Wrapping and Swaddling Infants: Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

Managing unsettled infant behaviour, promoting infant sleep and encouraging and supporting safe sleeping practices are issues routinely addressed by child health nurses working with parents of young infants. Recent studies have supported wrapping and/or swaddling as a strategy to calm infants, improve settling and promote supine sleep consistent with Safe Sleeping and Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome public health recommendations. In Queensland 12% of babies are routinely placed prone to sleep at 3 months of age rather than in the recommended supine sleeping position. Infant wrapping may be underutilised by parents and health professionals as a strategy to support supine positioning for infants as an alternative to prone positioning. Aims: The purpose of this study was to 1) identify knowledge, attitudes and practices of child health nurses relating to infant wrapping; 2) reinforce the importance of the supine sleep position for infants by offering parents wrapping as a safe, effective settling/sleep strategy, as an alternative to prone positioning.Please cite this report using this URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4227/39/578834856aea