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How to Swaddle a Baby

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

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Choosing a Blanket

Swaddling to calm a crying baby is an age old technique. It is said to calm the newborn and help cure or prevent crying and colic. You can use this technique to cover the entire baby or just the arms. You can do it with the blanket tight or loose. The first step is your choice of blanket.

Your blanket should be specific to the weather, meaning not too hot and not too cold. It should be large enough so that you have enough fabric to cover baby easily. It doesn't matter if the blanket is flannel, cotton, thick or thin.

Photo © Robin Elise Weiss

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