A new study has shown that swaddling – wrapping infants in cloth so only their head is uncovered – could increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
SIDS - also known as cot death - happens when a baby dies of an unexplained reason, usually while sleeping.
The new research suggests that swaddling a baby may heighten the risk of cot death. Health organisations in Australia say that swaddling is dangerous too.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne hosts a webpage that provides information about how to ensure your baby is safe while sleeping, and they discourage the wrapping technique.
“Swaddling is no longer appropriate due to entrapment risk,” their website writes.
The new study published in Pediatrics contains data sourced from four observational studies about SIDS and swaddling. The research involves 760 cases of SIDS.
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