The Best Swaddles for Newborns, Tested on Our Own Bundles of Joy

Soothe your baby with minimal fuss and maximum safety.

by Samson McDougall 

Updated: September 18, 2023

Source: The Best Swaddles for Newborns Tested on Our Own Bundles of Joy (parents.com)

 

Parents / Tamara Staples

 



After nine months of gestation and preparation, when a baby finally emerges into the world there are many more months of monumental changes for newborn and parents alike. Providing comfort during this fourth trimester is essential to ease the transition from womb to world, create bonds between baby and parents, and ensure everyone gets enough (or at least as much as possible) rest. By re-creating a womb-like environment, swaddling a baby can help soothe them to sleep more soundly for longer. We tested dozens of swaddle blankets and sacks on our own babies to help you find the version that will work best for your family.

While loose blankets are a no-go, wrapping newborns up like a burrito is an age-old method of getting them to sleep, keeping them warm, and preventing them from waking themselves up with flailing arms, but you do need to do it safely. In 2022, the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) updated its safe sleep recommendations, advising that swaddling is safe, provided babies are always placed on their backs.1 They also note that you should never use weighted blankets or clothing. And that you should cease swaddling at the first signs of rolling, which can happen as early as 4 weeks old. 

A simple cotton or muslin swaddle is great, if you’re confident that you can fold it right—while tired, in the dark. But start shopping around, and you’ll find a mind-boggling array of swaddle styles, fabrics, and techniques to choose from: receiving blankets, sleep sacks, cocoons, cotton, bamboo, micro-fleece, muslin, Velcro straps, optional armholes, snaps, double zippers... You get the picture.

To cut through the noise and marketing babble, we spoke to experts and tested dozens of well-known brands and styles (ranging from $19 to $59) on our own babies at home. Day and night, clear-headed and bleary-eyed, through settling and diaper changes, we measured comfort, durability, value for money, and ease of use—which is more important than many realize. Finally, we sorted through the results to bring you the very best swaddles for you to choose from.

 

Our Testing Process 

To determine the best swaddles for newborns, along with the best sleep sacks and baby blankets, our staffers tested 52 products at home with their own babies. We measured their performance based on ease of use/effectiveness, comfort, durability, and value for money. We also spoke with some experts, including:

• Tomomi Hayashi, M.D., a pediatrician at Silicon Valley Pediatricians 
• Elizabeth Murray, D.O., a pediatrician at the Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester, and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Hindi Zeidman, CEO and founder of The Ollie World.

We consulted Dr. Hayashi to inform our test methodology. Our editors (and their babies) then subjected each swaddle to a week-long testing regime. This began with lessons in safe, effective swaddle techniques. We then referred to manufacturer instructions and timed ourselves swaddling and unswaddling our babies. We noted the process of unswaddling and reswaddling during diaper changes, too. We made notes around ease of wrapping and settling, level of comfort and restraint, overall fit, and temperature control. Other considerations included fabric durability through washing, the temperament of each baby while swaddled, and any changes in our babies’ sleep patterns. 

 

Factors to Consider

• Materials: The products we tested are made from a variety of fabrics, including cotton, bamboo, polyester micro-fleece, and cotton-elastane blends. As Dr. Murray notes, a level of common sense applies when choosing suitable fabrics. “As far as materials are concerned, babies often just need one additional layer of clothing or blankets to keep them warm and comfortable,” she says. “Therefore, any very thick or plush material isn't needed. Weighted blankets should never be used over an infant as they pose a suffocation risk.” To help you make an informed choice, many brands list the Thermal Overall Grade (T.O.G.) rating for each product. As a rule of thumb, any T.O.G. less than 1 is for warm climates, T.O.G. 1–2 is for moderate to mild climates, and anything above a 2 is for cool climates.
• Sleeping Position: According to the latest AAP advice, swaddled babies must always be placed on their backs, and you should never use weighted swaddles or weighted clothing.1 As soon as your baby shows signs of rolling, their swaddle days (and nights) are over. For very small babies, swaddling the arms is effective at reducing their startle reflex—which can be disruptive to sleep. Some swaddles have adaptable sleeves and flaps to allow for a gradual transition from arms in to one arm out, followed by both arms free. And for babies who prefer sleeping in an arms-up position, there are even swaddle alternatives like the Swaddle Up that keep their arms comfy above their heads. Every new parent gets sick of hearing this, but: Every baby is different. So, it’s about finding the right swaddle to complement their preferred sleeping patterns and positions.
• Ease of Use: Three in the morning with a newborn is no time for complexity. That’s why many modern swaddles cater to a variety of soothing approaches. If you’re confident in your origami skills to fold a basic square blanket into an escape-free swaddle in the dark, you’re spoiled for choice in terms of wondrously colored fabrics with which to work your magic. For everybody else, there is a full spectrum of swaddle types to simplify the process. Velcro straps and closable arm holes. Sleep sacks and wearable blankets. Button closures, snap closures, zippers—even double-ended zippers for ease of middle-of-the-night diaper changes. New parenting is hard enough. Let your swaddles take up a little of that slack.
• Durability: Your baby’s swaddles are at the front line of all things spillage, so where possible machine washable options cut down your laundry work. We also noted that some of the Velcro closures we tested snagged on the fabric causing pilling. The thing is, after a few months of use—including spit-ups, diaper blow-outs, and plenty of tears—no swaddle will be as good as new. And, as gross as it sounds, that familiar baby smell is a soothing balm for newborns. Another factor in durability is whether they’re meant for transitioning into sleep sacks for babies once they’ve begun to roll over. Some of the products we chose are slightly more expensive than a simple swaddle, because they grow with your kiddo.

How to Use a Swaddle Safely

Before you start, ensure your newborn is sleeping on their back, on a firm, flat surface, and that  they do not roll over while swaddled. Don’t ever place any loose blankets in your newborn’s crib, and never use weighted swaddles or blankets.

Follow this step-by-step process for safe swaddling with a swaddle blanket, based on AAP guidelines:2

• Spread a thin blanket flat like a diamond with one corner folded down.
• Lay the baby face-up on the blanket, with their head above the folded side.
• Hold their left arm straight down and wrap the left corner of the blanket over their arm and body. Tuck it between their right arm and the right side of their body.
• Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of the baby.
• Hold the right arm down and fold the right corner of the blanket over their body around their back, tucking it into the top..
• Make sure their hips can move and that the blanket is not too tight. You want to be able to get at least two or three fingers between the baby's chest and the swaddle.

For sleep sacks and wearable blankets, look at the manufacturer’s safety notes before use. The AAP recommends exercising caution when buying products that claim to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It also cautions that swaddling can increase the chance of your baby overheating, so choose the correct T.O.G. rating for your climate and season.

Hindi Zeidman notes that when considering safety, it pays to consider the whole sleep environment. “Ensure no fabric is covering the neck or face, assess if your little one is dressed in a manner underneath the swaddle that will not contribute to overheating, and as soon as your little one shows signs of getting ready to roll, stop swaddling with arms in,” she says. 

 

Your Questions, Answered 

Are swaddles safe for newborns?

Dr. Murray recommends swaddling, when done correctly, as safe for newborns. “The key components to safety are ensuring the swaddle cannot become loose or move up over the baby's face and that the baby's legs are not tightly snuggled with their hips flexed,” she says. 

She adds that even a standard sheet placed over a newborn's face can impair their breathing enough to cause suffocation. “I recommend the use of a commercially produced wearable blanket (sometimes called a sleep sack) with a swaddle component sewn to or otherwise attached to the sleep sack. These often have velcro closures and are designed in a way that they cannot travel up and cover the baby's face.” 

Can newborns sleep in a swaddle?

Very young babies are often comforted by having their arms snuggled against their body. Therefore, swaddling can be calming to them and help with comfort and sleep. “The movement of the arms is what usually disrupts the baby's sleep, so that is what you are really trying to swaddle,” Dr. Murray says. “The baby's legs should be loose enough to allow movement at the hips.”

Zeidman notes, “When a little one is born, every single thing that they know about their environment changes in the blink of an eye. Now there are lights, sounds, temperature changes, clothes, diapers, feedings, faces, touch—seriously, that is such a tremendous amount of change at once. The purpose of the swaddle is to help bring a little one back to the comfort of the womb—to remind them of the gentle pressure they felt from the fluid they were surrounded by, and to bring back that environment that they knew so well.”

When should you stop swaddling babies? 

As soon as your baby starts rolling, it’s time to stop swaddling. Dr. Murray says rolling can start as early as around 4 weeks of age. “You want to make sure your baby has their arms out at the first sign that they might be interested in rolling,” she says. “Plus, as they become more aware of their hands, having their hands out can be interesting to them.” 

Should you have more than one swaddle?

Dr. Murray suggests always buying more than you think you need. “Probably at least three,” she says, “as one will likely always be dirty, one in use, and one for backup. How good is your washing machine? These will face lots of spit up and maybe a blow-out diaper so it is not unusual to need more than one per day!”

“Not everyone has the luxury of being able to afford multiple baby items, especially in today's times,” Zeidman notes. “It is absolutely possible to support your little one with only one swaddle. If there is the capacity to be able to have back-ups, it can be helpful in that it eliminates the stress of not having a swaddle for naps or nighttime if the one swaddle is in the wash.”

Who We Are

Samson McDougall is a journalist, copywriter, editor, and biology graduate. His work encompasses everything from web copy for science museums to sexual health articles for universities, info sheets for first-in-category pharmaceuticals to brand messaging for wearable touch therapy by neuroscientists. Samson is a father of two and a bona fide swaddle master.