The Playbook

How to Swaddle a Baby: Step by Step, and When to Stop

How to swaddle a newborn safely in six steps: snug at the arms, loose at the hips, always on the back. Plus zip-up swaddle options and when to stop swaddling.

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

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Swaddling is one of the most useful newborn skills, and one of the most satisfying to master. A good swaddle can calm a fussy baby and help them sleep, because it muffles the startle reflex that wakes so many newborns. The AAP supports swaddling when it’s done safely.

The three swaddle rules

  1. Back to sleep, always. A swaddled baby goes down on their back, every time.
  2. Snug at the arms, loose at the hips. Tight legs can harm hip development. The baby should be able to bend their legs up and out at the hips (International Hip Dysplasia Institute).
  3. Stop at the first sign of rolling. Then move to a wearable blanket with arms free.

How to swaddle with a blanket, step by step

You’ll need a large, thin blanket, like a muslin swaddle, about 40 to 47 inches square.

  1. Make a diamond. Lay the blanket flat like a diamond and fold the top corner down about 6 inches.
  2. Place the baby on their back with their shoulders just below the folded edge.
  3. Right arm in. Hold the baby’s right arm straight down by their side. Pull the right side of the blanket across the body and tuck it snugly under the left side. Leave the left arm free for now.
  4. Bottom up, loosely. Fold the bottom corner up over the feet, leaving plenty of room for the legs to bend and move. Tuck it into the top of the swaddle (or over the shoulder).
  5. Left arm in. Hold the left arm down by the side, then bring the left side of the blanket across and tuck it under the baby’s back.
  6. Check the fit. You should be able to slide two or three fingers between the blanket and the baby’s chest. The hips and legs should be able to bend and move freely. The blanket should be well clear of the face.

Practice on a stuffed animal before the birth. Then practice on the baby with a nurse watching.

Zip-up and Velcro swaddles

If the blanket method beats you at 3 a.m. (it beats a lot of us), zip-up and wrap swaddles are easy and hard to do wrong. Look for a roomy bottom that lets the legs bend, and choose the right size for your baby’s weight.

Budget

Love To Dream Swaddle UP

Why dads like it
Zip-up swaddle with arms-up design. No folding origami at 3 a.m.
Best for
Dads who find blanket swaddling hard. Stop swaddling once baby shows signs of trying to roll.
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Common mistakes

  • Too tight at the hips or legs held straight.
  • Too warm. Swaddled babies shouldn’t be overdressed or sweaty. A diaper and a light layer under the swaddle is often enough; check the back of the neck for sweat.
  • Loose blanket that could ride up over the face.
  • Swaddling for sleep after rolling starts.
  • Weighted swaddles. The AAP’s 2022 safe sleep policy advises against weighted sleep products.

When to stop

Watch for signs your baby is trying to roll: rocking onto a side, kicking hard, getting a hip over. When you see it, stop swaddling for sleep. Many babies show this somewhere around 3 to 4 months, some earlier.

Transition to a wearable blanket (sleep sack) with arms out. Some parents go one arm out for a few nights, then both. Expect a couple of rough nights; it passes.

Frequently asked questions

When should you stop swaddling a baby?

As soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll over. The AAP says a swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach is at higher risk, because they can't use their arms to reposition. Switch to a sleep sack with arms out.

Is swaddling safe?

When done correctly: on the back only, snug around the arms but loose at the hips so the legs can bend and move, not too warm, and stopped once rolling starts. Weighted swaddles are not recommended.

Should arms be in or out?

Either can work. Many newborns settle better with arms in, because it limits the startle reflex. Some prefer one or both arms out. Arms-up zip swaddles let babies reach their hands to their face.

Sources

  1. Swaddling: Is It Safe?, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
  2. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations, Pediatrics (AAP policy statement)
  3. Hip-Healthy Swaddling, International Hip Dysplasia Institute

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.