Just as we promised in the Lulu Ferris membership tutorial on Friday, today we're sharing a post about the benefits of a baby swaddle sack.
For years now, it has been common to put babies in a sack both for sleeping and for taking them out in the stroller, and there are many advantages to using this type of accessory. The main one, and the most important, is that babies sleep inside the sack without becoming uncovered, so they don't wake up because they're cold, while maintaining a warm, consistent temperature.
In addition, traditional sheets can cover your baby's face and suffocate them, so using sleep sacks eliminates the possibility of suffocation and reduces the risks of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
But what are the differences between a sleep sack and a swaddle? Today we're here to answer these questions and many others you may have.
Differences between a sleep sack and a swaddle:
The sleep sack we're all familiar with is usually somewhat thick, since it's mainly used during the fall and winter to cover little ones and keep them from getting cold. This first type also usually has enough room for little ones to move around inside the sack; some may even have shoulder straps so they can take their arms out of the sack. You'll find this type of sack made from both woven fabrics (non-stretch) and knit fabrics.
A swaddle, on the other hand, is characterized by surrounding the baby so that their little arms are held close to their body and they are completely wrapped up.
The fabric typically used for a swaddle is stretchy knit fabric, so that even though the little one is wrapped up, they still have some mobility and the fabric can adapt to their little body.
What are the benefits of swaddling a baby?
When a baby is born, they suddenly find themselves disoriented in an exterior world that is spacious and strange, and that they are not at all used to. They have suddenly gone from always being surrounded and safe to a new, expansive environment. That's why swaddling a baby is important: it provides warmth and security and tries to restore the feeling of containment and the embrace they were accustomed to.
In this way, we make their transition easier, help them maintain the correct body temperature, and therefore help them sleep more peacefully and feel protected.
How long should we swaddle them?
Every child is different—some are more active, some calmer, and some more restless… That's why there is no general rule for this practice.
During the first few months, sleeping in a sack can help them sleep more peacefully and securely. However, as the months go by and they develop their mobility, they may find it uncomfortable to feel trapped inside, and you may then need to consider taking them out of the swaddle or switching to another model that allows them to take their arms out or gives them more room.
That's why we made them in sizes from 0-3 to 9-12 months, because every baby is different. They may love sleeping snugly wrapped up until they are a year old, or as they develop their movements, they may stop wanting to be swaddled.
It's also possible that your child won't tolerate it, may prefer having their own space from the start, and may kick around inside this type of sack.
In the Lulu Ferris membership, you'll find the tutorial with patterns for both sack options.
And if you sew one, send us a photo. You can email it to info@luluferris.com, or if you post it on social media, you can tag us @luluferris or #cosiendoconlulu.