Does Swaddling Cause SIDS?

Dear B.,
I have heard similar things but I believe what causes SIDS more than anything else is vaccinations. Please do yourself a favor and investigate immunizations before you decide to have your child go through it. A good book to read is "How to raise a healthy child in spite of your Dr."
It will mention that a fever after the shots is actually brain damage to the child. Be a well informed parent and don't go in blindly. L. J

I've never heard of this! I swaddled both of my girls and in every birth preperation and baby care class I've taken they've shown me how to do it properly! Neither of my children were swaddled for more than two weeks when they hit an age/stage of life where they didn't like it anymore and fought the swaddle. We stopped as soon as there were signs they could get out of it to make sure loose blankets weren't a problem.

My mother has been a Labor and Delivery for as long as I can remember and I had my daughter 2 and a half years ago. Both my mother and I swaddled my daughter when she was very young and she's a happy and healthy little girl today.

There was never anything else in her bed at the time, which I think helped keep her safe. My mother did warn me about my daughter becoming too warm in her sleep while swaddled and that some believe that the over heating of the infant could be a trigger for SIDs. It's not certain, but it really wasn't all that much work for me to keep her from being too warm. Just her PJs and a single light to medium thick blanket to swaddle her and she was just fine for the night. Truthfully, swaddling is for the secure snuggle sensation that mimics the womb, not really for warmth.

I would say go with your gut and with how your baby reacts, if your little one seems to need the snuggle of a swaddle then swaddle, but if your baby seems fine without then don't worry.

I never heard that one before many little ones love to be swaddled. Sometimes it's the only way they are happy. I was told it reminds them of the womb. Tell her to check with the dr.

You received alot of responses already but swaddling is the best thing! It makes them feel secure. I think they just said that because it can cause overheating but as long as you use a light blanket and don't layer them in clothing under the blanket then it is fine. Also you can't swaddle them and then lay them on their stomaches or anything like that (obviously). When you swaddle you only place them on their backs or sides sometimes. I have a three week old and always swaddle him. I did with my other two children too. It makes them feel more secure and they don't do that kind of "startle" movement where it feels like they are falling. That way they sleep a little better.
By the way, my nurses never told me at the hospital I was at not to swaddle. In fact, they swaddled him all the time as well.

Hi B.,
I swaddled both my kids for several months. I never heard anything about sids and swaddling. It helped my kids sleep better. And in fact, I think it keeps them in one place and on their backs because they can't really move. Also, they have all kinds of swaddling blankets with velcro and such so that they can't get the blanket tangled.

Swaddling does not cause SIDS, but you want to make sure the baby doesn't get overheated. If the baby is too hot, it makes it harder for her to arouse/awaken, which contributes to SIDS.

There was a recent news story that said having a little fan on in the room where the baby sleeps significantly reduces the risk of SIDS. Sleeping near mama also reduces their risk, because the mother's breathing helps regulate the baby's breathing (which they found from mother-baby sleep lab experiments).

I got most of this info from The Sleep Book by Dr. Sears. For more info on swaddling and colic, I highly recommend the Happiest Baby on the Block class/dvd.

Congratulations on your baby girl =)

P.S. For a light swaddling blanket, you can purchase cotton jersey knit from a fabric store and cut it down to 4' x 4'. It's nice and light and doesn't need to be hemmed...MUCH cheaper than buying special swaddling blankets and it's light weight.

I swaddled all 5 of my children under the direction of the hospital. I even got the blanket that has velcro to keep them swaddled. All 5 of my kids are doing well and thriving, 15 yrs- 9 months. I also heard, while I was in college for early childhood education, that swaddling helps them to feel secure, it can help ease colic if they are very gassy.
No one is sure whyat causes SIDS, you have to do what is comfortable for your and your baby. There is as lot of misinformation out there and people who do it differently. Trust yourselfd and hopefully your mom!
Goodluck and congratulations!

The American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute's website has this information listed. It does not say anything about swaddling. http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm

1. Place infants to sleep on their backs, even though they may sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and sides have a much higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.

2. Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. There should be nothing in the bed but the baby - no covers, no pillows, no bumper pads, no positioning devices and no toys. Soft mattresses and heavy covering are associated with the risk for SIDS.

3. Keep your baby’s crib in the parents’ room until the infant is at least 6 months of age. Studies clearly show that infants are safest when their beds are close to their mothers.

4. Do not place your baby to sleep in an adult bed. Typical adult beds are not safe for babies. Do not fall asleep with your baby on a couch or in a chair.

5. Do not over-clothe the infant while she sleeps. Just use enough clothes to keep the baby warm without having to use cover. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Overheating an infant may increase the risk for SIDS.

6. Avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don't have your infant in the same house or car with someone who is smoking. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of SIDS.

7. Breast-feed babies whenever possible. Breast milk decreases the occurrence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Studies show that breast-fed babies have a lower SIDS rate than formula-fed babies do.

8. Avoid exposing the infant to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds. Carefully clean anything that comes in contact with the baby. Have people wash their hands before holding or playing with your baby. SIDS often occurs in association with relatively minor respiratory (mild cold) and gastrointestinal infections (vomiting and diarrhea).

9. Offer your baby a pacifier. Some studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.


10. If your baby has periods of not breathing, going limp or turning blue, tell your pediatrician at once.


11. If your baby stops breathing or gags excessively after spitting up, discuss this with your pediatrician immediately.


12. Thoroughly discuss each of the above points with all caregivers. If you take your baby to daycare or leave him with a sitter, provide a copy of this list to them. Make sure they follow all recommendations.

My hospital also told me to not to swaddle, because of SIDS. They also said it was due to overheating. What was kind of funny, was they all told me that they "had" to tell me this, and then they would say under their breathe, 'but I would still swaddle if I were you.'

Basically, the new rule is that swaddling could cause overheating, and lead to SIDS. Also, if not swaddled properly, the blanket could come over the babie's face or get tangled, causing sids.

BUT, if done correctly, swaddling can be wonderful! I chose to do swaddle our daughter because she loved it. (Also, I noticed that all the babies in the hospital nursery were swaddled, even though they told us not too!!) To prevent SIDS, I just made sure to keep in her in light clothing. Usually just a onesie under her light swaddling blanket (she was a summer baby).

And the BIG THING here is to SWADDLE CORRECTLY!! If you just loosely wrap a blanket around a baby, that is not swaddling, and that could be a hazzard. But if the hospital taught you how to correctly swaddle (it should fit tightly, and it should not be able to come up around the baby's head), then the baby will be fine.

I feel convinced that SIDS is one of those freak things, and my heart breaks for anyone who's experienced it. But I think if parents are actively aware of the risks and are making smart choices for their baby, they should let go of the guilt and worry of SIDS.

Good luck!!!

both of my babies were swaddled and LOVED it for 3 months.

its an overheating issue. just put the baby in a onsie ir light pjs and/or use a lighter swaddling blanket.

:)

I have not heard of this. They recommend swaddling at the hospital, or at least they did at mine. My son loved to be swaddled and we did so until he was about 5 months old! Then we switched to a sleep sack which he just retired from at 18 months! I think they are safer for your kids!

I had my baby boy four months ago. And the hospital showed me how to swaddle correctly too. I never heard anything about swaddling relating to SIDS. I have stopped swaddling him now that he can move around alot, but when he was little and just laid there he loved it and would sleep very well. I think if it was that big of a risk you would see "Dont swaddle Babies" posted everywhere like you do about laying them on their tummy to sleep and having alot of covers in the bed with them. IDK just my opinion.

Hi B., you are so lucky to be a new mother of a beautiful baby girl. My daughter in law swaddled both my granddaughters and they were such good babies. When I first saw her swaddle I was afraid it would hurt the baby that is only because I from the old school. Anyway I think you will have a happier baby if you do swaddle. Good Luck and Love that little one.

I haven't heard of this, but someone did offer some good info about SIDS.

The nurses at the hospital taught us how to swaddle both our girls, even though our second did NOT want to be swaddled.

I don't think they really know what causes SIDS. I think there's things that can be done to reduce the risk of it happening, but I don't think there is as yet a difinitive cause.

Make sure the mattress she's sleeping on is firm; don't lay her down on a comforter or other soft type of bedding; make sure she's got plenty of room and plenty of air, and there's nothing in the crib like blankets that might obstruct her breathing in some way; etc. etc. etc.; AND CHECK ON HER OFTEN. In my opinion, you can't check on kids too often when they're sleeping. I remember hearing a case where a couple put their daughter in the crib, and she was sleeping soundly, so they didn't check on her until they were ready for bed, about 4 hours later, and she wasn't breathing. Her death was attributed to SIDS. So, like I said, you can't check on kids often enough...Make sure they're okay; make sure they're breathing; make sure they're comfortable (with both our kids, if they were on their stomach with the booty in the air, it meant they're cold).

Good luck!

The quick answer is your friend was told correctly. YOu should not swaddle. The complete answer is you don't swaddle to decrease SIDS risk. Any clothing that gets over the babies head increases the risk of SIDS. If you baby wiggles around a lot, she could loosen the blankets, then get them up around her face. She could also become tangled in them. The new SIDS education is to not having anything loose above a baby's armpits, especially blankets. If you feel you must cover your baby with a blanket, then it should be tucked in under the mattress on three sides, and only come up as high as your baby's armpits. You have to realize, incidence of SIDS is around 2500 babies each year. If it happens to your baby, it doesn't matter what the numbers are. You have to decide what you can live with. Back to sleep, no bumper pads, pacifier for baby, not overheating have all come out of research into SIDS. Not every baby who has these things will die of SIDS.

I delivered at the Woman's hospital in January of this year and was told not to swaddle as it increased the risk of SIDS. I asked my DR. when she came in and she said that yes that is what they are saying now, but it probably will change tomorrow just like everything else. (She didn't mean tomorrow as an exact date, just being sarcastic.) I did swaddle my daughter in the hospital and at home (the same I did with my other 2 children, then instructed on how to do it, by the hospital) and they did not say anything to me. It helped my daughter to sleep and to rest. When she was not swaddled I could not get her to sleep unless she was laying on my chest and I had my arms around her. Babies need to feel like they did in the womb as a transition into this big scary world for them. Occasionally I will swaddle her now, but not always and never with a lot of clothes under her swaddler. HTH

Overheating can lead to SIDS. Many uninformed new parents will dress their baby in a onsie, footed PJs and then swaddle -- when it's 80 degrees! To avoid lawsuits (but my nurse/doc said to swaddle!) many hospitals are taking the extreme by saying 'no' to all swaddling instead of educating.

Lose a layer or two so your child doesn't overheat. All our babies were born in the summer and never got overheated and were all swaddled until at least 5-6 months old. In the summer they often just went to bed with a diaper and wrapped in the blanket.

Use common sense and your baby will be fine.

I have a three month old son and they taught me how to swaddle in the hospital, same eight years ago when I had my daughter. I've never been told not to swaddle.

It's not the swaddling itself that causes SIDS it's the blanket coming unraveled and then the baby having a blanket in bed with them that causes a risk for SIDS. We got those Swaddle Me blankets which velcro and stay swaddled and our doctor said that is perfectly fine. Wrapping a baby up will only make them more comfortable if done safely.

Maybe your friend misinterpreted the advice of the nurses. It is advised not to have the baby get overheated. If he is wrapped tightly in a very warm blanket and then covered with another blanket he may get too warm. I have always heard swaddling is good for keeping a very young infant feeling comfortable, and happy.

I swaddled all 4 of my girls and they are just fine. :)

As long as your infant is not a "hot box" with normal tempts above 99 degrees, or a squirmy baby you should be ok. If the baby gets too hot it could be a problem. You should almost always dress your child in one more than layer than you have on. So a onies and a blanket should be fine. The swaddle has to be tight. If the baby can squirm out of the swaddle it is either not tight enough or not going to work for your child. As stated by others, to decrease SIDS take out the bumpers, all other blankets except for the fitted sheet, all toys, mobiles must be hard plastic and not cloth (the cloth can fall off in the bed and lead to a chocking hazard), and ALWAYS lay baby on their back to sleep. Our unit educates that if you are awake and in the room the baby can and should be on its stomach. That tummy time is extremely important to proper development. If you are asleep or the baby is asleep in a different room than you are sitting/working in then he needs to be on his back.

I've never heard that:( Isn't that why they swaddle in the hospital?