Hey there, dads and other birth parent partners.
The Lily and Llama pre-packed hospital bags were designed to make mama’s life a little easier. Well, we wanna let you in on a little secret: the Lily and Llama pre-packed hospital bags, featuring the Lily and Llama velcro swaddle, makes life easier for the partner that doesn’t give birth, too.
Hey, you could very well be the one to pack and carry the hospital bag. You’ll def be the one who goes back home for something that you forgot (like our founder, Landon, did). You might also be one of the first to swaddle your baby. This can feel new, intimidating, and like a bit of pressure. Well, Lily and Llama wants you to know: we’ve got you covered.
NOT JUST A PRE-PACKED HOSPITAL BAG
Lily and Llama wants to be a resource for mama AND her partner during and after pregnancy. We know from experience that a major pain point is knowing how to be involved in your partner’s pregnancy and postpartum. We’ve decided to use this space to give you a tip or two that can help any new parent and partner to the birth parent, whether that’s a dad or a mama.
WHAT A NEW PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT SWADDLING
One of the first things that you’ll want to do once that baby is born is to hug and squeeze it and then eventually, help that baby to sleep. This is where swaddling comes in. “Especially for the support person, it is a really sweet way to show care,” says Kelly Dungan, a registered nurse, midwife, and Spinning Babies® approved trainer..
WHAT IS SWADDLING?
Swaddling is wrapping a baby in a thin, lightweight blanket. However, more important than the “what,” is the “why” of swaddling. “It is very soothing for babies to be contained,” Dungan says. “It reminds them of being in the womb.” As we discussed in our post about the postpartum period, the first three months after a baby is born they are essentially still functioning as a fetus…but just outside of the womb. “Physiologically, it is familiar for babies to be swaddled. This makes it easier for the baby to fall asleep and reduces crying,” says Dungan. “We can soothe our babies by swaddling them, but we also know skin-to-skin contact has incredible benefits as well.”
SHOULD I SWADDLE MY BABY? IS IT SAFE?
Some concerns around swaddling have popped up, and we want to name that. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and hip dysplasia are two very serious topics that get questioned as being related to swaddling. Studies like this 2016 meta-analysis from the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown that while swaddling is safe, like anything it should be done correctly.
Most hospitals and midwives will instruct you on how to properly wrap your baby in a swaddling blanket before leaving the hospital. If you are having a home birth, talk to your home birth team. They can also help. Dungan recommends that you check with your pediatrician on your two to three-day visit to ensure that you are doing proper swaddling at home.
The biggest takeaways when it comes to swaddling safety are: babies should be left to sleep on their back, they should have leg mobility, and swaddling is no longer needed (or recommended) by the time baby can roll over on their own. This can be anywhere from two to four months of age.
HOW TO SWADDLE
A few tips when it comes to swaddling. First, make sure the blanket is light and thin. A heavy blanket will be too hot for baby. The act of swaddling itself is quite simple. Here is an easy guide to follow.
WHAT ABOUT A VELCRO SWADDLE? LIKE THE LILY AND LLAMA SWADDLE IN OUR PRE-PACKED HOSPITAL BAG?
To make swaddling even simpler, there are Velcro swaddles. We’ve chosen a Velcro swaddle for the Lily and Llama pre-packed hospital bag Just for Baby bundle and both the small and large Mama and Baby bundles because of its ease of use. Just as safe as a blanket, and a heck of a lot easier to wrap up your bundle of joy.
Lily and Llama wants mama and her birth partner to focus on the things that really matter during pregnancy and birth. The Lily and Llama pre-packed hospital bags are here to help check items off of your list. From what to pack in your hospital bag to how to swaddle your baby, we’ve got you covered so you can focus on more important things. Whether that’s quality time with your partner and baby, or maybe even for you, Lily and Llama is here to help.
