McDonnell E, & Moon R. (2014). Infant deaths and injuries associated with wearable blankets, swaddle wraps, and swaddling. The Journal of pediatrics, 164(5), 1152–1156. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992172/ [Accessed 12th December 2021]

Lay your swaddle fabric out onto a flat surface so it makes a diamond shape. You’ll want to fold the top corner down about a third of the way toward the middle of the blanket. With no complex folding techniques needed, these swaddles are a doddle to use, thanks to the intuitive velcro fastenings. However, some reviewers say that while the fastenings work great for a newborn, older babies will undo them with vigorous wriggling. It may not feel like it, but your newborn spends up to 20 hours of each day asleep. Because of this, it’s vital to make sure your baby is swaddled safely and that risks are minimised as much as possible.This HALO swaddle feels warm and cozy with its 100% polyester micro-fleece. But because the material may be too warm in the summer, we didn’t give it a 5 out of 5 for comfort. If that’s a concern, the company also sells a cotton version. (To tell how warm a swaddle is, look for its thermal overall grade or TOG rating to give you an idea of what temperatures they work best in. For example, the micro-fleece swaddle has a 3.0 TOG rating, ideal for room temperatures of 64-68 degrees.) The material also held up well after multiple washes and never lost its durability. A two-way zipper makes late-night diaper changes a breeze, while the zipper covers at the top and bottom prevent the fasteners from irritating or scratching skin. The Tommee Tippee Gro Bag snuggle. It can be used as a swaddle with the arms poppered or as a regular sleeping bag with them undone. Just beware the sizing as I found they run really small.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter RandomQuest) Then grab the (baby’s) left corner of the blanket and bring it around the right side of their body to snug them in. By doing this, we whittled our longlist down and chose a selection of products that we think offer something for everybody. Why you should trust us If your baby is a few months old and still loves to be swaddled, you might find that they’re growing out of their swaddle blankets, or that they’re wriggling out and waking themselves up. Mumsnetters love the Woombie Air for its soft, cosy fabric, easy to use zip-up fastening, as well as their larger sizes.

I have a load of these and love them. I’m on baby no. 4 now and the ones I bought for baby 1 are just as lovely as they were when new.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Isawthathaggis) Our aim at LOVE TO DREAM is to empower parents to choose the right products from our range that best suit their children’s needs. Every baby feels hot and cold differently to another, ambient temperatures fluctuate, and different clothing and sleepwear layer combinations will differ in their thermal effectiveness. These factors make it challenging to give blanket advice to parents and carers.

2. Best budget swaddle: Little Seeds Swaddle Blanket

MILD - Ideal for MILD room temperatures between 18°C to 24°C (broader room temperature range than 1 TOG, more versatile product) It is also important to keep an eye on how warm or cold the room is . 16-20°C is a comfortable room temperature for sleeping babies so we would advise you to use a room thermometer in the rooms where your baby sleeps. Swaddle securely Copper Pearl Baby Swaddle: While the polyester, rayon, and spandex materials are soft, this blanket got torn up in the washing machine. Since it’s priced higher than similar blankets, we think it should be more durable.

Swaddling has been the answer over here! SwaddleMe velcro wraps are great and easy to use. When ready to transition out you can just let one arm out then the other but keep the wrap tight around the chest. You can then loosen a little (obviously not too loose to be dangerous) until you are ready to pop in a sleeping bag instead.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Mizydoscape) Our verdict You might also examine your own habits surrounding bedtime and otherwise. Part of safe sleep is staying alert and keeping the home free from smoke and other harmful substances. This means eliminating exposure to things like smoking or misuse of alcohol or drugs. Around 3,500 infants die each year in the United States from what are called sleep-related deaths. Some of these deaths are caused by SIDS. Others may be due to unsafe sleep practices. Swaddling should only be introduced when your baby is a newborn. As soon as they show signs that they’re learning to roll over or they can already roll over, you need to transition them away from swaddling (Pease et al, 2016; The Lullaby Trust 2021; McDonnell & Moon, 2017; Nelson, 2017).Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. You can start swaddling your baby when he or she is newborn, and it’s important to stop swaddling as soon as your little one shows signs of learning to roll over. Swaddles come in different sizes for each age, which is an important factor many parents and caregivers don’t know. Knowing the correct size will keep your baby safe as a blanket that’s too big for them may become loose and then a suffocation hazard. Type: Zip-up sleeping bag | Fabric: Cotton and spandex | Size: Premie, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months What we love Lipton EL, et al. (1965). Swaddling, a child care practice: Historical, cultural, and experimental observations.

Another study found that babies who were born early and were swaddled were calmer and had improved neuromuscular development and better muscle tone, and it soothed pain and discomfort (Sleuwen et al, 2007; Kitase et al, 2017). What are the risks of swaddling my baby? Stretch: No matter what type of swaddle you decide on, you’ll want it to have some stretch. You’ll be able to stretch the blanket or fabric to the right amount of tightness for a proper fit on your newborn.

7. Best velcro swaddle: SwaddleMe

Swaddle your baby using thin materials such as a small, cotton sheet or muslin square. Do not place any additional material on top of a swaddled baby, for example a blanket which could cause them to overheat. Follow safe sleep guidance, laying your baby on a firm, flat surface clear of any other items (The Lullaby Trust, 2021). Testers evaluated 14 swaddles in the comfort of their homes, assessing each on comfort, ease of use, durability, and overall value. We also spoke with Ashton McCutchen, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and pediatric registered nurse, to learn more about swaddling safety and what to look for in a baby swaddle. Because swaddles are only safe until your baby starts to roll over or around the two-month mark, determine the purpose of the swaddle before buying. Not all swaddles are designed for use immediately after birth, so consider what you’ll be using the swaddle for.