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Writer's pictureLauren Dionysius

The Energetics of Sleep Swaddling



INTRODUCTION

As a nurse and baby soul communicator, I've been observing a growing trend in baby sleep swaddling, with all sorts of products designed to keep babies' arms snugly by their sides. I have chatted with several parents about their choices because I am genuinely curious about this shift in baby care over the last decade. The general consensus has been because these products help babies to settle better, keeps their hands warm and stops them from startling themselves awake (Moro reflex). These are all valid concerns, but today I want to explore this topic from a different perspective, taking into account the energetic and neurodevelopmental needs of babies. By providing some food for thought, I hope to help parents make informed swaddling decisions based on what they believe is best for their baby.


BABIES' ENERGETIC NEEDS

Babies arrive new and fresh from the spirit realm and need to inhabit a tiny human body. As they adjust to life on Earth, they move and stretch to release and shift energy (we all do!). When babies sleep, they process, release, and integrate their daily experiences, moving vast amounts of energy through their systems. After all, they can't phone a friend and talk it out!


Gentle swaddling (with bent elbows and hands together at the chest) allows babies to move and stretch and can help them to feel safe and contained, but tight swaddling that restricts arm/body movement means it’s hard for babies to release energy effectively. From a soul perspective, babies release a lot of accumulated energy through their heart and chest area when they’re sleeping (again, we all do!).


NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

From a neurodevelopmental perspective, it’s important that babies are able to:

  1. Engage in hand-to-mouth coordination: From an early age, babies learn to bring their hands to their mouth to self-soothe, as well as to develop fine motor skills essential for later eating and drinking. When their arms are tightly wrapped by their sides, this movement is restricted.

  2. Freely extend and flex their muscles: To promote healthy muscle development, babies need the freedom to move their arms and legs without restraint.

  3. Regulate their own body temperature: When babies can move their arms and adjust their position, they can better regulate their body temperature, leading to more comfortable sleep.

  4. Learn about their bodies: Unrestricted movement helps babies develop body awareness and understand their physical boundaries.


AN EXPERIMENT

As an adult, try sleeping with your arms straight down by your sides without moving. I tried this by tucking my doona around myself and I was so uncomfortable that I could not fall asleep. I couldn’t twist or stretch or lay on my side when I wanted to. So I just lay there, stuck and annoyed! Most of us would not be able to fall asleep like this because we also need to move and shift to release the energy that accumulates in our system. So let’s put ourselves in our baby’s shoes too and view sleep from their perspective.


SUMMARY

While swaddling can absolutely help soothe babies, keep their extremities warmer and counteract the Moro reflex that can cause them to startle awake, it's crucial to consider the energetic and neurodevelopmental implications of tightly restraining their arms. By offering this perspective, I hope to encourage you to thoughtfully consider your baby's unique needs when deciding on the most appropriate swaddling technique. Remember, babies are not burritos; they are mighty souls in a tiny body with unique energetic and developmental requirements that deserve our understanding and respect.



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