September is Baby Safety Month -- Are You Swaddling Your Baby Safely? (Includes a Giveaway)

Closed.  And, the winner is:  Andrea Hoffman!!

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to try and review the HALO Comfortluxe pajamas with my daughter, Savannah, who just loves them.  If you missed my review, click here to read it now.  When HALO contacted me the other day to let me know that September is Baby Safety Month, I knew I had to pass on some important information to my mommy readers about the proper ways of swaddling your baby.  And, with another baby due in November, I, myself, brushed up on the proper techniques and learned about how to prevent hip dysplasia.  Don't forget to enter my giveaway at the end of the post for your chance to win a HALO® SleepSack® Swaddle of your own.


Are you swaddling your baby safely?   


There are two aspects to swaddling safely: 1) Avoiding suffocation and 2) Preventing Hip Dysplasia.

Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common conditions among newborn babies, affecting about 1% of North American newborns (about 75,000 per year). According to a recent survey conducted by HALO Innovations, 82% of parents choose to swaddle, and swaddling improperly can lead to Hip Dysplasia or dislocation. Treatment ranges from wearing a harness or brace to undergoing surgery. These condistions can get worse with age and are linked to early adult arthritis and hip-replacement surgery.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging Pediatricians to watch for signs of hip dysplasia and dislocation and to warn parents not to extend their baby’s frog-like legs straight when swaddling. There’s a temptation to stretch the legs out and that needs to be resisted. They need to be able to straighten themselves out naturally and gradually. Parents should allow for room in the swaddle – or sleepsack – for baby to bend at the hips.

Dr. Charles Price, Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, has recorded the following video about Hip Dysplasia and how to swaddle safely. Feel free to use this video in your post.

http://www.youtube.com/halosleepsack#p/u/5/j5M6FK3f0PI

Dr. Tanya Altmann, Pediatrician and Mother, provides tips for swaddling safely in this video, specifically about avoiding suffocation. http://www.youtube.com/halosleepsack#p/u/4/gOTGuUJmMk8

HALO’s SleepSacks and Swaddles are the only products on the market approved “hip healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

 

---GIVEAWAY---

In honor of Baby Safety Month, HALO has kindly offered to give one lucky Inspired by Savannah reader a HALO® SleepSack® Swaddle (winner choices size newborn or small, and choice of gender - girl, boy or neutral).  To enter, please complete the MANDATORY ENTRY first, and then as many EXTRA ENTRIES as you like.  Make sure to include your email address in the first comment, so that I can contact you if you win.  Good luck!


MANDATORY ENTRY:


First, you must be a GFC follower.  Then, like HALO on Facebook.  Afterwards, head back here and let me know you did with your FB username in the comment section below.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

(Please leave separate entries for each, along with your email address)

1) Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries)

2) Follow me on Facebook (1 entry)

3) Enter any of my other giveaways, leaving a comment with the name of the giveaway (1entry per giveaway entered)

4) Blog about this giveaway. It must include a link to this specific post, as well as a link to my blog, http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/. (In your comment, please leave a link directly to your post – 3 Entries)

5) Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

6) Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet, per day; please include link to tweet in comment below)

Enter to #win a HALO SleepSack Swaddle @rmccoy1234 http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/ #giveaway (Ends 9/29)

7) Follow HALO on Twitter (1 entry)

8) Vote for me on picket fence blogs (See button on right side of blog -- One entry per vote, per day)

9) Add to a Giveaway Linky site  (5 entries)

Open to US residents only. Giveaway ends on September 29, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. I will then use Random.org to choose a winner. Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond to my email to claim prize. If I don't hear back from selected winner, I will draw another winner.