We have been sent some “swaddling cloths” by an American friend (one of which is a zip up thing which looks like a body bag and is a bit creepy in honesty!). Has anyone used them? What are your experiences? Grace hated being covered at all as a newborn (blankets, clothes, whatever!) so I’m a bit skeptical, but maybe it was just her? Anyone used swaddling in conjunction with co-sleeping? I wondered how safe it would be if the baby is effectively incapacitated?

Just debating really whether to hang on to them in case this baby likes it, or whether to sell them on…..it seems to be a really big thing in America, but maybe not so much over here?

Angie

We had Ru swaddled, but it was a diamond-shaped piece of thin, soft, stretchy material. It was a lifesaver at times. We would just have him on the covers between us when we swaddles him.

Pixie hates it though! x

I don’t have a problem with swaddling per se, and had one baby who woke herself with jerky limbs and so found swaddling comforting, but there is no way I would swaddle a baby I was laying on anything other than a flat minimally padded surface.  I wouldn’t lay a swaddled baby on top of a duvet, anywhere near other blankets, pillows, etc.  And definitely not safe with cosleeping!  They can still wiggle, but not use their hands to free their airways if anything gets in their way.  If you have a bedside cot set up or a safe floor-laying space, those would be the best places (or swaddling in arms, of course, even better)!  Otherwise, tbh I’d not go there.  I have a jersey blanket still around just in case, but with other children to fend off and no dedicated baby spaces, I can’t imagine any circumstances in which it would be safe for me to swaddle this baby…

I swaddled my son but only when I was laying him down with no other blankets if he was in the bed with me I wouldn’t swaddle him. He seemed to find it comforting and it would send him off if he was having difficulty sleeping. He had a lot of problems sleeping generally and with reflux as he was prem and had tummy problems but it did seem to help. My daughter though wouldn’t stand for it and would just cry and cry if I tried to swaddle her. I didnt have a special blanket or anything I just used to use a cotton baby sheet. I think for some babies it works and others don’t like it but I don’t think it is needed or might be dangerous if in bed with you.

Personally I think swaddling is one of those things to try as a last resort if you need to experiment with ways to soothe a baby for whom other things don’t work. http://fsid.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=779 - cautions against swaddling as may be emerging as a risk factor for SIDS. ISIPD recommends
• Parents should be aware of the potential risks of swaddling their infant, particularly of the use
of heavy materials for swaddling. 
• Infants must NEVER be placed prone (on their stomach) when swaddled. 
• Current research suggests that it is safest to swaddle infants from birth and not to change infant
care practices by beginning to swaddle their infant at 3 months of age when SIDS risk is
greatest.
• Secondary caregivers should be made aware of their infant’s usual sleeping environment and
practices.

Bother, now I feel like I’m unlikely to use them, but I can’t morally sell them on in case they are a SIDS risk! any ideas what to do with a 0-3 body bag? I can probably just use the other one as a blanket!

Angie

Sorry - I’m presuming that the body bag has arms in - in which case I wouldn’t feel comfortable with it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004VO5DIU/ref=asc_df_B004VO5DIU5435370?smid=A1PQXJHX34F7DR&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22242&creativeASIN=B004VO5DIU - is this the kind of thing? I agree it does look kind of strange.