Good Housekeeping
The Best Swaddles of 2024
These blankets, wraps and sleep sacks for babies mimic the womb to promote feelings of comfort.
Updated: February 22, 2023
Source: 10 Best Swaddles of 2024 (goodhousekeeping.com)
Courtesy Photo
We updated this article in February 2023 to ensure all swaddles previously tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and reflected current pricing. We also added picks from SwaddleMe, The Ollie World and Posh Peanut.
The secret to a more peaceful newborn: swaddling. After giving birth in a hospital, it can be awe-inspiring to see maternity nurses wrap an hours-old baby like a little burrito and keep them calm and content. Being swaddled helps a newborn feel like they're still in the womb during what's called the "fourth trimester": your baby's first three months.
Once you get home, though, it's up to you to swaddle. The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab (who are moms too) handpicked the best swaddles that can make wrapping your baby easier. Our experts have examined more than two dozen swaddles over the past eight years. We tested swaddles that use fasteners to hold the material together, as well as traditional blankets that you use to wrap your baby.
Just as it takes experimenting to find the right pacifier for your baby, you may have to try several swaddles to figure out which one works best. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that safe swaddling stops at about 2 months or so, or whenever your baby starts to try to roll over. For the best swaddling techniques, continue reading after our picks.
The Ollie World The Ollie Swaddle
Pros
- Adjustable fit as your baby grows
- Easy transition; just don't tuck baby's arms in
- Comes with mesh bag for washing to keep closures from catching on other garments
Cons
- Closures make a ripping sound when you unswaddle
- Comparatively pricey
Always swaddle your baby in the Ollie with their shoulders out. That and the fact that this swaddle is made with lightweight polyester-spandex fabric can help keep your baby cooler in the summer or if you're in a warm climate, especially if you dress them in a short-sleeve bodysuit.
Unfolded, the Ollie is a blanket with three strong hook-and-loop closures. You lay your baby on the blanket, shoulders above blanket level, and pull and secure your baby's left side and then their right side, making use of the closures. Though functional, the closures make a loud ripping sound when you unswaddle, we found. Also, note that the Ollie is pricier than other options.
A big point of difference for this swaddle is that you secure the bottom with an included elastic band. Watching the instructional video from the brand can help you get it right, but home testers told us they found it easy and that the design is very adjustable, able to fit long and tall babies.
| Weight range by size | One size fits all (measures 28" x 30.5") |
|---|---|
| Materials | 86% polyester, 14% spandex |