from the Greek word for the large intestine, reflecting the belief that the source of the discomfort is a digestive problem.

Most babies go through periods when they seem to be abnormally fussy or to cry for no apparent reason. Colic is most common during the first three to four months of an infant's life. It can begin within the first three weeks after birth, and usually stops around the age of three months. It is rarely experienced by a baby older than six months.

Suggestions to help colicky babies:

Some babies prefer the security of being closely swaddled in a blanket; some prefer loose coverings that permit free movement. Experiment to find what suits your child best.

To see full article, click here.

KidsHealth.org

Swaddling is another soothing technique first-time parents should learn. Swaddling keeps your baby's arms close to his body and his legs securely bound. Not only does this keep your baby warm, but the surrounding pressure seems to give most newborns a sense of security and comfort. Here's how to swaddle a baby.

To see full article, click here.

For more articles and research regarding the positive benefits of swaddling as well as general information regarding raising healthy babies, check out these quality websites:

www.infantreflux.org

www.happiestbaby.com

www.babycenter.com

www.kidshealth.org

www.stlouischildrens.org

www.wisdomstore.com

www.wustl.edu

www.healthy.net

www.babyworld.co.uk

www.teachmorelovemore.org

www.pediatrics.org

www.infantrefluxdisease.com

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