Swaddle

A swaddle is a wrap, or a fitted blanket-style product with fasteners, used to snugly bundle a young baby's arms and body. The goal is usually to help settle a baby for sleep by recreating a snug, contained feeling, and to prevent a baby's own startle reflex from waking them up repeatedly overnight.

Swaddle products range from a plain square blanket folded by hand to fitted swaddle sacks with zippers or velcro that are quicker and more consistent to use, which many parents in small apartments prefer simply for speed during middle-of-the-night changes and re-swaddles. Guidance generally points to stopping swaddling once a baby shows signs of trying to roll over, since a swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach cannot free their arms to reposition.

When choosing a swaddle, check the sizing against your baby's current weight, since a swaddle that is too loose can come undone and become loose fabric in the sleep space. Look at the hip position the swaddle allows, since guidance from pediatric and hip health groups favors swaddles that let the legs bend up and out rather than being pulled straight and tight. A common mistake is continuing to swaddle past the point a baby starts rolling, which most swaddle manufacturers and pediatric guidance advise against.