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.
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.
Never swaddle a baby when:
- Bed-sharing
- Your baby has an infection or fever .
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.
Coming home from hospital
How your baby slept in hospital can be different to how they should sleep at home. In hospital, babies are under supervision and may be swaddled in a certain way, sometimes for medical reasons. If you choose to swaddle your baby at home, it is important to follow the guidance on this webpage.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Remember
If you would like to swaddle your baby, you should follow the guidelines on this page. 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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