Best Swaddle Blankets for 2024 – Our Top Reviews and Ratings

What is Swaddling?

Swaddling is wrapping an infant tightly in a blanket. It serves to simulate a womb-like experience while also restricting moving of the baby’s arms and legs. The practice is meant to be calming, soothing, and promote longer sleep cycles.

The act of swaddling goes back to the first humans during the Paleolithic era millions of years ago. It’s been a well-documented practice throughout the rest of our history, briefly falling out of favor in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some parents and caregivers were using swaddling as an excuse to limit attention and interaction with their babies and generally leave them unattended in a corner of the room. As the saying goes, “nobody puts baby in the corner.”

However, swaddling has made a resurgence recently, especially as new products have been developed that make it easier for new parents to swaddle correctly.

Different Types of Infant Swaddles

Wrap

You’ve probably noticed that we’ve reviewed two different types of swaddle blankets: wraps and suits. The wrap version is a blanket made of either muslin or cotton. It’ll be in either a square pattern or may have wings to help facilitate wrapping.

The wrap way of doing things is the same way humans have been doing it for millions of years, and it’s the way your nurse wrapped your little bundle of joy at the hospital.

You may also hear this style referred to as a “dudu wrap.” It is not meant to signify a bowel movement; instead, it’s to jar your memory and stands for down up, down up, the technique to remember as your wrap your burrito baby.

Suit

The recent resurgence in swaddles’ popularity has sparked a ton of innovation. Sleep-deprived parents asked for help, and the industry came to the rescue with one-step, fail-proof swaddling solutions. Instead of a simple square blanket, a swaddle suit may have snaps, buttons, zippers, and Velcro.

Not only do these “cheats” take the guesswork out of how to swaddle but they also make changing a diaper a lot easier!

Benefits of Swaddling Your Baby

Longer and Peaceful Sleep

Some parents call it a miracle, but there’s no doubt that swaddled babies sleep longer and wake up less frequently. If your infant resists the swaddle at first, it may be too loose or too tight. Keep experimenting to find the sweet spot that helps your infant doze.

Less Anxiety

The world is a big and scary place, and it’s still completely foreign to infants and newborns. A swaddle blanket, however, mimics the womb by constricting their movement and making your little one feel safe.

No Unnecessary Items in the Crib

Having a swaddle blanket eliminates the need for blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, and stuffed animals, all of which have been linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Prevents Face Scratching

What is it about babies and fingernails? Those things grow at lightning speed, and they’re razor sharp. When your infant is asleep, sudden movements can cause them to scratch their face, and it’s not uncommon to see angry red marks on an infant’s face. By restricting a baby’s arms at their sides, you eliminate this problem altogether.

Mimics Touch

A swaddle blanket is like a giant and constant hug. Assuming you’re not snuggled up with your child during the 16 to 20 hours that they’re asleep, this is the next best thing. It’s especially helpful in the middle of the night when all baby sees is darkness (or a soft nightlight).

Maintains Back Sleeping Position

Doctors are in favor of back sleeping for infants. This type of blanket wrapping technique allows a baby to maintain this posture throughout the night. It also allows them to naturally maintain the “hands over heart” position that they had in the womb.

Soothes Babies with Colic

Colicky babies are inherently fussy, and with good reason! Because the swaddle resembles the environment of the womb, it can help ease that fussiness.

Frequently Asked Questions about Swaddle Blankets

Are Velcro swaddle blankets better than zip ups?

Good question! This is purely a matter of preference. Some parents swear by Velcro because it’s easy to secure and unfasten. However, Velcro does make noise, which can startle your little one. Also, you have to be careful to secure the Velcro straps before laundering as they can cling to just about everything and collect lint and fuzz you never knew you had.

When is the best time to start swaddling?

The best time to start swaddling your baby is as soon as they are born. Remember, they’re in a whole new and unfamiliar place. Wrapping them tightly mimics the womb and helps them acclimate to their new environment.

When you decide to stop wrapping your baby is up to you. It’s recommended to stop swaddling them for naps as soon as they can roll over on their own. When they reach one month of age, you should consider abstaining from swaddling during waking hours so they are freer to move around and develop bones and muscles naturally.

Are they safe for newborns?

Yes, 100%. Just be careful not to wrap too tightly and use lightweight materials to prevent overheating. If you do decide to use a swaddle sack instead of swaddling with a blanket, be sure that you purchase the correct size for your baby’s age, height, and weight.

Can swaddle blankets be used during the summer?

Yes, swaddle blankets can be used during summer months, but we caution you to use lightweight materials and monitor them closely to make sure they are not overheating. The risk is higher when a baby is swaddled because they’re not free to move around and have air circulate. In addition to using a lightweight blanket, regularly feel the skin with your hand to make sure it doesn’t feel hot or clammy.