Why I chose to skip the swaddle and mittens for my newborn
Early June of 2023, I gave birth to my third baby. Within the first week of my postpartum, I shared in my Instagram stories around how distressed we were dealing with managing the home phototherapy episode to treat his slightly-high jaundice level. If you’re reading this now, all went well! If you’d like to find out more what actually happened and my experience around that, head over to my Instagram page under story highlights “#3 👶”
This sharing is quite overdue 😅
I've shared previously that my newborn sleeps unswaddled and I totally did not prepare any mittens for him too. Socks - yes, at times when it's cold at night or when we go out to air-conditioned places. That garnered a couple of messages I received from other mothers and pregnant mamas too - just purely curious why. Great to have curious minds from my community of mothers! We’re all learning together!
Initially, I intended for this to be a series of IG story posts. As I did the posts, I found myself having to keep adding pages after pages. Then it got too many stories and too long for a simple series of IG stories. So I decided to transform it into a blog post instead!
Disclaimer - let’s get this straight first
I wrote this blog article with the goal of educating and informing parents on what science has to say about swaddling and wearing mittens. I'm not here to change your mind, if you don't want to. I'm here to educate as much as I can, so you can be empowered to make your own informed decision 😁
Also, this article is not meant to be a medical recommendation or advice!
So, after reading this and if you still want to swaddle or wear mittens for your newborn - it’s okay! No judgement from me! I’m just glad that you’re here to learn more, that itself is enough. Motherhood and baby caring is a constant learning journey! =)
Let's understand some reasons out there why we swaddle our babies.
The number one reason why parents swaddle their baby is to promote longer sleep for baby and/or to calm infants. A 2005 study shared that swaddled infants wake less frequently than unswaddled infants.
Also, because newborns up till 2 to 3 months old, have a pretty active Moro reflex (startle reflex), parents turn to swaddling to reduce the startle reflex. I've heard some parents share how their baby would at times wake up crying because of their startle reflex and that baby couldn't settle himself back to sleep, if baby wasn't swaddled.
With my one day old newborn
During the hospital stay, my newborn was swaddled for a while every time my baby was wheeled back from the nursery (for some medical checks, etc.) to our room, which is perfectly fine! I would then always undress baby and skin to skin after that. Also, babies look adorable in swaddles, don’t they?
Reasons why we may need to re-think swaddling for healthy full term newborns
1) Delay in initial breastfeeding
Newborns who are swaddled immediately after birth have a delay in the initial stage of breastfeeding. They also do not have the chance to practise their initial latch which may also contribute to reduced breastmilk intake (which also possibly impacting mother's milk production) and studies also shown that swaddled newborns have a greater weight loss compared to unswaddled newborns.
One day old newborn unswaddled
2) Swaddling may reduce crying and promote longer sleep but will increase chances of missing out early hunger cues
Ever experienced a swaddled baby suddenly let out a loud shriek and cry? Most of the time, it may mean that we missed out on baby's early hunger cues with swaddling (because swaddling suppresses movements and all) and when baby shrieks and screams, that is when most probably it's their late hunger cues.
One of the examples of a baby showing mid-hunger cues. More rapid hand movements, calling out for mama, not crying angrily yet.
By then, many mums may find it difficult to latch a "hangry" baby and when latching gets tough, feelings of anxiousness sets in for the mum. Then, finally when baby is fed and back to swaddling again, missing early hunger cues - the cycle begins again - a vicious loop!
Studies have shown that swaddling will reduce the chance for parents to visually capture early hunger cues and may result in overall reduced feeding frequency as well.
My newborn displaying very subtle early hunger cues.
These subtle early hunger cues can be easily suppressed if baby remains swaddled, which may cause missed feeding opportunities.
3) Swaddling during feeding makes baby be less efficient at suckling
Because swaddling usually makes baby sleep deeper, it can be difficult to rouse baby up to feed efficiently. Also, it restricts baby's hand and leg movements to find the breasts and latch well.
During feeding time, ideally, to feed baby skin to skin (usually this wakes baby up a little better).
4) Other reasons…
Swaddling too tight at the hips and legs increases the chance of Hip Dysplasia, especially if swaddling at an extended amount of time during the first few months.
Source here.
To understand more about Hip Dysplasia, you can check out this article here.
My newborn in his natural resting position of his legs.
If you would like to swaddle, consider leaving space and room for baby's legs to move about and to allow the hips and legs to be at their natural resting position, which is like "frog" leg position.
If you want to swaddle, leave room for baby's legs to move about
Lastly, SIDs. Because swaddling usually may make baby sleep deeper, it may increase risks of SIDs. So, ideally have baby sleep near you and wake newborn at least every 3 hours to feed.
About mittens…
It seems that the main two reasons that parents chose to let their newborns wear mittens is to prevent baby's nails from scratching their face and/or to keep their little hands warm.
But are mittens truly necessary though?
I always try to be more in tune with embracing natural human touch as much as possible. Babies spend a lot of time in the womb moving around freely and wriggling their toes and fingers. Most babies also suck their fingers while in your womb. Their hands are their "best friends" - in a way.
My son’s little hand wrapped around my finger
Once they're born, there is no need to restrict access to their hands and fingers. So, I totally did not cover up my son's hands. Babies depend greatly on their sense of smell, hearing and touch - because their eyesight isn't matured yet. So, we don't need to mask their sense of touch with a mitten.
Other reasons why you can consider skipping mittens
Babies use their hands to feel and touch your breasts. Sometimes, even kneading your breasts to stimulate milk flow!
Baby's hands on your breasts also helps to promote oxytocin release (helps with milk production) because of that skin to skin contact.
Newborns wearing mittens may lead to missed early hunger cues (e.g. lick or suck on their hands).
So, there you go! The various reasons why I chose to skip swaddling and wearing mittens for my newborn. I hope you find this article helpful and informative.
Feel free to share with me your thoughts, experience or questions by engaging with me via Instagram profile here. See you there!
References and other information