It’s great to swaddle your baby to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and help your newborn sleep better. In this post, you will learn what swaddling is, why you should swaddle your baby, and 3 easy ways to swaddle so they won’t break out.
What Is Swaddling?
Swaddling your newborn is similar to wrapping them up like a little burrito. You wrap their body, legs, and arms up in a light blanket in order to keep them calm, happy, and sleeping better. In my 10 years as a sleep consultant, most families who wrap up their newborns get longer stretches of sleep in the early days.
Is it magic? Why does it work?
Why Swaddle Your Baby?
There are several reasons why you should swaddle your baby:
- The primary reason swaddling helps keep them calm is it helps them feel more like when they were in their mommy’s womb. Your baby didn’t have room to stretch out and, for months, found comfort in being tightly “held” in your belly. And, the movement, when walking, lulls babies to sleep.
- Dr. Harvey Karp in The Happiest Baby on the Block suggests that babies actually need more time in the womb (a “fourth trimester”), but if they had that time, they’d never get through the birth canal because their head would get too big. Therefore, swaddling extends the womb feeling for babies. Makes sense! Dr. Karp has been big on swaddling for a very long time and invented the SNOO which is a smart bassinet with a built-in swaddle to make it even easier.
- When babies are first adjusting to this big, cold world (compared to your belly), swaddling helps a lot to keep them calm and relaxed. Swaddling is especially helpful when babies haven’t outgrown the moro reflex (or startle reflex) when they startle themselves awake.
Now that we know why we swaddle babies, how can you do it like a pro such as a nurse in the hospital?
Learn How to Swaddle Your Baby – Step By Step
While there are a few swaddling techniques, learning to swaddle your baby so they don’t break out can be challenging, but it only involves a few steps:
- Lay the Blanket Down – On a semi-flat surface such as your bed or changing table, lay your blanket in a diamond shape with the corner of the square blanket at the top and bottom.
- Fold Down One Corner – Fold down the top corner approximately 6-10 inches.
- Lay Your Baby Down – With your baby’s shoulders at the top of the straight-edge of the top, lay your baby face-up on the blanket.
- Wrap the Right Side – You will straighten your baby’s right arm and wrap the blanket from the left across the right arm, your baby’s chest, and tuck it under the opposite side of their body. You will want the blanket fairly snug.
- Fold The Bottom Up – Next, fold the bottom up and cover your baby’s feet and body, tucking the end of the blanket into the blanket you pulled across in the previous step under your baby’s chin. Your baby should be able to move their legs so don’t make the blanket too snug in this step. In rare cases, tight swaddling can cause hip dysplasia. See more safety tips below.
- Wrap the Left Side – Now, straighten your baby’s left arm and wrap the blanket from the right across the left arm, the chest, and wrap the blanket snugly across your baby’s body. Voila!
How to Swaddle a Baby – Video Illustration
It can be difficult to learn how to swaddle a baby without a visual. Some people call it wrapping up a burrito and if you’ve ever made a burrito, it is a little similar. You want to fold the bottom of the blanket over the legs and then wrap up the sides, so the “contents” don’t fall out. 🙂 Here is a good video about how to swaddle your baby:
What if Your Newborn Doesn’t Like Being Swaddled? Do You Have to Swaddle Your Newborn?
Sometimes it appears your baby doesn’t like to be wrapped snugly. This could be true. But sometimes, they are just so overtired and wound up that they resist the process only because they are agitated and fatigued. It does not necessarily mean your baby doesn’t like it. After you wrap your newborn, try swaying and soothing them to see if they will calm down.
My son loved to be swaddled, but at first, he’d still cry once he was swaddled. He did not calm down instantly once he was swaddled. That was just his personality. But, he did sleep better and longer once he did fall asleep when he was swaddled.
You might also swaddle your baby with one arm out or both arms out if that’s what they prefer. Some babies become frustrated when they can’t get to their hands.
If your baby just never calms down, or if swaddling used to work and now it doesn’t, it might be time to stop swaddling.
Baby Breaking Out? 3 Easy Ways to Swaddle Your Baby
There are much easier ways to swaddle your baby, so they can’t break out. The main goal of wrapping up your baby this way is to help your baby feel secure and comforted. They like the “snug” feeling, which can be achieved with 3 products that make it sooooo much easier!
The Miracle Blanket
Love To Dream SwaddleUp Blanket
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Woombie
Is Swaddling Safe? Swaddle Safety Tips
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a baby is always put to bed without loose bedding or blankets, on their back, in a separate sleep space but in the same room such as a co-sleeper next to your bed.
Does that mean swaddling isn’t safe? After all, they don’t recommend a blanket.
Here are a few important safety tips when it comes to swaddling:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- DO NOT swaddle too tightly. You should be able to get two fingers between your baby and the blanket under the chin.
- DO NOT swaddle a baby who is breaking out and leaving loose blankets in the crib or bassinet.
- DO NOT swaddle your baby all day. They need to be able to move to develop properly.
- DO NOT overheat the baby. Depending on how cool you keep your room, only one or two layers are required underneath the blanket. Be sure to keep your room at an ideal temperature.
- Stop swaddling as soon as your baby begins rolling from back to front.
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Can You Do Sleep Training While Baby is Swaddled?
A common question is whether you should do sleep training while your baby is swaddled. It never hurts to try to let your baby fall asleep on their own, even while swaddled. Some babies simply will fall asleep within a few minutes when they are put down awake. Other babies (like mine) will not! Allowing your baby a little space to figure it out can work in your favor. Some babies are very easy-going and adaptable.
In general, I do NOT recommend sleep training while your baby is swaddled, especially if you are using a variation of Cry It Out. Your baby needs to find a way to self-soothe whether it’s sucking on her fingers, thumb, or holding on to her sleep sack. But, if you put down your baby and he fusses or cries for 5 minutes or less, it appears you have a very good self-soother and you can continue swaddling.
What If Stopping the Swaddle is Hard?
You’re in luck! This entire site is dedicated to when things don’t come easy when it comes to your baby’s sleep! Make sure you get your FREE guide and helping your baby sleep through the night or consider our baby sleep consulting services, where you can get a Personalized Sleep Plan® for your family that you can feel good about.
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Mary J says
Babies can usually start rolling by around 2-3 months old. If they are swaddled while rolling onto their front side, they might not be able to push their face up or roll back over to their backside…so how can you justify advising parents to swaddle at 6+ months, knowing that it’s a safety hazard?
https://www.aappublications.org/content/34/6/34
Danielle says
Hi Mary,
Thank you for your comment! Safety if of utmost importance to us, as we are all parents too! As we mention in the article, we do recommend parents immediately stop swaddling as soon as it becomes a safety hazard, such as when a baby is breaking out of the swaddle or rolling, since the swaddle can then become a suffocation hazard. Although many babies roll early at 2-3 months as you mention, an equal number do not start rolling until much later, 6-8 months-old, and so those families may choose to swaddle for longer. Each baby and family is different, and we must all make the best decision for our baby. I hope this helps!
Nicole says
Hi! My baby is 4 1/2 months and we started to transition her out of the swaddle (one arm out) because she started to get out of her swaddle and is starting to roll from her back to her side in bed. We taught her to self soothe and fall asleep after being put down awake before when she was fully swaddled. She would fal asleep within 5 minutes of being put down. We are on day four of sleeping with one arm out and she just screams and cries when we put her down to sleep. We try to not pick her up and calm her while she is still in the crib, but nothing works. I’m finding myself desperate and going back to old habits in desperation for her to sleep such as picking up and rocking and nursing. Any advice?
Janelle Reid says
Hi @Nicole, thanks for writing to us. I’m sorry the transition out of the swaddle has been difficult for you and your little one, but this too shall pass! Hang in there! This is similar to breaking any other habit so if you found a method that helped her self soothe that worked (other than using the swaddle) you may try going back to one of those techniques. Here is a link to a free guide as well that will provide additional tips for helping her sleep: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-through-night-free-ebook/
I hope you all adjust soon! If you need more help, let us know! We have a ton of additional resources I’d be happy to point you in the direction of.
Bobbi Jo says
My baby is 6 weeks old and “let’s” me swaddle her during the day and can stay asleep while swaddled for 1-3 hours, although she fights it the entire time she is awake, and I have to swing and shoosh until she wears herself out and passes out. Does that sound like I should keep swaddling her?
Nights are a different story: no matter what she will fight the swaddle (free her arms) and cry until she is absolutely hysterical (and I am, too) and it is impossible to console her. Should I stop swaddling her at night?
Janelle Reid says
Hi @Bobbi Jo, thanks for writing to us. Some babies to take a while to get the hang of the swaddle, while others hate it from the start and never like feeling constricted. If she will sleep without it, you are not putting her at risk by leaving her out of the swaddle (and if you’re concerned about her getting cold during the winter you could get warmer pajamas, and perhaps a sleep sac which is a safe “wearable” blanket) if that’s what she prefers. You also could try swaddling her with her arms out, this is an options some parents do to help transition their baby out of the swaddle to get use to more freedom, but you could do it now if she preferred it and you really want to swaddle. Sorry for not a clear cut answer, but hang in there! You will eventually find something that works for both of you. If you need more help, please let us know! We have tons of resources available to help you with your sweet growing baby girl!
Constance Lewis says
My son is 16 weeks old. He sleeps 11-12 hours at night now but is still swaddled. He breaks out almost always once a night and cry’s until we reswaddle him. We have tried to let him fall back to sleep on his own but most of the time does not. He is starting to try and roll from back to front as well. Help! What should we do to stop the swaddle i think it’s a sleep crutch now
Janelle Reid says
@Constance Lewis – Thanks for stopping by the Baby Sleep Site! That is amazing your son has been sleeping such long stretches for you. 🙂 It is can definitely be scary getting rid of the swaddle in fear of it messing everything up! As the article mentions, it may be rough, but you will have to teach your son how to fall asleep without it. Here’s a link to another article with some tips as well as some links to transitional swaddle products that may help if you choose to slowly wean him: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/weaning-baby-swaddling/
Good luck!!
Thea says
We swaddled my daughter for the first month then it stopped working, at about 2 months, recently we’ve been having trouble getting her to sleeo on her own so one night after more than 24 exhausting hours of her waking up every 20-30 minutes I tried swaddling her again and she fussed for maybe 2-3 minutes before she fell right to sleep and slept for 6 hours. We have still been swaddling and she’s 12 weeks, 3 months on October 19.
Neosha says
@Thea – Thank you for stopping in to our sleepy little village and for your comment. I’m glad to hear that your little one is enjoying her swaddle still and sleeping better for it! We find that many babies do enjoy this close, cozy feeling for several months after birth. Best wishes that she keeps sleeping well for you. Please keep reading and commenting on our blog!
Emily says
We were convinced that our baby hated swaddling. But, we started again after having a rough time putting her down and she became very easy to put down. Can put her down awake and she will put herself to sleep. No pacifier or anything. Now at 4 months, she wakes up a lot with her arms wrestled out of the swaddle and in her mouth and falls asleep instantly when reswaddled. But I think it’s time to break her of the swaddle as I don’t like getting up 5x a night to fix her swaddle.
Constance Lewis says
Same here! What can we do?