The technique is supposed to calm the infant and help him fall asleep; it can, on the contrary, turn out to be formidable. Swaddling a baby beyond three months puts him at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially if the child tends to sleep on his side and on his stomach. In these positions, the risk is even doubled.
This is the conclusion of a meta-analysis compiling the results of four studies published in the journal Pediatrics.
Researchers from the University of Bristol (UK) reviewed data covering a period of 20 years and relating to people who came from England, Tasmania (Australia) and Chicago (USA), says Laura Bonnemère on the Le Journal des femmes website. It was by taking an interest in SIDS that these specialists were able to observe the harmful effects of swaddling.
At four months, the baby no longer lies on its back, but tends to roll over. “Parents who choose to swaddle their babies to sleep should make sure they stay on their backs and should stop swaddling them when they grow up and can move around,” says Dr Anna Pease, author of the study.
The best way to avoid SIDS is therefore to lay babies on their backs during naps and at night. A recommendation that is all the more relevant since, each year in France, approximately 250 babies are victims of SIDS. According to a 2009 study by the Health Watch Institute, 90% of deaths occur before the child is six months old and children aged 2 to 4 months are the most exposed.
