Let’s Talk Swaddles + What you need to know:

Aug 10

Let’s preface this – you do not have to swaddle your baby if you don’t want to. I was always under the impression that I had to swaddle my son, or else he would be cold and wouldn’t sleep. There are so many products and opinions out there, so I always try to educate my clients to the best of my knowledge, expertise, and experience when it comes to swaddling.

A swaddle is generally a blanket that is used right at birth until around 4 months or as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling.

Disclaimer – this post is not medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s health, please seek advice from a licensed medical professional. Nothing on this site should be used or considered medical advice in any form.

What is a swaddle?

A swaddle is generally a blanket that is used right at birth until around 4 months or as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling.

Benefits of Swaddling –

Moro Reflex: (or better known as the “startle reflex”) Newborns have very little control over their muscles. It usually develops right after birth and contributes to newborns being startled and waking more frequently because of this. A Moro Reflex can display sudden signs of moving arms, kicking legs or bringing their arms in front of their body. Around 4 months is when the Moro Reflex tends to relieve and completely stops around 6 months of age. Swaddling helps keep all limbs close to their body and in connection helps babies from startling themselves when they sleep.

Environment of the Womb –

Swaddling can act as a display of being back in the womb. The womb of a newborn is familiar and calming. Swaddling can help calm down your baby and make them feel more secure. You can swaddle your baby at any time, not just for sleep. I always just use best judgment and make sure your baby is getting some space to move those limbs around throughout the day, but when in doubt if your baby is fussy, a swaddle can help!

Safe Sleep –

A swaddle can reinforce safe sleep practices. When laying your baby down in a swaddle, you are placing them down on their backs, which is the AAP recommendation. Always make sure baby is securely swaddled and there is no loose material, blanket or extra in the sleep space.

When Should I Not Swaddle My Baby –

There are reasons not to swaddle your baby. Here is a list of when not to swaddle a baby:

If you do not feel comfortable – remember swaddling is just a preference.
Bed sharing – if you are bed sharing it is not recommended due to safe sleep risks. 09
When the sleep space is warm – you want to prevent your baby from overheating. See below for T.O.G rating chart.
When your baby STARTS showing any kinds of signs of rolling, moving from side to side.
If your baby doesn’t like it and it is not helping the Moro Reflex.
I recommend stopping around 6 weeks to transition, AAP currently recommends 8 weeks or signs of rolling, whichever is sooner.

My recommended swaddles –

SwaddleMe Original Organic Swaddle these are good because they secure baby in well and are easy to use, especially during those middle of the night wakings.
The Ollie World Swaddle I love this one because it has moisture -wicking material to help reduce overheating. It is also one of the easiest swaddles to use because it provides easy access for diaper changes through an accessible opening at the bottom. It can also be used as a transitional swaddle once you start using arms out or one arm out.
HALO SwaddleSure Adjustable Swaddling Pouch this is a newer one on the market! It has a hip healthy design that is endorsed by the international Hip Dysplasia Institute. There is also a bottom pocket that opens for easy diaper changes and is 100% breathable cotton.

Transitional Sleep Suit–

I recommend starting a transitional sleep sack for early rollers. Like we mentioned above, the Moro Reflex usually starts settling around 4 months and will find that your baby’s movements during sleep are much less and you may want to begin transitioning your baby’s arms out. Transitional sleep sacks are designed to allow baby access to their arms (could help with self-soothing) but also still provide a structured element to help continue them feeling secure and easing the startle reflux.

My recommended sleep suits –

Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit this sleep suit is on the heavier side and helps keep baby’s limbs still throughout the night. Because this sleep suit is heavily padded, you will want to adjust what your baby is wearing underneath and the temperature of the room to prevent any kind of overheating.
Love to Dream Swaddle UP Transition Bag has zip-off wings to transition baby’s arms out. You can also start by keeping one arm in and one arm out. I recommend trying this for a few days and then unzipping both arms fully out. This sleep suit is great though for a transition that eases your babies’ arms out.

Sleep Sacks –

A sleep sack is used once your baby’s startle reflex has completely diminished and what you can use going forward all the way to your toddler stages. My son at two still sleeps in a sleep sack and I will talk about all the different options for the growing years and stages! A sleep sack is used for around 4-5 months. You may find that you don’t need to transition to a sleep suit and go straight to a sleep sack. I personally love using sleep sacks and these are the reasons:

Wearable Blanket – allows your baby to have warmth and security while practicing safe sleep. Wearing a sleep sack acts as a blanket for your baby while staying secure on them.
Security – baby feels secure and safe when sleeping.
Routine – Wearing a sleep sack at nap and bedtime can help indicate to your baby that it is time for bed. Putting on their sleep sack creates a routine for your baby and toddler, which we know they thrive off. It can signal and indicate a bedtime routine that they are used to – helping them feel more comfortable and hopefully ease falling asleep easier.
Toddler Climbing – If you have a climber, a sleep sack can help from climbing out of their crib, and if you know me, I always recommend the crib for as long as you can hang in there before fully transitioning to a full-blown toddler bed set up.

Does my child have to use a sleep sack?

Absolutely not – as a pediatric sleep expert however, I have found babies do great in them and I hardly ever see a negative downfall that impacts sleep. However, if your child does not like them, it’s impacting their sleep, or you live in a place where the climate is warm there isn’t a reason to use one. Remember, a sleep sack really is a brain signaling indicator to go to sleep, other than that your baby will thrive either way!

My recommended sleep sacks –

Kyte Baby | The Original Bamboo Sleep Bag™ these are manufactured using a breathable bamboo material and size ranges from 7-50 lbs.
Woolino there is no need to purchase multiple sleep sacks for different times of the year, which I love! Although these are a bit pricier, you only need one. The Woolino sleep bag regulates your baby’s body temperature in all 4 seasons using Merino Wool. You can use this sleep sack from 2 months to 4 years.
Burt's Bees Baby unisex baby Beekeeper Blanket this is another great option at a fraction of the price and still serves its purpose. The zipper opens from the bottom for easy diaper changes and the beekeeper blanket comes in different T.O.G ratings for the different seasons. I found this one also is a little wider than some on the market, so if your baby prefers more space, this may be a great option too!

I will also recommend keeping your child in a sleep sack until they fully transition to a big kid (toddler) bed. Like I mentioned above, it’s a great hack for keeping your child in the crib a little longer and prevents them from climbing out. Some parents think that laying a blanket down it just as effective, however what I find is that it can be a lot more frustrating for toddlers to use a blanket because they don’t fully understand how to use a blanket and are still moving around a lot during the night and can become easily tangled, which leads to frustration and wakings.

Don’t overthink it when it comes to swaddles, transitioning and sleep sacks. A swaddle and sleep sack should help your baby’s overall sleep and bedtime routine!