How To Swaddle (even Houdini can't break out of this one!)

Hey there, new mom! How's sleep these days? Oh, you probably don't remember what that is, do you? Well, here is a refresher. In the meantime, the main purpose of this post is to help you and your baby get more of it. At least a couple of hours anyway. So, the first two weeks, all the baby does is eat, sleep, poop. repeat. And for a brief moment in time, you think -- piece of cake, I can do this new mom thing. Then, week 3 hits and BAM! where's your sweet, sleepy baby. Gone. Or at least you think. But alas, there is hope and it's name is Swaddle! Below, I give a step-by-step guide to swaddling your baby. My little ham is 5 months and we still swaddle. He goes to sleep in less than 5 minutes every time. EVERY. TIME. So, I'm not sure how we are going to wean from swaddling. But that's another time, another post. Would you like to learn how to get your baby to sleep soundly in less than 5 minutes for naps and help him on his way to sleeping soundly through the night? Yes? YES!!

First things first. In order to have a successful swaddle, you need a large, sturdy blanket. At least 40x40 inches, but all the way up to 45x45 will do the trick. DO NOT use a muslin blanket. These blankets allow to much give and the result is a wriggly baby wiggling out of the swaddle and out of sleep.

Now this next item is very important...before beginning the swaddle make sure your baby is tired (or it is naptime or bedtime), diaper is changed, tummy is full (unless you plan to feed after wrapping) and baby is burped. Baby doesn't have to be calm, he can be crying -- the swaddling will actually help to calm him and you'll watch as he drifts happily into dreamland.

Without further adieu -- here's your guide to swaddling your baby.

1. Lay your large blanket on a flat surface (don't get all Dr. Karp on us, trying to wrap the baby in your lap. That's just showing off.) The floor or a bed work great!

 2. Bring the top corner down, just so it is about parallel with the left and right corner.

3. Place the baby slightly off-center on the blanket with shoulders just below the folded top corner.

4. Bring the bottom corner up with your right hand and tuck the blanket under the baby's waist on each side. Make sure there is plenty of kick room for baby at the bottom.

5. Holding the baby's right arm down by his side with your left hand. Reach over and grab the top left corner of the blanket and bring it down across the baby's chest. Move your left hand on top of the blanket (holding the baby's arm by his side) and immediately tuck the blanket underneath the baby. Pull it snug by placing your left hand at the baby's waist and pulling the blanket from the top right corner.

6. After pulling the blanket snug, hold the baby's left arm down by his side with your left hand and bring the top right corner of the blanket down across the baby's chest with your right hand -- essentially, creating a V-neck at the top of the wrap. Now watch and read carefully, this next part is essential to a snug and unbreakable swaddle. This is your "good night's sleep"!  We are going to create a pocket to hold the remaining fabric in the swaddle.

7. Keeping your right hand as seen in the picture above, take your left hand and grab the remaining fabric of the blanket. Left it up and over -- pull it tight.

8.  After pulling the fabric tight, bring the slack around the baby and give it all one more tug. Baby likes it snug (the womb was very snug)

9. Finally, tuck the little tail into the pocket. Voila!

Now, you'll just need to pick the little lovebug up and cradle him, pat his little butt, give a pacifier (if you offer pacis) and he'll be out in less than 5 minutes! Adding a white noise machine will also help expedite the process.

And here's a recap photo montage of all the steps. Good luck! 

You can get a good oversize blanket from Swaddle Designs (although their swaddle instructions are not as good, so better to ignore them and use this technique here) or Moms On Call . 

I also did some digging around and found this video on YouTube -- remember the key is to pull TIGHT at every fold. You can do it!