Is the Moro startle reflex the cause of your baby waking? 🫣
The Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is when your baby involuntarily flings out their arms, legs, and fingers in response to a sudden disruption or stimulation 💥
Depending on whether your baby was born preterm or full-term, this reflex usually begins to diminish around 12 weeks, often coinciding with their first attempts to roll, and is expected to be gone entirely by 6 months of age (the startle reflex is particularly weak in preterm newborns due to lower muscle tone).
So, how do we fix this? 🤞🏻
First, we need to ensure your baby is swaddled correctly. Swaddling can reduce their startle reflex by keeping them snug, mimicking the feeling of being in utero. However, if their swaddle is too loose, their arms and legs may still flail, causing them to wake and cry, which may give you the impression they don’t like being swaddled.
This is where investing in a zip-up swaddle (we recommend an arms-up swaddle, which allows your baby to access their hands for self-soothing as they did in utero) removes the guesswork out of swaddling your baby compared to using a muslin wrap. This is particularly useful for nappy changes in the middle of the night and if you have an overtired baby who needs to go to bed ASAP!
If despite these tips you feel as though you need additional support, book a consultation via our website today and you will receive your tailored sleep support within 24 hours 🩷🫶🏻💫