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Mothering From Within
Introducing Mothering from Within - the podcast that empowers and supports new mothers on their journey through early motherhood. Join host Kaili Ets, a seasoned pediatric occupational therapist and your holistic baby guru, as she provides credible information, emotional support, and practical solutions for navigating the ups and downs of motherhood. Through solo shows and guest interviews, Mothering from Within will help you gain confidence, trust your instincts, and embrace motherhood on your terms. Get ready to connect, learn, and lead your family with courage and confidence.
Stay Connected With Kaili
https://www.kailiets.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@TheHolisticBabyGuru
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@theholisticbabyguru
Mothering From Within
Ep.62: Swaddling & Reflexes: Supportive Tool or Disruptive Habit?
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In this episode of Mothering From Within, Kaili explores swaddling through the lens of primitive reflexes, nervous system development, and sensory processing.
She explains how swaddling can soften the Moro reflex during sleep, while also interacting with reflexes like palmar grasp and ATNR. Most importantly, she reminds parents that reflex integration happens during awake movement — through feeding, floor play, reaching, grasping, and varied positioning — not during sleep.
Kaili shares how swaddling can be regulating for some babies (providing deep pressure and body boundaries) while becoming restrictive for others as they mature. Resistance often signals readiness for change, not regression.
You’ll learn:
• What swaddling does — and what it doesn’t do
• Why movement variety during awake time matters most
• How to recognize rolling readiness and transition cues
• Practical reflection questions to guide your decisions
Swaddling does not cause retained reflexes, sensory processing differences, or developmental harm. Parenting is about responsive adaptation — not rigid rules.
🎧 Listen in for reassurance, clarity, and a grounded developmental perspective.
Learn more about the Holistic Baby Flow Method at www.kailiets.com/flow
Explore additional guidance in Kaili’s book Mothering From Within - www.kailiets.com/book.