Swaddling for Sleep

"Recently, however, some research has suggested that swaddling might not always be safe:

• Babies that are swaddled may sleep more deeply. While this may at first appear to be a good thing it may in fact put them at higher risk of SIDS. The ability to arouse (begin to wake) from sleep is key to a baby’s ability to cope with things in their environment that might otherwise put them at risk of SIDS.
• Research? shows that swaddling reduces this ability much more among babies for whom swaddling is a new experience - i.e. have NOT been swaddled since birth.
• A recent review paper? found that swaddling increased SIDS risk if the baby was on its front, and decreased it for babies sleeping on their back. However a recent UK study ?found anincreased risk of SIDS for all swaddled babies - including those sleeping on their back. The current evidence is therefore contradictory.

Swaddling can also put babies at higher risk of bone-development problems, chest infections and overheating. It is also not considered to be a good idea to swaddle a baby when bed-sharing. Babies need to be able to use their arms and legs to alert adults who get too close, and to move covers from their faces. Swaddling prevents a bed-sharing baby from doing this."