Generations of parents have swaddled their babies, but a new study concluded that the practice might increase the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Or does it?
Shortly after the study was published in the journal Pediatrics, critics said the scare was overblown and the findings weren’t necessarily tied to the data.
Reseachers examined data from four studies of swaddling and SIDS. Swaddling is the practice of lightly wrapping an infant with cloth, keeping the head exposed. In all, there were 760 SIDS cases and 1,759 control cases, according to an article by The New York Times.
The study concluded that swaddling raised the SIDS risk by about one-third, with the risk highest in babies that slept on their stomachs. The risk was less for infants sleeping on their sides and lowest in those that slept on their backs.
In addition, the study said the risk for infants increased as they got older.
“We already know that side and prone sleeping are unsafe for young babies, so the advice to place children on their backs for sleep is even more important when parents choose to swaddle them,” said lead author Anna S. Pease at England’s University of Bristol.
Is there reason to worry?
Some articles were quick to point out that there’s no real news here.
The Atlantic questioned the validity of the study, noting that “most SIDS deaths were among babies who weren’t swaddled to begin with.”
The article also noted that the definition of swaddling was ill defined, which the study authors noted.
You Might Also Enjoy: FDA Fights to Limit Arsenic in Children’s Food
“The biggest takeaway here, then, may be that if you’re going to swaddle a baby, you should make sure to do it properly. And if you don’t think you can do that, given the importance of keeping a baby’s crib free of loose blankets and bedding, perhaps it’s best to skip the swaddle altogether, The Atlantic wrote.
“Swaddling does have some risks associated with it, and parents need to be aware of safe swaddling techniques and what they can do to reduce the risk and reap the benefits,” Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician who wrote the Baby 411 book series, said in a CNN article. “There’s a time to swaddle and a way to swaddle safely and a time to stop. All good things must come to an end.”
Safe swaddling & sleep recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics makes several recommendations about swaddling and safe sleeping.
According to the AAP, aside from always placing the baby on its back, make sure there are no loose blankets in the crib, which can increase the suffocation risk. Also keep the crib free of toys, pillows, soft bedding and anything else that might obstruct the baby’s airway.
The AAP recommends parents follow these steps to swaddle their children safely:
- Spread the blanket out flat, with a corner folded down.
- Place the baby face up on the blanket with the head above the folded corner.
- Straighten the left arm and wrap the blanket’s left corner over the body, tucking it between the right arm and the right side of the body.
- Tuck the right arm down, folding the blanket’s right corner over the body and under the left side.
- Fold or twist the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of the baby.
- Make sure the blanket isn’t too tight – get at least two or three fingers between the baby’s chest and the swaddle – and make sure the baby’s hips can move.
However, after a certain age, some experts say it may be safer to discontinue swaddling.
‘We suggest that parents think about what age they should stop swaddling. Babies start to roll over between four and sixth months, and that point may be the best time to stop, Dr. Pease said.
 raised alarms for many new parents, but was it warranted? Here’s what to know.){kind=link}