Bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived parents the world over have long relied on the super-soothing power of the swaddling blanket. The practice of calming your baby by wrapping them up in cozy cloth dates back to ancient times, when parents would bathe the baby after delivery, lather them with oils, and then wrap them snugly in a square of fabric. And honestly? Not much has changed. We've just improved the fabric quality of the baby swaddles and added the convenience of disposable diapers.
Best Swaddles
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), swaddling your baby for the first 2 months of their life can be a safe, healthy way to get your baby to calm down enough to fall asleep. They do caution that parents should always keep their baby's hips loose in the swaddle to prevent dysplasia, put the baby to sleep on their back, keep the newborn in the same room as their caregivers, and keep the bed free of any loose materials, cushions, or pillows. You should just keep your swaddled baby on a flat, firm surface near their parents.
But what are the best swaddling blankets for baby? How do you know which to get, considering the fact there seem to be a million on the market?
What to Consider
There is a surprising range of styles available when it comes to swaddling blankets for babies, from wraps that are basically baby sleeping bags with arm flaps, to large squares of muslin. There's also a huge range of fabrics used in the design of the swaddle, and a pretty broad range of sizes. So style, fabric, and size are going to be your primary attributes to focus on when buying a swaddle.
Style
This is hands-down the biggest factor for choosing a swaddle. Do you want a swaddle that's basically done for you, so you only need to tuck your baby in and fasten the arms? Then you want a pre-formed swaddle like the Love to Dream or Happiest Baby featured below. If you want more control and the ability to use the swaddle as a blanket as well, then you're going to want to go for a muslin square like the Aden+Anais classic. If you're not sure, try out at least one of each style to see what you like best. Often, it's good to have options, especially when your little one is particularly fussy.
There is also a new type of swaddle that has just the barest hint of weight to it, and parents who use it absolutely love it. It's not heavy enough to be dangerous, but it provides a tiny bit of pressure that feels like a light touch.
Fabric
The most popular fabrics for swaddles are cotton and cotton muslin, and thankfully, most come pre-shrunk. You can also find swaddles in cotton-poly blends, stretchy jersey for easy wrapping, and even merino wool. Many of these fabrics are also certified organic. Although it's not necessary to have an organic fabric, many parents prefer it if their babies have sensitive skin.
Size
This will depend on how tall your baby is, and what size clothing they wear. After all, some 1-month old babies fit in clothing for 3- to 6-month-olds! Let's face it: Some babies are just beefy and need a bit more room. The only swaddles where this doesn't matter are the muslin or wool squares, since those are fairly standard across the board.
How We Chose
We've used many of these ourselves, and we also spoke to dozens of parents about which swaddles they used for their babies. We've read hundreds of reviews, and took the time to feel and play with each and every swaddle on this list — and yes, that even means washing wool swaddles in our tiny New York City apartments.
1
Best Overall
Happiest Baby Sleepea 5-Second Swaddle
We are big fans of Happiest Baby products here at Best Products, and this one is no different. When they say it’s a “5-Second Swaddle,” they absolutely mean it. You just zip your baby right into the 100% organic cotton swaddle, and they're good to go all night. It's machine-washable, and comes in three sizes and a ton of patterns.
More: The Very Best Bassinets for Baby
2
Easy Style
Henry Hunter Baby Swaddle Cocoon Sack
Is this like putting your baby in a sock? Yes, it is. Is it hilarious the first few times you do it? Also yes. Will your baby love it and zonk out, thanks to its close confines and open hip movement? Yes again.
This is a newer style of swaddling blanket for babies, and it couldn't be more welcome. It's essentially a small, stretchy sack that you roll up your baby in, and they feel cozy and snug without being too restricted.
Made of cotton and spandex, it's also a great place to store pacifiers and diapers in when baby grows out of it. And yes, it’s machine-washable. This one is best for newborns and smaller babies.
3
Best New Innovation
Nested Bean Zen One - Gently Weighted Swaddle
Do you have a baby who won’t let let your hand move from their chest, since that signals your imminent departure? Let me introduce you to the Nested Bean gently weighted swaddling blanket. It has a “bean” on the front that weighs just enough to trick your baby into thinking you’re still there, but not enough to be dangerous.
It can be worn with arms in or out, and the cotton-spandex blend means your baby is free to stretch and kick inside the swaddle for maximum comfort. Thankfully, it comes in multiple sizes.
4
Most Washable
Bazzle Baby Forever Swaddle and Hat
Hippie retro styling is not all this blanket and hat combination have going for it. No, this jersey-stretch swaddling blanket is a cinch to wrap, thanks to the fabric's incredible give. It's also the most-washable blanket on this list: It's essentially a large, tie-dye T-shirt fabric square, and has the comfort and durability you'd associate with your favorite tee.
5
Best Budget Swaddle
SwaddleMe Pod 2-Pack
This is very similar to the Happiest Baby swaddle, but with slightly less leg room and a bit more budget-friendly.
The SwaddleMe pods are incredibly popular and easy to use: Made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex, the material is breathable and stretchy. All you need to do is position your baby's arms and zip them in.
Bonus: It's available in multiple sizes.
6
The OG Swaddle
aden + anais Essentials Swaddle Blanket
When you think of a swaddling blanket for baby, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the muslin blankets made popular by this brand, aden + anais. They're simple, easy to wash, and affordable. Plus, they come in a million colors.
Parents love their versatility and durability: They can be used as a tummy time blanket, a lovey, and even a cover in the car seat over the buckles.
7
Adjustable Comfort
SwaddleMe Original Swaddle
This set of swaddles, along with the Aden+Anais, are the very ones I used with my own babies, and I loved them for their simplicity, their washability, and (honestly) their patterns. This is a cotton-spandex blended swaddle, and you just slide your baby into the blanket and velcro their arm flaps down. It's easy and adjustable, to boot.
8
Generously Sized
LifeTree Muslin Swaddle Blankets (4-Pack)
Want a swaddle that's a bit bigger than standard? How about 47 inches? This option is basically a huge cotton-bamboo muslin blanket that's great for even the most sensitive baby. They are utterly reusable, and you can totally use them as sarongs when baby grows out of them!
9
Best for Picky Littles
Love To Dream Swaddle UP
No matter what your baby's favored arm position or level of coverage is, the Love to Dream Swaddle UP can do it. Think full sleeves, no sleeves, or arm pockets: This fully adjustable cotton-elastane swaddle is a game changer for parents of picky babies.
It's also machine-washable, and comes in several sizes.
10
Best Wool Blanket
Woolino Newborn Swaddle Blanket
For those of you who live in 100-year-old houses with 100-year-old drafts, muslin blankets may not cut it in the warmth department.
Enter machine-washable wool: This 100% merino wool swaddling blanket is toasty-warm — but still breathable, easy to wrap, and extremely soft to the touch.
11
Silky Texture
upsimples Baby Swaddle Blanket
Yes, it's a swaddle, but it almost feels silky to the touch. Somehow, upsimples has designed a cotton and bamboo swaddle that feels like expensive, soft sheets. The fun animal patterns and oversized 47-inch square are just bonuses. They're also (surprisingly!) super affordable.
Cat Bowen
Parenting Editor
Cat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
