Swaddle vs. Sleep Sack: Advantages, Drawbacks, Dangers

Many dad and mom flip to both swaddles or sleep sacks to maintain their child snug whereas sleeping. Swaddling is also used as a approach to soothe a fussy new child and promote sleep—particularly as they alter to life exterior the womb.

“Swaddling is a standard follow of wrapping a child gently in a lightweight blanket in a manner that mimics the womb,” says Jessica Morse, MD, a new child medication pediatrician at Youngsters’s Well being and assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Middle, including that there are several types of swaddle blankets, together with breathable muslin or cotton blankets.

A sleep sack, alternatively, is a substitute for conventional swaddling and is a specially-designed child garment for safe sleeping. However deciding which is greatest on your child is not at all times easy. Because of this, we spoke with pediatric specialists to search out out the advantages and dangers of swaddles vs. sleep sacks and the right way to decide which is best for you. 

What Is a Swaddle?

Swaddling refers to snugly wrapping your child’s arms close to their chest to recreate the feeling they’d within the womb, explains Stephanie Napolitano, MD, a neonatologist at Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital. “Swaddling your toddler can assist soothe them by giving them boundaries that they developed contained in the birthing dad or mum.”

Historically, swaddling is finished with a blanket, says Dr. Napolitano. “Nonetheless, after we swaddle with a blanket and depart infants unobserved throughout sleep, it might develop into free and unwrap because the child strikes, and the free blanket can create a suffocation danger for an toddler.”

Because of this, pre-made swaddles or wearable blankets had been developed to supply infants that containment however with blankets that may wrap and safe, typically with wings or straps and Velcro.

“A pre-made swaddle is mostly extra handy than utilizing a blanket that must be specifically wrapped and folded, however each serve the identical objective,” provides Rebekah Diamond, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia College, and the writer of Mother or father Like a Pediatrician. 

Execs and Cons of Utilizing a Swaddle

Swaddling an toddler offers that tactile suggestions wanted to assuage or calm them within the most secure manner throughout sleep, says Dr. Napolitano. That stated, there are some drawbacks to utilizing a swaddle as nicely. Right here’s an outline of the professionals and cons of swaddling.

Advantages of Swaddling

• Offers tactile suggestions
• Will be soothing and calming
• Creates sensation of being within the womb
• Promotes sleep

Drawbacks of Swaddling

• Can pose challenges in making an attempt to wake your child from a deeper sleep
• Will increase danger of overheating
• Could intervene with breastfeeding if child sleeps too lengthy
• Will be troublesome to make use of accurately

Security Concerns for Utilizing a Swaddle

Usually, it’s really useful that you just cease swaddling your child after they present indicators of being able to roll over. Usually, this happens round 3 to 4 months of age or older—although each toddler is totally different.

“As soon as that is the case, infants ought to by no means be swaddled with their arms inside,” says Dr. Diamond. “Swaddles can nonetheless be used after this age if each of the infant’s arms are free.”

If you find yourself utilizing a swaddle, additionally be sure that the swaddle isn’t close to your child’s face or too tight round their chest or hips, provides Dr. Napolitano. “[Their] hips ought to have ample area to maneuver and develop.”

There additionally is a few proof that swaddling could make it more difficult for infants to wake from a deeper sleep. And, whereas this prolonged snoozing could also be engaging for sleep-deprived dad and mom, this may intervene with breastfeeding and diet, in addition to improve the danger of sudden toddler loss of life syndrome (SIDS). There is also a danger of overheating–particularly in case you discover damp hair, flushed cheeks, or perhaps a warmth rash.

You’ll be able to cut back the danger of overheating by dressing your child appropriately, says Dr. Napolitano. “A superb rule of thumb is mostly what you’re snug sporting, plus one layer.”

What Is a Sleep Sack?

A sleep sack is much like a swaddle, however a lot much less restrictive, explains Robert Quillin, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group. “Sleep sacks have unrestricted arm motion, which may be sleeved or sleeveless [and] the decrease portion is looser and permits your child to maneuver their legs extra freely.”

Sleep sacks additionally don’t have the identical capacity to wrap tightly round a child’s torso and arms however as an alternative has a pouch-like form that infants may be zipped into, says Dr. Diamond. “A blanket or any free material is unsafe for toddler sleep, so sleep sacks exchange blankets for added heat and luxury.”

Execs and Cons of Utilizing a Sleep Sack

As a result of blankets pose a danger of suffocation for infants youthful than 24 months, a sleep sack is a safer possibility, says Maria Lopez, a sleep skilled and director of Sleep Sense en Espanol. “A sleep sack additionally retains your baby heat all night time.” 

Listed here are a number of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing a sleep sack:

Advantages of Utilizing a Sleep Sack

• Can be utilized even when your child can roll
• Secure for newborns
• Could also be simpler to make use of than a swaddle

Drawbacks of Utilizing a Sleep Sack

• Is available in restricted sizes
• Might not be helpful or protected as soon as a child can stand or turns into cellular

Security Concerns When Utilizing a Sleep Sack

Based on Dr. Quillin, the identical security issues that apply to a swaddle additionally apply to a sleep sack. “The load or thickness of the blanket could actually be the one potential security concern when used accurately.” 

That stated, if you select a sleep sack, be sure that it is roomy sufficient free of charge motion, particularly in case your baby can sit or rise up, says Lopez. “As with swaddles, don’t use weighted sleep sacks, and keep away from overdressing your baby when utilizing one. Make certain the material is suitable for the climate to forestall overheating.”

Find out how to Determine Between a Swaddle or Sleep Sack 

Selecting between a swaddle and a sleep sack when your child is beneath 3 to 4 months of age—they usually’re not but rolling over—actually comes down to non-public desire and your targets. 

When you’ve got a fussy child who wants consolation and safety throughout naps, you could need to swaddle them every so often. But when your child enjoys shifting their arms and kicking their legs—even when they’ll’t roll over—they might favor a sleep sack.

The climate and temperature of the room additionally needs to be thought-about. Swaddling in a heat room or throughout sizzling climate could trigger your child to overheat because of the restrictive nature of the swaddle. In these conditions, a light-weight sleep sack is likely to be a greater possibility for nighttime sleeping—so long as you don’t overdress them.

In the end, although, Lopez recommends utilizing age as the first choice maker. “I don’t suggest swaddling infants over 4 months, no matter whether or not or not they’ve realized to roll over.” 

As a substitute, she suggests utilizing a sleep sack as quickly as your baby reveals indicators of rolling over or is 4 months or older. “Taking into consideration your baby’s preferences, it is going to be very simple to inform early on whether or not your child likes to be swaddled or prefers utilizing a sleep sack.”