Doctor Komarovsky on the need for swaddling

For centuries, swaddling has been a common method employed by parents to calm their infants. It’s a technique for giving a baby a warm, secure feeling by wrapping them up tightly in a blanket. Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky has discussed the advantages and need for swaddling in contemporary parenting. His opinions are insightful for new parents attempting to make their way through the world of child care.

We’ll look at Doctor Komarovsky’s viewpoint on swaddling and the reasons behind his belief that it can be a significant aspect of a newborn’s care in this article. He talks about how swaddling can imitate the reassuring environment of the womb, which may improve a baby’s sense of security and sleep quality. Parents can decide whether or not to incorporate swaddling into their baby’s routine by knowing his recommendations.

A little history

When people realized that babies needed to be protected from the sun, wind, and cold, swaddling clothes were born. It also took place in prehistoric times. The animal’s skin served as the first diaper.

Humanity changed, and so did diapers. Evidently, Evgeny Komarovsky claims that their long existence was due to adults’ need to save money on clothing. Pants and shirts are really not that necessary for the first six months of life because the baby is tightly wrapped in rectangular pieces of fabric with varying densities.

A short while later, there was a medical reason for the diapers. Thus, even twenty or thirty years ago, the doctors in their maternity hospitals would tell laboring women that if they swaddle their legs, the crumbs’ legs will be smoother and he will be calmer. Even before giving birth, they taught swaddling. They used rubber navels that were sized like newborns for "training." We even managed to invent three different swaddling techniques: partial, free, and tight.

Pediatricians noticed over time that children with crooked legs from birth do not straighten no matter how much they are swaddled, and that children who grow up unswaddled due to the "negligence" of incompetent mothers generally develop physically and mentally more quickly. Dogma started to be questioned as a result.

Subsequently, it was discovered that babies who are swaddled have difficulty breathing, and those who are eventually untied adopt a specific position where they tuck their arms and legs. This position is more familiar and physiologically correct for the baby because he spends nine months growing and living without being swaddled in the mother’s womb.

Early on in the campaign to end tight swaddling, doctors and parents took the lead. Suddenly, they started swaddling in a novel manner: broadly. A child who swaddles loosely and tucks his knees under his arms and legs does not have the same elegant and refined appearance as a child who swaddles tightly. But because it got more comfortable for babies, at least, the advantages for him increased significantly.

Subsequently, child psychologists and other experts emerged, taking on the duty of firmly stating that swaddling, even loose, is harmful to a child’s development because it prevents him from becoming an adventurous, independent, and free-thinking adult.

To swaddle or not to swaddle?

Parents are advised by Evgeny Komarovsky not to place too much stock in such "scientific works." Firstly, because the people who wrote and invented them were also swaddled as children.

To become a good, well-adjusted adult, a child requires healthy intra-family relationships in which he will receive a proper and sensible upbringing. Numerous factors come into play, including genetics, heredity, the level of religiosity in the family he will grow up in, social and living conditions, and many more. But no one in the history of our world has ever been able to provide a convincing and scientific proof that a person’s character traits are influenced in any way by the type of swaddling clothes and the force with which he was wrapped when he was a small child.

This is the reason why parents should decide for themselves whether or not to swaddle their child. since it will be more practical for the grownups.

Convenience, affordability, and the ability to avoid having to buy new clothes every month as the child grows are advantages of swaddling.

Benefits of quitting diapers:

• the ability to entrust dressing to dad, because he is unlikely to learn how to swaddle, but he is quite capable of dressing the child in human pants and a shirt;
• shirts require less washing powder than diapers;
• rompers require less space for drying, and they dry faster, in addition, diapers need to be ironed constantly.

It is best to avoid swaddling a child in a diaper during the hot summer months, according to Evgeny Komarovsky, as it can easily cause overheating. There’s also the risk that the baby will turn around and freeze at night during the winter.

This is a decision that parents should make alone and only for themselves.

According to Evgeny Komarovsky, swaddling a newborn does not cause harm, although there are certain diagnoses that make it inappropriate to tightly twist a child, such as hip dysplasia. Doctors, however, will undoubtedly let you know about any health issues that may arise.

Nor should you anticipate any particular advantages from swaddling. When a restless child wears swaddling clothes, he won’t get any calmer. This is especially true if he spends most of the night diligently wriggling out of the unpopular swaddle because he’s hot or uncomfortable in it, or because his arm hurts and needs to be moved around physiologically.

It’s true that if a child is anxious and frequently throws up his arms in his sleep, swaddling him can help him fall asleep.

The importance of swaddling in soothing and calming newborns is highlighted by Dr. Komarovsky’s observations on the practice. When done correctly, swaddling can help babies feel calm and comfortable by simulating the cozy atmosphere of the womb. This can be especially helpful for new parents who are trying to find practical ways to calm their infant.

But it’s crucial to approach swaddling with caution. While swaddling can be beneficial, Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes that it must be done correctly to prevent risks like hip dysplasia or overheating. By adhering to the suggested guidelines, one can make sure that the practice promotes the growth and welfare of the infant.

In summary, parents can benefit greatly from the advice presented by Dr. Komarovsky. Parents can provide a safe and cozy atmosphere for their children by knowing how to swaddle properly and appreciating its advantages. Making the best decisions for your child’s health and happiness depends, as with any parenting strategy, on your ability to stay informed and vigilant.

Dr. Komarovsky highlights that swaddling babies can help them sleep better and give them a sense of security. While swaddling can soothe and calm babies, he says it’s important to do it carefully and make sure the baby’s hips can move freely to prevent any developmental problems.

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