How to Help Babies Sleep When They Have Arm Reflex
Babies are born with a reflex that causes them to jerk their arms and legs out to the sides quickly when they are startled. This reflex stops during the early months of life, but it can prevent deep sleep in newborns. Swaddling a newborn simulates the warmth and comfort of the womb, and swaddling also wraps the baby's arms and legs tightly enough to prevent him from jerking and waking himself up during sleep.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Lay a receiving blanket on a flat safe surface.
-
2
Fold the top corner of the blanket down so that it doesn't cover the baby's head when she's swaddled.
-
-
3
Lay the baby on his back in the middle of the blanket, with his head above the folded top corner.
-
4
Fold the right side of blanket across the baby's torso, securing her arm to her body, and tuck the blanket below her.
-
5
Tuck the bottom corner of the receiving blanket into the blanket on his chest.
-
6
Wrap the left side of the blanket tightly around her body, over top of the other sides so that it secures her other arm to her body.
-
7
Lay him in his crib while swaddled to allow him to sleep.
-
1
