Love To Dream™ takes the health of babies very seriously so Love To Swaddle UP™ was developed with extensive study of medical research performed and documented by various external organisations.

	Non-nutritive sucking is a natural reflex in young babies Sucking has (have) a soothing and calming effect. The need to suck is present in all infants. Some infants suck their thumbs even before they are born, and some will do it right after being born. SOURCE: American Academy of Paediatrics, Article "Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers" 2000

Thumb sucking is one of the most common habits of children. Approximately 50 to 87 percent of children suck their thumbs. The habit starts early in life, with 90 percent of newborns showing some form of hand sucking by 2 hours of age.
SOURCE: Children's Hospital Boston (the primary paediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School), Article 2006

The importance of sucking for infant self-soothing has been demonstrated in a variety of studies. For example, pacifier use or thumb sucking is often offered as a way for babies to tolerate the pain of needle punctures or other painful medical procedures. Non-nutritive sucking has been found to help the development of preterm babies, and in all babies, thumb or pacifier sucking is associated with self-calming. Thumb sucking may increase when your baby is tired or unhappy, as well as when she is unwell or teething. The thumb, therefore, provides your baby with a way of calming herself down- providing her with important experience in managing her emotions.
SOURCE: Anita Sethi, Ph.D. "Baby Steps: Thumbs Up!"

Love To Swaddle UP™ has been designed with this primitive sucking need in mind. With arms up the baby has access to their thumb and fingers whenever they require self-soothing.

Non-nutritive sucking reduces colic and babies crying time
An extremely fussy two-day-old baby when offered self-regulatory non-nutritive sucking (SNS) for as long as required (to satiety) after feeding. The effect was striking. The infant settled down immediately, sucked almost steadily for 30 minutes and fell into a deep sleep.
SOURCE: Carol Porter Measel, Gene Cranston Anderson "Journal of Obstetric, Gynaecologic, & Neonatal Nursing" Volume 8, Issue 5 Pages 265 - 272 1979 by NAACOG -
a division of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

	Self-soothing promotes better quality and longer sleep in babies Thumb and finger-sucking babies tend to sleep longer and more soundly than non-sucking infants, apparently because sucking eases the transition from wakefulness to sleep. SOURCE: West Valley Paediatric Dentistry, serving the western region of Phoenix, Arizona 2008

Health benefits of non nutritive sucking in premature babies
Preterm neonates (mean 32 weeks' gestation, 1,300 gm birth weight) were provided a pacifier for non nutritive sucking during tube feedings in the intensive care nursery... The infants provided with pacifiers averaged 27 fewer tube feedings, started bottle feeding three days earlier, averaged a greater weight gain per day, and were discharged eight days earlier for an average hospital cost savings of approximately $3,500.
SOURCE: Dr Gene Anderson “Infantile Colic: A Possible Solution” Journal: MCN, American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing 1983

Health benefits of swaddling in premature babies
Preterm infants have been shown improved neuromuscular development, less physiological distress, better motor organisation, and more self-regulatory ability when they are swaddled.
SOURCE: “Swaddling: A Systematic Review” Paediatrics Volume 120 Number 4, Oct, 2007

Medical community suggests babies should be swaddled with their hands up
A new baby’s natural position is with her arms bent at the elbow and her legs flexed. Wrap her like this, making no attempt to straighten her out before you start. Above all, leave her hands where she can suck them if she wants and is able to do so.
SOURCE: Penelope Leach, PhD, research psychologist specializing in child development. “Your Baby and Child” Pg 18 - The Newborn 2003

Swaddled babies sleep better
Studies show that swaddling actually does help babies sleep better and longer. The study, "Influence of Swaddling on Sleep and Arousal Characteristics of Healthy Infants" evaluated whether or not swaddling influences infants' arousal to noise. The results showed swaddling increased infants' sleep efficiency and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Swaddled infants spontaneously awakened less often from sleep... The researchers assert that since swaddling helps excessive crying, it may encourage parents who normally place their babies on their stomachs to prevent crying, to instead swaddle their babies and place them on their backs. Back sleeping may also prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
SOURCE: “Influence of Swaddling on Sleep and Arousal Characteristics of Healthy Infants” American Academy of Paediatrics May 5, 2005

Swaddled babies soothe better
When compared with massage, excessively crying infants cried less when swaddled, and swaddling can soothe pain in infants.
SOURCE: “Swaddling: A Systematic Review” Paediatrics Volume 120 Number 4, Oct, 2007



It is more difficult for swaddled infants to flip onto their tummies during sleep
The physical restraint of swaddling presumably prevents infants from turning prone during sleep before they have gained experience in turning to prone and back again when awake.
SOURCE: “Swaddling: A systematic Review” Paediatrics Volume 120 Number 4, Oct, 2007

When babies arms are UP in the Love To Swaddle UP™ it is much harder for a baby to accidentally flip from their back to their tummy as their arm is in the way. Therefore from a sleeping supine position it can be safer to wrap babies with their arms up. Furthermore if somehow a baby does turn onto their tummy older babies are better enabled to push up on their arms and move their head to either side so they can breathe easily. We cannot guarantee that your baby will not flip onto their tummy so if your baby has started rolling please discontinue use of any swaddling item.

Breathability of Love To Swaddle UP™
Love To Swaddle UP™ is made of ONE layer of the highest quality Cotton Elastane. Our fabric is no heavier then any average commercial stretch cotton wrap already sold in Australian baby stores. Also the product is 97% Cotton therefore highly breathable. Love To Swaddle UP™ is much more breathable then other sleepwear items available in the marketplace which are either sleeping bags lined in cotton but stuffed with polyester filling or 100% polyester fleece sleep suits, polyester does not breathe as well as cotton or allow moisture to pass through the fibres. Furthermore since Love To Swaddle UP™ stretches to fit the baby the stretching action creates natural openings in the weave, promoting even further breathability.

This information is not medical or allied health professional advice. Further, no cure or treatment for disease is offered on this website. Love To Dream™ recommends you seek professional advice for your and your child's individual needs.