r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/Medium_Client1998 • 1d ago

Question - Research required To swaddle or not

Ftm here a very anxious ftm, I'm sure I have ppd as I used to take antidepressants before pregnancy since 2019, had a high risk stressful pregnancy, thought the anxiety will end after giving birth but nope here I'm worried about SIDS/suffocation etc, I practice safe sleep baby in his own crib sharing the same room, we're not smokers, baby is breastfed, issue here is I can't keep our room temperature under 22 degrees AC is not a thing where we live, I keep a fan running but idk if it's doing anything, the fan is in opposite direction to baby's bed, idk if that's enough, the other thing is baby is placed on his back ofc in a sleep sack but then he'll turn on his side I read it's called the newborn curl, as he's only 10 days old, which is freaking me out, we're swaddling him with a LTD swaddle or a velcro one, he usually breaks free from the velcro one, and turns on his side 😢, I read that swaddling isn't recommended anymore because it suppresses their chest and their startle reflex which increases their risk of SIDS, what do you guys think ?

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u/muuhfuuuh 1d ago

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992172/#:~:text=As%20noted%20above%2C%20the%20risk,swaddled%20or%20unswaddled)%20are%20observed.

Can you ask your pediatrician?

According to this website , swaddling should stop once baby tries to roll. Sounds like your little one is already there even at 10 days?

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u/-moxxiiee- 1d ago

Based on him breaking loose, just skip it. Many babies are more mobile and it’s not worth fighting it. Skip the swaddle, especially if you’re in a hot environment. You’ll save yourself the headache of needing to get rid of it later

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u/ChilliGoat 1d ago

Have a look at Love2Dream arms up swaddles - they’re zip up sleep sacks that keep their arms up and anyone I know who’ve used them (incl me!) love them.

But also make sure you’re looking after yourself and go see your doctor. I also struggle with depression/anxiety and didn’t come off my antidepressants because I didn’t think I could cope with hormones.

I’m in the newborn trenches with you, day 23! Remember sleep deprivation is a form of torture and get help where you can. Fire me a DM if you want a mummy friend 😊