Swaddling

Hope you're getting some support for the anxiety, I really struggled with mine while I was pregnant and at the beginning but got a thriving 6 month old now! I personally was also worried about swaddles, would occasionally swaddle her after a bath but then she'd only be asleep while I was supervising her. For nighttime sleep I found sleep bags were the best thing. And when she was too small (she was tiny) a cellular blanket tucked in tight until she was big enough for sleep bags. They have different togs so it's easy to figure out what to put them in for the temp too.

If your baby’s head can’t fit through the neck hole they shouldn’t be able to wiggle under it. Make sure you double check the weight on them and don’t use it if your baby is too small! If you’re still worried, put your baby in the feet to foot position. Put their feet at the bottom of the crib, that way they can’t wiggle down and slide into the swaddle or under blankets. If you use blankets, make sure they’re only tucked up to their shoulders, no higher, and tuck the edges under their mattress. I hope this helps 🙂 also, the lullaby trust website is great for more safe sleep recommendations if you want to have a look!

Hey love. I feel you. I felt the same way before my daughter was born. What helped ease my anxiety was we got the owlet sock. I’m not sure if it is in your budget but it was a life saver for us. You can even find ones that are second hand for a better price. Honestly, just try regular swaddles. Don’t read into it too much and see how it goes. Some babies love them and some hate them. Hope this helps and good luck ❤️

we did sleep bags with our first and they were absolutely perfect! they also go perfectly round neckline (depending on the age, don’t go too big make sure it’s the right size) so they wouldn’t ever ride up or baby get stuck etc, they were perfect for safe sleep! Xx

I used Tommy tippee sleeping bags for both of mine and they've both slept like a dream in them and never once had it go over their face x

Swaddling is no longer recommended as it prevents the natural functioning of the moro/startle reflex. A cellular blanket, togged sleep suit or baby sleeping bag (appropriate for the size of your baby) are your best options. You can add layers with vests/sleepsuit

The Halo swaddles are awesome! They are the brand recommended by doctors and the only one we tried that my son couldn’t get out of and didn’t ride up over his face even if it was long on him because you put their arms in them zip it then fold the Velcro pieces of the arms

Wr had the new born love to sleep swaddle bag and there was zero chance it wad going to ride up and prevent my baby from breathing. She was born 7lb 2oz. We folded the bottom bit under her feet so it was out the way

@Fizzy where do you see this? I’ve not saw or heard this and planning on swaddling my third as I did the first 2. I always was told swaddling was more beneficial as the startle reflex couldn’t wake them?

We used the love to dream swaddles for my LG from birth and she LOVED it. She was born in July x

Longer blanket that can fully tuck under the mattress at the bottom and sides under the arms of the baby. I swaddled all of mine initially the good ol' fashioned way, they weren't keen on sleep bags.

Another vote for the love to dream swaddles! As long as they are well fitted, there is no risk of it going over baby’s face. They have minimum and maximum weight limits on the different sizes, so as long as your baby is within that, they are safe to use. My little girl seems to love being swaddled and has slept best when she’s in the swaddle, but that is also individual depending on the baby. I’d recommend looking for them on vinted if you decide to go with swaddles as they are so pricey new! What I would say about cellular blankets is, they have to be very tightly tucked around the baby and into the sides of the crib to be in-keeping with safe sleep, and I’ve found it’s quite hard to tuck it in properly without disturbing a sleeping baby. Just something to think about if you opt for this. Also my baby moves a lot during her active sleep cycles so would often do a good job of trying to untuck the blanket!

Lots of ideas on here, but just to say I was also really anxious about sleep and just ending up blocking a load of phrases on Insta (don’t use TikTok) because it was making me so anxious and not really helpful. I could still look up information and advice if needed but it was so helpful not being bombarded with horrible stories/fear mongering when I was feeling really anxious

We’ve gone through lots of swaddles trying to find one. I was also horribly worried about SIDS and the swaddles bunching up and suffocating my son. We finally found happiestbaby sleepea 5sec swaddle and I swear by it. He was able to slip his little arms out of all his other swaddles but not this one. ALSO it has mesh up around the neck that put me at ease about the suffocation, because how could he possibly suffocate through mesh. Anyways I swear by it and use it everynight! https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/sleepea-swaddle

Also we tried the love to dream swaddle, I prefer it for daytime naps because it doesn’t swaddle him tight enough to keep him from waking himself at night

@Hayley swaddling is definitely still recommended 🙂 just had my baby in November and I actually attended classes with university professors and they recommend swaddling for sleeping

@Lena thank you I thought so! Can’t find any info on it not being recommended at all c

We used a Love 2 Dream swaddle for our first, born in July and also in Scotland! It helped a lot with her startle reflex, waving her arms was waking her up. Planning on using one again for this baby due in June. They come in different Tog so just get a 1 Tog and you can always add a cellular blanket over legs if it’s very cold, or adjust layers underneath (vest etc) if it’s hot.

@Lena I think the guidance was to stop once they are on the move or something to that effect, but my youngest is 3!