How to swaddle your baby or use a baby sling more safely

Many parents wonder if using a baby sling is a safe way to keep their baby close while going hands free, and if swaddling is a safe way to keep baby feeling secure. If you choose to swaddle your baby, you should follow these guidelines to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

A baby is in a baby carrier attached to their dad's chest. They are looking around. It is a safer position for baby as their airway is clear and dad could kiss baby's head if he tried.
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How to swaddle a baby

Swaddling a baby is where you wrap a baby up snuggly in fabric. If you choose to swaddle your baby you should follow these guidelines to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

1 – Sleep baby on their back

The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back – whether they’re swaddled or not. Never put a swaddled baby to sleep on their front or side. 

2 – Use thin swaddling materials 

Use lightweight material such as a thin muslin or thin cot sheet. Never place any extra bedding over a swaddled baby as the baby could overheat. Don’t use blankets to swaddle a baby as the baby could overheat.

A baby is sleeping in on their back, with their head tilted to the side. They have dark hair, light skin and wear a polkadot baby grow. Their arms are rested either side of their head.

3 – Use the minimum amount of clothing 

Ensure baby is not overdressed under the swaddle and keep their head uncovered. Babies don’t need hats indoors as they can overheat.  

4 – Check your baby’s temperature to make sure they don’t get too hot

The chest or back of the neck is a good spot for checking their temperature. If their skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedclothes. 

5 – Keep an eye on the room temperature

Use a room thermometer in the rooms where your baby sleeps as it can be hard to gauge temperature. 16 – 20°C is a comfortable room temperature for sleeping babies. You can buy a room thermometer for your baby from our shop.

6 – Swaddle securely, but leave wiggle room around the hips

Wrap them up gently but securely so the fabric can’t come apart or undone. Do not swaddle above their shoulders to reduce the risk of your baby’s face getting covered by loose material. But make sure the swaddle has enough room for baby to breathe.

Keep swaddles looser around the hips to allow for natural movement. If they are too tight, this can cause hip problems, known as developmental dysplasia of the hip. 

Illustration showing how a baby can be swaddled. Baby is laid on a triangular shape, with the bottom of the triangle at their feet. The left side is wrapped beneath baby's right side, then the bottom of the triangle is brought up beneath babys neck. Next, the right side is tucked at the back of baby.

Never swaddle a baby when:  

When to stop swaddling

Once a baby shows signs of rolling, stop swaddling them with their arms wrapped inside the material. This is because they could roll onto their tummy and not be able to roll back again as they can’t use their arms.

The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back, so we don’t want to risk them getting stuck on their tummy. 

A baby is sleeping in a safer sleep position. They are on their back with a clear cot around them. They have dark hair and medium skin, and their arms are held up at either side of their head. They are sleeping.

Swaddling products

There are various swaddle products on the market such as swaddle blankets, swaddle sacks and swaddle bags. We can’t comment on their safety, but if you buy any swaddle products, make sure they meet safety standards and fit your baby well.

Always follow the individual product’s guidance. For example, some manufacturers recommend their product is based on a baby’s weight rather than their age. 

We don’t advise on a specific tog rating for swaddle products, but we recommend going for a lower tog rating to reduce the risk of overheating.

How to use baby slings and carriers safely

Slings and baby-carriers are useful for holding a baby hands-free, however they are not always used safely. Although there is no reliable evidence that slings are directly associated with SIDS, there have been a number of accidents worldwide where infants have died while being carrier in a sling. Particularly in young infants.
The risk of these accidents happening appears to be greatest when a baby’s airway is blocked, either because their chin is resting on their chest or their mouth and nose are covered by the parent’s skin or clothes.
A baby is sleeping on their back. They have a yellow sleepsuit on and they have dark skin with curly hair.

1 – Find a complete guide on using a sling from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

2 – Follow the TICKS guidance.

The Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers also provide the following advice: keep your baby close and keep your baby safe. When wearing a sling or baby carrier, remember the TICKS guidelines:

  • Tight 
  • In view at all times 
  • Close enough to kiss 
  • Keep chin off the chest 
  • Supported back

These guidelines can help you make sure your baby can breathe easily and is not overheating.

A baby is being breastfed by their mum. They look very young, have curly dark hair and dark skin. Their mum is looking down at them.

'Hands-free' feeding

‘Hands-free’ breastfeeding or bottle feeding, where the wearer moves around and does other jobs while the baby is feeding, is unsafe. This is especially true for babies under four months old. It also applies to babies born prematurely or those with a health condition. Moving around with loose sling fabric could also be a trip hazard. If the baby needs to feed, take them out of the sling. When they have finished feeding, either return them to the sling or put the baby down in a safe space.

Frequently asked questions

You can swaddle your baby more safely by following the below six tips. Read these in more detail above.

  1. Sleep baby on their back
  2. Use thin swaddling materials
  3. Use the minimum amount of clothing
  4. Check baby’s temperature to make sure they don’t get too hot
  5. Keep an eye on the room temperature
  6. Swaddle securely, but leave wiggle room around the hips.

Never swaddle a baby when bed-sharing, or your baby has an infection or fever. And stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling, as they could roll onto their tummy and not be able to roll back again (as they can’t use their arms).

Once a baby shows signs of rolling, stop swaddling them with their arms wrapped inside the material. This is because they could roll onto their tummy and not be able to roll back again as they can’t use their arms. 

The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back, so we don’t want to risk them getting stuck on their tummy. 

Never swaddle a baby when bed-sharing or when your baby has an infection or fever. Once your baby shows signs of rolling, stop swaddling them with their arms wrapped inside the material. This is because they could roll onto their tummy and not be able to roll back again as they can’t use their arms. The safest position for a baby to sleep is on their back, to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Although there is no reliable evidence linking slings directly to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), there have been a number of accidents worldwide where babies have died while being carried in a sling. Usually when they were very young.

These accidents usually happen when a baby’s airway is blocked, either because their chin is resting on their chest or their mouth and nose are covered by the parent’s skin or clothes. Following the TICKS guidance can help you make sure your baby can breathe easily, and is not overheating:

When wearing a sling or baby carrier, remember the TICKS guidelines: 

  • Tight 
  • In view at all times 
  • Close enough to kiss 
  • Keep chin off the chest 
  • Supported back.
A woman sits on the sofa at home and helps her cute toddler daughter hold her baby brother for the first time. The big sister appears excited and proud.

Remember

If you would like to use a sling or swaddle your baby, you should follow the guidelines on this page. If you’re using a sling, make sure you follow the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers TICKS guidance and you can see their face and they can breathe easily. If you’re swaddling them, make sure baby is always on their back, use lightweight materials, swaddle securely but not too tight on the hips and check their temperature regularly.

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