BABY
Is Swaddling Safe? A Scientific Study
Dr. Karp reviews past research and the AAP's recommendations for snug wrapping.
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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Sometimes, the magnifying lens of the press distorts good science to mislead rather than inform. I’m afraid that kind of distortion occurred with a rather modest study on swaddling and SIDS. The media pumps up the volume on stories to grab our attention (which in this case confused parents). News outlets announced this study with a storm of coverage, using provocative and sensational headlines like, “Is Swaddling Dangerous?” and “New Study Shows Swaddling May Be Linked to SIDS!” Doctors, in contrast, evaluate research with a skeptical eye, trying to find the flaws (all studies have them) and tease out the nuggets of truth. So, let’s cool down the hype for a minute and look at the key questions about swaddling and the health of babies:
The study in question is a review of four older studies, most from 20+ years in the past. Its “big” finding simply confirmed the well-known fact that babies should only sleep on the back, whether swaddled or not. It also notes that stomach sleeping is riskier (known since 1993) when a baby is swaddled. And it adds that swaddling is definitely of increased risk for babies over 6 months of age, probably because of the increasing risk of rolling over.
Let’s get to the heart of what new parents want to know: Is swaddling safe or risky for healthy, back-sleeping babies? To that point, the authors said there were big flaws in the study. The researchers cautioned that their data is so thin that “...further studies are needed to quantify whether this practice [swaddling of back sleeping babies] poses any risk.” They warn that—because of study limitations—they are not telling parents to stop swaddling infants under 6 months, unless they can roll over.
This study ignores important and powerful evidence supporting the safe use of swaddling (and the risks of not swaddling). In 2014, the Journal of Pediatrics published the most comprehensive study of swaddling-related sleep deaths ever done in the U.S. It reviewed eight years of all swaddle-related deaths reported to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Fewer than three deaths per year were reported among swaddled babies. Only one death was reported over that extensive period of a baby who was swaddled in a blanket and placed on the back. In fact, that study’s authors stressed the safety of swaddling by noting, “...reports of sudden unexpected death in swaddled infants are rare.” This low death rate is strong supportive evidence that swaddling reduces SIDS risk! Think of it this way: SIDS occurs in about 1 out of every 2,000 babies. So, with the hundreds of thousands of infants being swaddled each year, one would expect hundreds of reports of swaddled babies dying of SIDS... just by coincidence. And, even more deaths if wrapping truly increased SIDS. Another, critical issue that was totally overlooked in the study—and by the press—is the bigger public health question:
Swaddling reduces two common parent stressors: Persistent crying and poor infant sleep. Because of this benefit, swaddling is recommended in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) parenting books and educational website. Reducing crying and mom exhaustion are key goals because these problems often trigger a terrible cascade of dysfunction and death, including postpartum depression (which can lead to life-long depression, suicide and even infanticide); child abuse/neglect; breastfeeding failure (which can increase SIDS); dangerous sleeping practices (which can increase SIDS and suffocation); marital stress; cigarette smoking (which can increase SIDS); car accidents; over treatment with medication; and perhaps even maternal and infant obesity.
These problems are not rare. In fact, they burden hundreds of thousands of families and cost our nation billions of dollars in health care and related expenses. For example, the AAP promotes swaddling to reduce shaken baby syndrome (which peaks at 3-5 months of age and is usually triggered by a baby’s persistent screaming). And although there were 22 deaths of swaddled babies reported to the CPSC from 2004-2012, during the same period, 1,024 infant deaths were reported to the CPSC from sofa sleeping (most under 3 months of age). Babies are usually brought to the sofa when crying, and then their poor exhausted moms just fall asleep while soothing/feeding them.
A study of 2,000 moms found that 44 percent of women reported falling sleep while nursing on a sofa or recliner. Many of these sleep-deprived moms might not have been tempted to head to the sofa in the middle of the night had their babies been swaddled, calm and sleeping better. It’s very unfortunate that the study authors chose to completely ignore the possibility that swaddling may actually prevent SIDS and suffocation by:
No wonder a review of swaddling concluded that back sleeping while swaddled was best, “Evidence clearly shows that being supine and swaddled decreases the SIDS risk more than being supine without swaddling.” And, another SIDS expert wrote, “All in all, it would appear that the advantages of swaddling supine-sleeping infants outweigh the risks, if any.”
Finally, safe swaddling may reduce serious falls out of bassinets. Over a 15-month period (2012–2013), 16 bassinet incidents were reported to the CPSC. Almost 70% were attributed to falling. That’s important because all falls resulted in head injury. And, an alarming 45% of falls occurred among infants five months old or less.
Will this study change the current medical advice to swaddle babies to calm their crying and boost sleep? Nope! The AAP’s advice to swaddle to reduce crying, boost sleep—and improve a parent’s confidence and competence—is still compelling. However, we do need to help parents sidestep the risks from incorrect swaddling. So, just as we teach new parents how to correctly install car seats (to avoid serious injury), we need to show parents correct swaddling techniques (to avoid overheating, loose blankets, hip injury, stomach sleeping, etc.).
A scientist’s job is to analyze complex problems by fully evaluating all issues involved. In other words, we have to stay vigilant to not confuse the forest for the trees. When it comes to swaddling, the answer is as close to a medical slam dunk as you are ever going to see: Keep on swaddling!
Read More: How to Swaddle a Baby
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
