Swaddle Me Up: Baby Wrapping and Babywearing for Everyone

by Meleah Ekstrand, Bill Milne (Photographer), Kat Yao (Illustrator)

Overview

Everything parents need to know about swaddling a baby, babywearing safety, plus tips on sleep and soothing, and some much-needed humor.
 
Here is a delightful swaddling book that is as informative as it is adorable. This guide to the ins and outs of swaddling and babywearing is any parent's go-to for bundling up their bundle of joy. With easy instructions for multiple ways to swaddle and keep baby cozy, step-by-step guides for tucking baby into any carrier, and advice on safety, fit, and leveling up your skills, parents can rest easy knowing baby is snug and happy, and can get some extra rest themselves. Plus, there are helpful sidebars on sleep, soothing, and figuring out the first few months of parenthood.
 
Presented in a playful package with both charming illustrations and sweet photography, this book has the perfect mix of humor and practicality to be an ideal gift for expecting parents.
 
HIGHLY PRACTICAL: Swaddling isn't just cute—research has shown that swaddled babies sleep longer and have more REM sleep while swaddled. And more sleep for baby means more sleep for their tired parents! This book has safe and still cute ways to swaddle baby, and they're easy enough for any sleep-deprived parent to do.
 
Highly Giftable: People are always looking for easy parenting books to give at a baby shower. Both fun and informative, this is a gift any expectant parent can appreciate and that anyone will enjoy gifting. It's also a cheery add-on gift to liven up traditional gifts of baby necessities.
 
Perfect for:

• New Parents
• Anyone needing a gift for expecting and new parents or a baby shower

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781797208718
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	08/02/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	48 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Meleah Ekstrand is a doula and a childbirth and babywearing educator. She is a certified instructor with Kaiser Permanente and was formerly a volunteer educator with Babywearing International. She lives in Marin, California, with her husband and five children.

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

Swaddling

Why Swaddle? 13

Swaddling Historically 15

Swaddling Basics 16

When to Swaddle, When to Stop 17

Can You Swaddle Too Much? 19

Avoid Swaddling Pitfalls 21

How to Swaddle

Good-Enough-to-Eat Swaddle 23

Can't-Break-Free Swaddle 27

Quick-and-Easy Swaddle 31

The Let-It-Hang Swaddle 35

One Arm In, One Arm Out Swaddle 39

The Blowout Swaddle (sweatshirt) 45

Bathtime Swaddle 49

Too-Tired-to-Care Swaddle 53

I-Got-You-a-Present Swaddle 57

Sweet Pea Swaddle 61

Baby wearing

Why Babywear? 69

Babywearing Historically 70

ABCs of Babywearing and Safety 72

Check Your Fit 77

Types of Carriers for Babywearing 78

Ring Sling 79

Stretchy Wrap 81

Woven Wrap 84

Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) 87

Men Dai (also known as mei tai) 90

How to Babywear

How to Wear a Ring Sling on Your Front: Heart-to-Heart Hold 100

How to Wear a Ring Sling on Your Hip: Ring Sling Hip Carry 104

How to Wear a Stretchy Wrap: Heart-to-Heart Hold 108

How to Wear a Woven Wrap: Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) 114

How to Wear a Soft Structured Carrier: Facing In 120

How to Wear a Soft Structured Carrier: Facing Out 124

How to Wear a Meh Dai: Heart-to-Heart Hold 128

Back Carrying 132

Resources 138

Index 140

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2022

Ekstrand wears many hats—mother of four, doula, breastfeeding support provider, and baby-wearing educator. She believes swaddling and baby wearing can be a parent's best friends; they provide security for the baby and enjoyment for the parent. She shares why swaddling works, gives a glance behind the history of the practice, and provides basics and full-color diagrams of several types of swaddles, rating them by ease of use and best age level. She even highlights swaddles that can be done with a sweatshirt or towel. The baby-wearing section offers safety guidelines, insight to the types of carriers and their best usage, and pictures to demonstrate back and front carrying. The illustrations are simple enough for new parents to follow, and the photographs of babies and mothers are diverse and inclusive. VERDICT This simple, illustrated volume will be a valuable manual for beginning parents looking for the basics on baby-wrapping and baby-wearing.

Library Journal