Tips and Tricks for Swaddling Newborn in Summer

A newborn baby is always filled with energy. They are always throwing their hands and legs in the air. Due to this reason, the babies scratch their faces, bite their nails and even face accidents. As they are always swinging their hands, they might fall from the bed or where you have kept them. It is important to keep the newborn protected, so swaddles make your job easier. However, with a sharp rise in the temperature in the summer, the thought of swaddling a newborn in summer might not settle well with parents. Well, swaddling in summer is safe, provided you take care of certain things so your baby stays comfortable and not overheated. If you are looking for tips on how to swaddle a newborn in summer, continue reading the article.

Is It Safe to Swaddle Your Baby During Summer? 

Swaddle helps protect the baby and restricts its movement so that it does not fall on the ground or from any high places. Swaddle helps in the total protection of the baby. But, with the increasing heat of the summer season, many parents fear whether swaddling is good for their baby or not. They fear that their baby might become ill due to too much sweating, high heat, or suffocation. The use of a swaddle in summer is not harmful; however, you need to know some tips or tricks that will help you use the swaddle accurately.  

How to Know Your Baby’s Body Temperature? 

A baby cannot regulate their body temperature, nor can they tell you if they feel unwell. You need to check their body temperature. Hence, you must monitor them. Here are some tips which will help you to monitor your baby to ensure they are comfortable:

• First, know your baby’s natural body temperature. Observing your baby’s daily body temperature will help you to understand how much range of temperature your baby’s body has daily.
• You need to check the temperature of the environment where you keep your baby. You should check the surrounding temperature and ensure that your baby is comfortable or not.
• You need to check how many layers of clothes your baby is wearing. In the summer season, as the heat is huge, your baby should wear very little or no clothes to keep them warm. The sweat will make it difficult for your baby, and wearing heavy clothes will irritate them.
• You should check the fabric of the clothes your baby is wearing. During the summer season, you should wear cotton clothes to cover your baby. Cotton clothes are very light and comfortable during any season. Other types of fabric can give your baby rashes or may not suit them. 

Essential Tips for Summer Swaddling Your Baby  

You need to keep in mind the body temperature of your baby. If you want to purchase a beautiful swaddle, you need to follow some of these tips:

1. Choose the Perfect Swaddle 

If you have decided to keep your baby in a swaddle during the summer seasons, you need to choose the best swaddle for your baby. Whenever you search for swaddles online or in the market, you will get beautiful summer swaddles for newborns. These are available in different colours, shapes, and also materials. Hence, the first step is to choose the perfect and comfortable swaddle for your baby. Red Nose suggests using use lightweight wraps made of cotton or muslin cloth (1).

2. Check Your Baby’s Clothes 

Before you put your baby in a swaddle, check your baby’s clothes. If they wear thin layers of clothes, it is perfect for you to keep your baby in the swaddle. On the other hand, if your baby wears a synthetic cloth or different layers of cloth, it is best to change their clothes into something comfortable or no clothes before putting them in the swaddle.

3. Try Different Techniques 

You will find various summer swaddle techniques available online. You should check them out; you will learn about the various ways to swaddle your baby during summer or any time of the year through those techniques.

4. Apply Powder  

Before you swaddle your baby, you must apply powder to them. The powder has cornstarch present, which will help to keep your baby dry as it absorbs sweat and prevents rashes. So, to prevent this from happening, you need to apply powder to your baby.

5. Keep the Swaddle a Bit Loose

Yes, it’s essential that you keep the infant summer swaddle a bit loose to allow the air to circulate well around your little peanut’s body and not overheat them. An appropriately loose swaddle during summer also prevents discomfort in babies.

6. Frequently Monitor Your Baby’s Temperature

When you swaddle your baby during summer, you should consistently monitor their body temperature as well to ensure they don’t overheat. If your little one’s temperature seems elevated or you see them sweat in the swaddle, it’s time to remove them from it.

Tips for Choosing the Right Swaddle for Your Baby in Summer  

In the market, you will find various types of swaddles. You need to choose the correct one so that your baby can be comfortable. You will always want your baby to smile rather than cry. So, here are some tips that will help you to choose the correct summer swaddle for your baby:

• Check the material: You must check the material of the cloth. You should check out the lightweight swaddle for summer. These are very comfortable to use and not very heavy. As you purchase a swaddle for your baby, it is important to keep their comfort in mind. So, check the material before purchasing a swaddle.
• Check the size of the cloth: Babies grow with time, so when you buy a swaddle for your baby, you must check the total size of the swaddle. You will find different sizes, and it depends on the baby’s height. 
• Check the colour and design: When purchasing for your baby, the colour and designs are very important. Parents like to use different colours and designs to make the swaddles look cute, and different colours are also good for the baby to understand. So, besides checking the material and size of the swaddle, you should also choose the colours and designs carefully.
• Check both online and physical markets: Online sites are known for their various varieties, which are not available in physical shops, but at the same time, when you are buying from a shop, you can check and feel the material. Hence, it is up to you to decide where you want to purchase your swaddle. 

Signs of Overheating in Babies  

When you look at your baby at first glance, you might find that your baby is fine and quiet or sleeping. But, if you observe closely, you might see some differences. These changes can be a sign of overheating. Here are some signs you should know so that you can save your baby from overheating:

• If you see that your baby’s face is turning red and your baby is feeling uncomfortable, then it is a sign that your baby is overheating. 
• If you feel your baby is sweating a lot and crying, it is a possible sign of overheating.
• If you observe that your baby is breathing unusually fast or strained or is not feeling well, it can be a sign of overheating.
• High room temperature can also be a factor in overheating, and you must keep your baby in a cool place during the summer season. 

How to Cool Down Your Baby in Case of Overheating?

You can use these methods to cool down your baby in the case of overheating:

• You should immediately remove your baby from the swaddle and remove their clothes.
• You should use a wet towel to clean the sweat off your baby.
• You should rock your baby under a cool fan or keep a distance from the air conditioner.
• If your baby is dehydrated, give them rehydrating fluids. It is the best method to cool your baby down.

Safety Measures to Follow While Swaddling a Baby  

It is important to use the correct techniques during the summertime swaddle. You need to follow these safety measures to swaddle your baby:

• You should use a loose, thin and comfortable cloth to swaddle your baby.
• It would be best if you wrapped the swaddle gently.
• Do not swaddle in the neck or shoulder area of the baby.

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of swaddling a baby in the summer?

Swaddling a baby generally gives them a sense of security, like they are cocooned inside their mother’s womb, and prevents self-scratching or self-harm. It also promotes good sleep. Swaddling in summer protects the baby’s delicate and fragile skin from elements like the sun or hot and dry air (2).

2. How can you dress your baby under a swaddle?

Since your baby is going to be covered in swaddle clothing, they should not be over-dressed under the swaddle during the summer. You can dress your peanut in one extra layer, which is lightweight, breathable, and highly absorbent, like cotton or muslin onesies. The swaddle will act as the second layer of clothing.

3. What should be the ideal room temperature when you swaddle your baby in summer?

During summer, your baby’s room should be cool and comfortable for the baby, irrespective of whether your baby is in a swaddle. The temperature of the room can be kept comfortable for the baby from 68°F to 72°F (20°C to 22°C).

4. Till what age can you swaddle your baby?

Swaddling is best recommended for the infancy stage, from three to four months of age, when babies have the memory of staying secure inside their mother’s womb. You can stop swaddling once they start rolling on their own (3).

The swaddles might seem too cruel to use as it is wrapped around the baby. But it helps to keep the baby calm and confine their movement. But, to use it during summer, you should know these techniques to help your baby and yourself.

References/Resources:

1. Red Nose – Safe wrapping or swaddling, when to stop and how to select a safe sleep bag

2. Pregnancy Birth and Baby – Swaddling your baby

3. American Academy of Pediatrics – Swaddling: Is it Safe for Your Baby?

Also Read:

Swaddle Bathing for Newborn
How to Dress Up an Infant in Summer?
When and How to Stop Swaddling an Infant