Getting to know your baby comes with a learning curve, but that’s just the balancing act called parenting. Between the lack of sleep and long nights there’s always the magical (and sometimes rare) quiet moments you get to enjoy cuddling your newborn — and that’s what makes it all worth it.

No matter where you’re at on the learning curve, taking care of your little one will always be your top priority and ours at BreathableBaby. Learn about the benefits to swaddling your newborn to help them (and you) get longer and safer sleep.

What are the benefits of swaddling a baby?

1. Swaddling helps to soothe a newborn to sleep
2. Swaddling helps newborns (and parents!) get longer sleep
3. Swaddling helps babies sleep safer in the first few weeks

1. Helps to soothe a newborn to sleep

Soothing a newborn to sleep takes practice, time, and a few tips from grandma! During the first few months swaddles can provide parents with a tactic they can continually use to get their baby to sleep. Similar to rocking and bottle feeding, swaddling can be an effective soothing tactic.

Swaddles are made to mimic the womb-like feeling that newborns are used to. When wrapped just tight enough, babies will feel warm, comfortable, and safe which helps them to transition from alert to calm.

Pro Tip: Make sure your baby enjoys time unswaddled when awake to keep this tactic effective and to ensure your baby continues to associate swaddling with sleeping.

2. Helps newborns (and parents!) get longer sleep

Swaddles soothe a baby to sleep and get them to stay asleep — a two-in-one victory!

Babies need far more REM sleep than children or adults. However, newborn babies will often wake from this deep sleep state when they are startled by their moro reflex. The moro reflex is a startle reflex that causes sleeping babies to spread their arms uncontrollably, which leaves you with an awake and crying baby.

Swaddling a baby with their arms up or down helps them to relax their startle reflex so they can remain in deep REM sleep. A comfortable swaddle will help you give your baby the right amount of REM sleep needed every night and at naptime.

3. Helps baby sleep safer in the first few weeks

Like any of us, babies may move in their sleep, but it can be far more dangerous for babies to shift around during the night. Swaddling your newborn will help them stay asleep on their back, which can reduce sleep-related concerns for the first few months.

Swaddles provide parents with an extra layer of security for their young newborns. As your baby develops further, it will be important to look out for signs that it is time to stop swaddling and transition to other soothing methods.

Review current swaddling basics and best practices to swaddle your newborn with confidence and learn the crucial signs for when it’s time to stop swaddling.

Babies will have their preferences …

Your first child may have preferred arms down in a swaddle, but your second may prefer to have their arms up. That’s why we created the 3-in-1 Swaddle Trio. Our Trios were designed to help your baby sleep peacefully right from the beginning with arms up, down, or out. (After all, who says hand-me-downs can’t start right away?)