Forbes
The Best Swaddles To Help Your Newborn Stay Cozy And Asleep
Published: February 8, 2024
Source: Best Swaddles 2024 - Forbes Vetted
The best swaddles are easy to use, keep babies cozy and prevent them from starting themselves awake—so the whole household sleeps better. “Babies like to sleep in a snug, tight position like they were in the uterus. That’s why we swaddle them,” says Dr. Daniel Ganjian, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “We call the newborn period the ‘fourth trimester’ because babies like everything to be like it was in the womb.”
The concept of swaddling is simple: Wrap a thin blanket snugly around your little one’s body with arms tucked in at the sides. It should be secure enough so they can’t wiggle out, while allowing for hip movement. Of course, this task sometimes proves complicated, especially when you’re trying to wrap up a wriggling, fragile newborn while you are sleep-deprived. That’s why we love styles like the Halo Sleepsack and the Happiest Baby Sleepea, which let you swaddle your baby in seconds flat. Ganjian adds that they’re considered safe to use until your baby starts to roll over. (You’ll find more on safety guidelines after the product selections.)
We’ve rounded up the best swaddles for newborns and babies, plus expert tips on how to choose the right one for your family. From zip-and-Velcro designs to more traditional wraps, there’s an option for every swaddle style, as well as non-swaddled sleep sacks to consider once your baby outgrows the swaddle.
Best Nontraditional Swaddle
An 'Intuitive Design'
Type: Wrap, transitional | Material: Polyester, spandex | Closure: Velcro-like hook and loop fabric, gathered bottom with elastic | Size: One size
It’s the priciest pick in our lineup, but The Ollie Swaddle is the best non-traditional swaddle because it’s unique and user-friendly. It’s made from a soft and stretchy fabric blend that is tightened at the top with Velcro-like hook and loop closures, while the adjustable bottom is open—you gather and secure the fabric with an elastic band. We like that you can secure the top of the swaddle either with one or both of baby’s arms out, but its true crowning glory is the open bottom, which allows you to easily change your infant’s dirty diaper in the wee hours of the morning—all without having to undo the entire swaddle. The gathered bottom is loose enough for proper hip mobility while sleeping, and you can easily adjust the closure as he or she grows.
What parents say: “It’s one of the easiest and most intuitive designs I’ve encountered,” says Alexandra Frost, Forbes contributor and mom to five. “The elastic closure at the bottom makes it the one swaddle you’d need for as long as you could possibly want to swaddle. This makes it worth the price. It also seems cooler than some other swaddle fabrics, so it could be used year-round. My baby escaped other swaddles but hasn’t been able to squirm out of this one. My only critique is that the fabric near the neck isn’t contoured to accommodate the chin like some other swaddles, so it took a little trial and error to get the fabric around the face properly.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Our team has dedicated years to covering a wide variety of baby and kid products, ranging from the best parenting books to booster seats to electric toothbrushes for kids and everything in between. We’ve spent thousands of hours researching and testing baby and kids products in order to make the best recommendations. Furthermore, Forbes Vetted writers and editors are parents ourselves, meaning we know the nuances of getting baby to sleep safely and calmly—and which swaddles are actually up to the task.
In addition to our own hands-on experience, we tapped our network of pediatric experts to help us narrow down a handful of safe and effective options. For this story, we consulted pediatric physical therapist Dr. Brita DeStefano and pediatricians Dr. Daniel Ganjian, M.D., Dr. Ashanti Woods, M.D., and Dr. Mona Amin, D.O., FAAP.
We regularly update this list, to make sure our recommendations are still in stock, that it contains the latest medical guidance and that we’ve accounted for the latest models. This article was last updated in February 2024.
How We Chose The Best Swaddles
We took several steps to make our final selection of the best swaddles. First, we interviewed four pediatric experts to help us determine the main factors parents should keep in mind when looking for a safe and effective swaddle.
We then sought advice from the true experts—parents—to ask which swaddle styles they’d buy again. We surveyed over a dozen parents to get their recommendations, learned the pros and cons of each option. We deeply researched the most popular swaddle brands, which included sifting through dozens of verified online reviews and keeping in mind each product’s quality, function, cost and style. We made sure to include various styles for different preferences—both for babies and parents—and aimed to accommodate budgets across the board.
What To Consider When Choosing A Swaddle
Typically, swaddling is only done with very young babies or newborns. The idea is that a baby swaddle prevents the Moro reflex or startle response, thus helping newborns sleep more (and cry less). Swaddling also keeps infants warm without the use of loose blankets, which can be a suffocation hazard. Later, babies transition to wearable blankets or sleep sacks that allow their hands to remain free. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) confirmed in its latest sleep guidelines that swaddling won’t harm babies, Dr. Ganjian points out.
Overall, the best swaddles on the market are comforting and simple to put on, prevent even the most serious escape artists from wriggling out and are equal parts warm and breathable to prevent babies from overheating.
Swaddle Style And Closure
Infant swaddles exist in several forms: as traditional swaddle blankets, wrap swaddles, transitional swaddles, 2-in-1 options or sleep sacks (more on that soon). There are also variations that allow one or both arms to be out of the wrap.
Each style has its own unique perks. A zip-up swaddle allows for easy diaper changes in the night (especially if it unzips from the bottom) and holds up to repeat washings. Velcro swaddles allow you to get a snug fit easily, but may lose their ability to grip over time. Combination swaddles feature both a zip and velcro closure, allowing you to get the perks of each.
Finally, a traditional swaddle closes by tucking the remaining loose end into the swaddle after wrapping your baby. The benefit of this style is that it’s basically a thin blanket, and can have many different uses after your baby outgrows swaddling.
Material
Most swaddles are made from cotton or muslin, which is generally recommended. However, there are many new transitional options that also include elastane or spandex, like the Ollie Swaddle, to make for a stretchy and snug fit. There are also ones like the Happiest Baby Sleapea Swaddle that are made from organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s important to note that, while weighted swaddles had a fanbase in the past, the AAP actually recommends against their use due to the risk of entrapment or suffocation.
Important Features
As you decide which option will work best for your family consider the features that are most important for you and your baby’s particular needs. Dr. Brita DeStefano, a pediatric physical therapist and movement specialist, advises to take note of the following: “Baby’s arm position (whether their arms are kept straight down or up by the side of their head), fastening method (from a basic muslin blanket wrap, to zippers and Velcro), and whether or not they can convert to a sleep sack or an arms-free style once baby graduates from swaddling.”
What Are The Types Of Swaddles?
The type of swaddle that’s best for your baby ultimately comes down to your baby’s preferences. Many prefer to have their arms secured for a snug feel, but some won’t tolerate it. Also, as your baby gets older, you want to choose a swaddle that allows her to move her arms in case she rolls over in her sleep. This might include a transition swaddle or one where the arms are completely free. As previously mentioned, there are several types of swaddles:
Traditional Swaddle Blankets
Traditional swaddles are what you think of when you think swaddles: a thin blanket that allows you to wrap a baby like a little burrito. The Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets, one of our editor picks, is a great example of ones that also double as nursing covers or burp cloths.
Wrap Swaddles
A wrap swaddle like the SwaddleMe Original is similar to a traditional option, but instead of tucking in the loose end of the blanket, the swaddle comes with a Velcro closure to make for a more simple process.
2-In-1 Swaddles
A 2-in-1 swaddle (such as the Halo Sleepsack), has elements of a swaddle, typically with wings that can be wrapped around a baby’s arms, but also has a looser leg area that mimics a sleep sack.
Transitional Swaddles
Lastly, a transitional swaddle helps to prepare your baby to say goodbye to swaddles and hello to sleep sacks (typically once they begin rolling over) and allows for different arm placements. While a transitional swaddle might seem too advanced for young babies, they can be helpful in creating consistency in your baby’s bedtime routine. For instance, as toddler mom Rachel Adame says: “The Zipadee-Zip Swaddles were my favorite because they transitioned as [my son] grew. From swaddles from the newborn stage to toddler, then pajamas now that he’s outgrown swaddles in general. They have them for all ages.”
Sleep Sacks Or Wearable Blankets
Sleep sacks, also called wearable blankets, are not swaddles. Instead, these are for older babies or babies who do not like to be swaddled. A sleep sack provides warmth, comfort and a tucked-in vibe, but they do not swaddle or restrict the baby’s arm movement at all.
Are Swaddles Safe?
Yes, swaddles are safe to use “if the proper precautions are taken,” says Dr. Ashanti Woods, M.D., a pediatrician at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center. Just keep the following recommendations in mind from the AAP:
- Make sure you baby is on their back when swaddled.
- The swaddle should not be too tight or make it hard for your baby to breathe or move their hips.
- Stop swaddling your baby when it looks like they’re trying to roll over.
- Don’t use weighted swaddles or weighted objects in the swaddle.
Can Newborns Use Swaddles?
Yes, newborns can use swaddles, following all the tips above from the AAP. “It can help create a snug feeling like baby had in the womb,” Ganjian adds.
What Are The Best Swaddles For Newborns?
“Any swaddle where the top portion can stay just below the shoulders to avoid being in the face” is best, says board-certified pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin, D.O., FAAP, who’s based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Swaddles with Velcro are great, because they can help keep it in place so the swaddle doesn’t move,” she adds.
Our top swaddle pick for newborns is the Happiest Baby Sleepea, or the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle—our pick for the best swaddle overall—in the newborn size.
What Swaddle Is The Hardest To Break Out Of?
Generally speaking, swaddles with hook-and-loop fabric (like Velcro) or zippers are harder for newborns to break out of than traditional swaddles that use a single piece of fabric.
At What Age Should You Stop Swaddling Your Baby?
Babies need to transition out of a swaddle when they start to roll over, usually around 3 to 4 months old, according to the AAP. This can also happen at just 2 months of age. The authors of this piece, both parents, personally found that they transitioned their babies from a swaddle to a sleep sack around 3 months of age.
Pediatric physical therapist DeStefano recommends considering the following factors when transitioning: “First, from a safety perspective you must stop swaddling as soon as your baby can roll over from their back to their tummy. I like to educate parents on the signs that rolling is coming soon (such as baby grabbing for their toes) so that they can be proactive about dropping the swaddle before baby rolls for the first time,” she explains.
“Second, from a movement perspective, we know that babies practice their motor skills in their sleep space. Giving them some freedom of movement during the night by transitioning out of the swaddle earlier (between 8 to 12 weeks) may allow for them to master those skills sooner,” DeStefano adds. Of course, be sure to consider your babies needs, your own level of comfort and the advice of your family’s pediatrician before taking the plunge.
What Happens If My Baby Rolls Over In A Swaddle?
Babies have a higher risk of suffocation if they roll over in a swaddle. That’s why it’s important to stop swaddling your baby’s arms as soon as they start showing signs of rolling over. DeStefano explains: “Rolling is a very exciting milestone for babies, and while it may disrupt sleep for a short period of time, it is ultimately a great foundational skill for them to master. In fact, many babies are more comfortable sleeping on their belly once they can independently roll into and out of that position.”
As a parent however, she understands how uncomfortable this change can be for moms and dads. “My advice for parents going through this transition is to practice rolling as much as possible during the day to help their baby feel confident in the skill.”