How does Hilary Erickson's swaddling technique help improve newborn sleep?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse.

In general, the swaddling technique I teach (and use in my classes) is all about helping babies feel snug and secure while still staying safe. A good swaddle can:

• Dampen that strong newborn startle reflex so they don’t wake themselves up as often
• Help them feel more like they did in the womb (tight, contained, predictable)
• Make it easier to lay them down calm but awake, which Dr. Sarah Mitchell and I talk about as a key way to shape good sleep habits early

I also always pair swaddling with short wake windows (about 60–90 minutes for many newborns) so we’re not fighting overtiredness, which is when babies are the hardest to settle.

Are you struggling more with getting baby down initially, or with frequent wake‑ups after you swaddle?