Swaddling a baby has become increasingly popular in the UK, as more parents are finding that the sleeping method helps to soothe their baby and reduces excessive crying, as well as making them feel safe and secure. 

Whether or not you choose to swaddle your baby is up to you, but here at Owlet we think it’s important to understand the benefits of swaddling, should you choose to use the technique. For the month of December, Owlet has teamed up with Love To Dream to give away a branded swaddle worth £25 with any purchase of the Smart Sock or Cam. Customers purchasing the Owlet Bundle will be gifted two Love To Dream swaddles. 

So what are the main benefits to swaddling?

Swaddling can often help recreate that feeling of security that your baby had in the womb, when they had less room to move about. Feeling ‘held’ and snug can help to calm and soothe your baby, so you may find that swaddling your baby reduces crying.  

Being swaddled can stop your baby from being disturbed by their own startle reflex. This is where your baby will jerk in their sleep and is completely normal! If your baby is being swaddled, the chances are higher of them not waking up due to their startle reflex, meaning they will sleep for longer periods, benefiting both you and the baby.

Babies often settle themselves to sleep by sucking on their hands or by gently rubbing their cheeks. This is a natural act known as self-soothing which helps your baby to sleep longer. The Love To Dream swaddles comes with patented ‘wings’ that allows your baby to sleep in a natural position with their arms up and access to their hands for true self-soothing. 

The safest position for a baby to sleep in is on their back. When swaddling your baby, you will always place them on their back, making it much more difficult for them to roll over onto their stomach - once they’ve reached the rolling over age! 

Note: Please check with your doctor before swaddling your baby to ensure it is as safe as possible for them.