HOW TO SWADDLE A BABY: STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 2 December 2021

Knowing how to swaddle your baby is an important (and potentially life-changing skill) to know, especially during the newborn phase! The great news is that if you’re curious about how to swaddle a newborn, all you truly need is a muslin swaddle blanket, a baby, and your two hands to get the job done.


You don’t need to figure out the best way to swaddle on your own! We’ve provided step-by-step swaddling instructions for parents to help them make sure they do it right, as well as answering some of the most common questions parents have about swaddling a baby.

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What is “swaddling”?

If you’re a new or expecting parent, you may not know what exactly it means to swaddle a baby. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot with little explanation. We’ve got you covered.

Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping infants with a blanket snugly around their body. It is known for helping to soothe babies. Many believe that swaddling has such a calming effect on newborns because it mimics how they felt in their mother’s womb. Little ones often find this comforting, and swaddling quickly becomes a parent’s go-to to help their baby settle down, go to sleep, and stay asleep.

Another benefit to swaddling is that it helps prevent infants waking themselves with their moro reflex. The moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex) occurs when there is a sudden disruption causing an infant to “startle.” They react by throwing back their head, extending out their arms and legs, crying, then pulling the arms and legs back in.

Is swaddling safe?

In fact, swaddling can be an effective technique to help calm infants and promote sleep when done correctly. It is also linked with helping to reduce the risk of SIDS in children that are not yet able to roll over on their own.

When swaddling infants, you still need to make sure that you are following safe sleep guidelines such as: laying your infant to sleep on their back in their own space (like a crib or bassinet) and using a firm mattress with no loose sheets or blankets.

The only catch is that at a certain point in a child's development swaddling is no longer safe. As soon as your little one starts rolling over or even attempting to roll over, it’s time to STOP swaddling right away and transition to something else, like a wearable blanket or footie pajamas.

What is the best type of blanket to use for swaddling a baby?

Choosing the right swaddling blanket is important. You want fabric that is soft, breathable, and not too firm. We recommend using a cotton muslin swaddle blanket. Swaddling with a muslin blanket is perfect because it is an extremely breathable fabric that helps to prevent overheating, as well as, providing more stretch so your baby will be less confined.

How to swaddle with muslin blanket in four easy steps

Now, it’s time to answer that burning question of, “how to wrap a baby?” Follow these swaddling instructions to make sure your little one is wrapped up safely:

  • step 1

    Remember, we recommend swaddling with a muslin blanket. Get it out and fold the swaddle into a triangle by folding back one corner. Place your baby in the centre with the shoulders just below the folded corner.

  • step 2

    Place your baby’s right arm alongside the body, slightly bent. Take the same side of the swaddle and pull it securely across your baby’s chest, keeping the right arm under the fabric. Tuck the edge of the swaddle under the body, leaving the left arm free.

  • step 3

    Fold the bottom corner of the swaddle up and over your baby’s feet, tucking the fabric into the top of the swaddle by their shoulder.

  • step 4

    Place your baby’s left arm alongside the body, slightly bent. Take the same side of the swaddle and pull it securely across your baby’s chest, keeping the left arm under the fabric. Tuck this side of the swaddle underneath your baby.

Now that you have the basic swaddle steps down, here are some more common questions parents have about swaddling:

What if I don’t have a muslin swaddle blanket?

While we recommend swaddling with a muslin blanket, it isn’t the only option available! In fact, it is even possible to swaddle your little one without a blanket! At hospitals and birth centres, you’ll find nurses that are swaddle pros, but it’s okay if swaddling with a muslin blanket (or any blanket) isn’t your strong suit. Thankfully, there are “pre-wrapped” swaddles out there just for you. These are often compared to swaddle sacks or pouches that come with fasteners such as hook and loop closure or zipper. For example, aden + anais' essential wrap hook and loop closure swaddle work as perfect alternatives for parents who don’t want to mess with learning how to swaddle with a blanket.

How to swaddle with arms out?

The reality is that swaddling is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Thankfully, there are different swaddling techniques you can try. One of them is to swaddle with your baby’s arms out. This can be especially helpful with older babies who no longer suffer from the startle reflex, yet still crave the secureness that a swaddle provides to help them sleep.

Swaddling an infant with arms out is simple: prepare your swaddle as you normally would, but instead of aligning the swaddle fold at the shoulders, you need to move to below the armpits. From there, swaddle as you normally would.

How to swaddle with one arm out?

Sometimes swaddling is trial-and-error, and you might find that arms in doesn’t work but neither does arms out. Try doing one arm out instead! This might provide your baby the little bit of wiggle-room freedom they want while still securing them in the swaddle.

If you’re wondering how to swaddle an infant leaving an arm out, it’s simple! Just follow normal swaddling techniques but leave one arm untucked. It might work best to leave out your child’s dominant hand (if you know which one that is yet).

How long can you swaddle a baby at night?

Swaddling at night is completely safe until a child starts to show signs of being able to roll over. Rolling over is a major developmental milestone! It is also a sign that your swaddling baby days are almost over. For most children, they typically start rolling over around 4 months, but it is possible for children to start much sooner. If your little one rolls over while swaddled, not being able to use their arms to roll themselves back, increases their chances of suffocation. Read more about how to transition out of the swaddle when the time comes here.

Can you swaddle a baby too tightly?

While swaddling your baby too tightly is unlikely, it is possible. If you’re concerned, we recommend the “two-finger test.” Simply place two fingers between the swaddle and your baby’s chest. If your fingers fit easily beneath the fabric, you’ve achieved the just-right swaddle fit.

You want the swaddle secure around your little one’s chest, but you want to keep the hip area looser. This encourages proper hip mobility and development while decreasing their risk of developing issues such as hip dysplasia.

Can you breastfeed a swaddled baby?

It is not recommended that you breastfeed (or bottle feed) a swaddled baby. There are a few reasons for this. One, research shows that many babies actively use their hands to nurse to help them locate the nipple. This helps to promote a proper latch and encourage a milk letdown. Second, swaddling infants tend to make them snug and cozy to help them sleep! You don’t want your little one dozing off before they have gotten enough to eat. Finally, since many infants start to associate their swaddle with sleep, you don’t want to add feeding into that association as well! The best time to feed your little one (breast or bottle) is when they are awake, alert, and unswaddled!

Now that you have the swaddling steps down and your burning questions answered, you’re ready to start safely swaddling your little one!