Sometimes this is simply a case ofparents needing a little practice learning something new ? butother times the problem is having the wrong ?tool? for the job. Properly swaddling a baby without a blanket designed for swaddlingcan be difficult and potentially dangerous.Compare Swaddle Blankets and BabyBlankets:

Safety ? Thereare 2 primary areas of safety concerns for parents who swaddle theirchildren. The first is overheating and the 2^nd is havinga blanket that does not allow any movement for the child.

Swaddle blankets are designed forswaddling with safety in mind. They are typically made oflightweight, breathable fabric to prevent overheating and aredesigned to be stretchable allowing parents to safely swaddle them. Baby blankets may not have these features. And while most babyproducts are flame resistant the fabric may not be breathable orstretchable to make it suitable for swaddling. Also some genericbaby blankets may be made to provide warmth with thicker fabric andthis is definitely not recommended for swaddling.

Design ? Swaddleblankets tend to be square or rectangular and oversized which allowsfor wrapping the baby multiple times and neatly tucking in the fabricto complete the process. Baby blankets, by contrast, can come in anyshape or size and are not always suitable for swaddling.

Material ? Swaddleblankets often feature specially designed fabric that preventsoverheating and stretches when necessary. The best blankets willfeature specialty fabrics such as muslin cotton which allows air toflow seamlessly through the material to help regulate temperature.

Pediatric research suggests thatswaddling your infant for the first few months makes for an easiertransition from the womb and can greatly reduce fussiness in babieswho take more time to adjust to their new surroundings. Don't getcaught trying to learn this valuable soothing technique with ablanket that isn't designed for the job. Take your time and choosea blanket designed for swaddling that comes from a company that canhelp you learn how to use it.