What is a GroBag Swaddle? It is simply a wrap or baby blanket that is shaped so that you can fold it snugly and securely around your baby without the use of Velcro or press fasteners / poppers. Swaddling will make your baby will feel warm, safe and secure in their swaddle blanket, just like he or she did before being born. There is enough material in this swaddling blanket to keep your baby warm and snug, without overheating or being wound up too tightly. Inhealth Ireland stocks the full range of GroBag baby swaddles, which are delivered the next day from Dublin. Please see further information about baby swaddles, how to swaddle and swaddling at the end of this page.
Why Swaddle Your Baby
Before your baby was born, your baby lived and grew for 9 months in a small, safe, secure place with limited ability to move. Many experts believe that swaddling or wrapping your baby helps to recreate this safe and secure feeling and so will help your baby rest better. Sometimes babies can feel frightened by all this freedom of movement they suddenly have after being born. Swaddling aims to restrict this ability to move for small babies, which will comfort them and help them settle.
Some experts also believe that swaddling can prevent SIDS, by helping babies sleep more comfortably and securely on their backs. Babies from 0-2 months can be swaddled with their arms inside the swaddle blanket or swaddle wrap. After two months old, it is recommended to leave the baby’s arms outside the swaddle blanket.
Some babies twitch or suddenly jump / wave their arms around while sleeping. This is sometimes due to the Moro Reflex that all babies are born with. Swaddling your baby prevents this twitching or arm waving so your baby will get a better rest.
Baby’s fingernails are very difficult to cut and often little babies scratch themselves while sleeping. Swaddling young babies keeps their arms and hands by their sides so scratching cannot happen so easily.
You can choose how tightly or loosely to swaddle your baby. Some mothers like to tightly or firmly swaddle very young babies under 2 months, then loosely swaddle their babies after this age. The tightness of the swaddle blanket can also depend on the clothing the baby is wearing, the time of year and the temperature of the room, and what additional bedclothes (if any) are placed on top of the swaddle blanket or swaddle wrap.
How to Swaddle Your Baby in a GroBag Swaddle
The Grobag Swaddle has been designed to make swaddling your baby as easy as possible. Their specially shaped swaddle blanket (also known as a swaddle wrap) does not have any fasteners of any kind - zips, Velcro or press fasteners/poppers. It is made of 100% organic lightweight jersey-cotton. It is designed for use either as an overarm or an underarm swaddle. It can be used from birth until the baby is 3 months old or is a maximum weight of 14 lbs / 6.5 kgs.
Steps for swaddling a baby under 2 months old:
- Lay your baby down in a safe and secure place that he or she cannot roll or fall off while you arrange the swaddle blanket.
- Open your Grobag Swaddle out fully, on a flat and safe surface, with all edges unfolded.
- Gently place your baby on their back on the swaddle, with the back of their neck in line with the top (longest side) of the swaddle.
- Fold up the bottom part of the swaddle over their legs and body, lifting their arms out over the swaddle blanket.
- Fold the part of the swaddle on the baby’s left side over the baby, gently tucking the left arm securely in the swaddle and tucking the end of the swaddle snugly in under the baby’s right hand side.
- Fold the part of the swaddle on the baby’s right side over the baby, this time tucking the right arm gently and securely into the swaddle blanket.
- Wrap the end part of the swaddle under the baby’s left side.
- The tightness of the swaddle depends on your personal preferences.
- Always ensure that no part of the swaddle blanket can cover your baby’s face.
For swaddling a baby over two months old, it is recommended that baby’s arms are left outside the swaddle. So simply repeat the steps above but without tucking the arms in.
Inhealth Ireland stock a range of three GroBag Baby Swaddles - all for ages 0 - 3 months. Please see the photographs provided with each of the three swaddles for further clarification on how to swaddle your baby using these specially designed swaddling blankets. All the Grobag Swaddles are delivered the next day from Inhealth Ireland’s warehouse in Dublin.
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