The Telegraph

New blanket heralds return of baby-swaddling.

The Biblical method for helping your baby to sleep is making a comeback with a modern version of the swaddling blanket.

By Urmee Khan

Last Updated: 10:36PM BST 18 Jul 2008

Wrapping a 'baby in swaddling' is a method in which a newborn is tightly secured in cloth to restrict its movements to recreate the comfort and security of the womb.

The state of the art swaddling is a blanket made of pure merino wool, which absorbs and releases moisture away from the baby in warm conditions and insulates it when the temperature drops.

The inventor, Amie Nilsson, a mother of three, used Biblical swaddling wraps as the inspiration for her Cocooi Babywrap, cost £34.50. Mrs Nilsson, director of Merino Kids, began investigating what material is best for baby after having problems with her own daughter Lily, who developed a rash after using a polyester sleeping bag. During test runs parents found their babies settled faster and slept much better than on normal blankets.

The wrap costs £34.50 and is available on the website of Mrs Nilsson's firm, Merino Kids.

US scientists have proved that swaddling may help sleeping infants remain on their backs, in a study by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The technique has also recently become popular with celebrities and Heidi Klum, the model, has swaddled her children Henry, Leni and Yohan. Gwyneth Paltrow, actress, and Chris Martin, singer, have been seen out with their daughter Apple swaddled in a blanket.

Merino Kids have sent two of the Cocooi Babywraps to Angelina Jolie, the actress, for her newborn twins.