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There are many benefits to swaddling a baby, and it may be particularly helpful for premature babies. “In the immediate newborn period, it can help an infant better organize motor development, especially if they were born prematurely,” said Jenelle Ferry, M.D., a neonatologist and the director of feeding, nutrition, and infant development at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Florida. But once baby can roll over, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that swaddling be stopped, and Dr Ferry agrees with this guidance. “Once your baby can roll, a swaddle can restrict their movement and lead to increased risk for suffocation,” she describes. Other risks of prolonged swaddling include interference with their ability to learn self-soothing skills. “Newborn brains don’t develop the capacity for habit forming and sleep training until a couple of months of age, which is also when they start to learn to self-soothe,” said Dr. Ferry. “Swaddling too long can be counter-productive to encouraging self-soothing and long-lasting sleep habits.”
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