How to Tuck in a Newborn

Parents need to be taught how to tuck in their newborns.

Although parenting is supposed to come naturally to all of us, there are some parenting skills that must be learned. It is helpful to have an experienced parent as your mentor to demonstrate taking care of your newborn's needs, including everything from diaper changing and bathing to tucking in your baby for sleep. Newborns like the snug feeling of firm swaddling the way the maternity ward nurses do it. It is never too early to start establishing nighttime rituals to aid in the going-to-sleep process.

Things You'll Need

• Flannel receiving blanket

Instructions

1. Lay a receiving blanket on a soft, flat surface such as a bed. Fold down one of the corners of the blanket, forming a triangle. Make the base of the triangle about 10 inches wide. Fold toward the underside of the blanket.

2. Lay the baby on her back on the blanket with her head overlapping the folded corner. Align the baby so the bottom of her earlobes are at the edge of the folded corner.

3. Lift the corner of the blanket opposite to the folded corner, below the baby's toes. Raise this corner of the blanket firmly up and over the baby and tuck it in behind his right shoulder. Pull the blanket firmly but not so tight that his legs are moved from their resting position.

4. Lift the corner of the blanket closest to the baby's right side and bring it up and over the baby. Pull firmly on the blanket and tuck this end over the baby and behind her back.

5. Bring the last corner, on the baby's left side, up and over his right side. Lift him while continuing to wind the end of the blanket around his body.

Tips & Warnings

• Play a quiet lullaby or sing the same song every night when putting your newborn to sleep so that she begins to associate the tune with bedtime. Even if your baby sleeps in a stroller or playpen in the living room during her daytime naps, it is a good idea to put her in the crib at night so that she gets used to it as the place for bedtime.

• It is recommended that you stop swaddling as soon as your baby's leg muscles develop enough for him to start kicking. Prolonged or too-tight swaddling may harm muscle development.

References

• BabyCenter: Swaddling Your Baby; December 2006
• Parenting: Alternatives to Baby Swaddling; Dr. William Sears

Resources

• Pediatric Services: Babies and Sleep