Safe swaddling ~ HALO® SleepSack® Swaddle Review

September is Baby Safety Month, and I’ve connected with HALO to bring you some safety tips for newborns!

You’ve probably heard of the benefits of swaddling. Swaddling was the ONLY way I could get my son to sleep when he was very young. I wish I had done more swaddling sooner, but we could not figure out how to keep the blanket on him for long. He would always flail it off with his arms. Then we discovered HALO SleepSack Swaddles with the hook/loop closures – let me tell you – a lifesaver. We finally could get a sleeping baby to lay down in his bassinet or crib! One tired mama’s bliss!

But did you know there are two aspects to safe swaddling?

1. Avoiding suffocation
2. Preventing Hip Dysplasia

I always worried my baby wasn’t warm enough, but you’re not supposed to put loose blankets in a baby crib. Here’s where the sleep sack helped me keep my baby warm AND avoid the danger of suffocation from a loose blanket. Learn more tips on safe swaddling from Dr. Tanya Altmann, pediatrician.

Now, the point of swaddling is to reduce the “startle” reflex that wakes babies. It’s not about straight-jacketing them! When swaddling, allow room for movement of the hips and legs. There’s a temptation when swaddling to straighten out the baby’s legs (which are often frog-like). Resist this, and allow the baby to hold their legs naturally – they will gradually straighten themselves.

Why am I telling you this? Because a common condition affecting newborns (1% of North American newborns) is hip dysplasia. According to a survey by HALO Innovations, about 82% of parents swaddle their babies. But improper (too tight) swaddling around the hips and legs can lead to hip dysplasia or dislocation! And treatment for this condition can end up involving surgery at certain levels. Not just that, but babies with hip dysplasia can have conditions worsen with age, leading to early adult arthritis and hip replacement surgery! Learn more about this condition in a video from Dr. Charles Price, Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute,

Swaddling is great for babies! Feeling safe and secure, and getting enough sleep is important for their development. Just be sure to follow the steps for safe swaddling!

You can watch more videos or learn more about swaddling at the HALO website. Keep up with HALO on Facebook or Twitter as well!

What other safety concerns/tips do you have for newborns? Did/do you swaddle?

Win it: New to swaddling? Love to swaddle? You could be the winner of a HALO® SleepSack® Swaddle. HALO’s SleepSacks and Swaddles are the only products on the market approved “hip healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. (ARV $28).

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post. All opinions are 100% my own.