The type of swaddle that’s best for your baby ultimately comes down to your baby’s preferences. Many prefer to have their arms secured for a snug feel, but some won’t tolerate it. Also, as your baby gets older, you’ll want to choose a swaddle that allows her to move her arms in case she rolls over in her sleep. This might include a transition swaddle or one where the arms are completely free. As previously mentioned, there are several types of swaddles: Traditional Swaddle Blankets

Another product from the land down under: An Australian mom brought these muslin swaddle blankets to the United States, and now they're sought-after parenting gear. These have a long life apart from swaddling, as a nursing cover, a stroller shade, a hasty play mat, an emergency burp cloth and more.At the time of getting the Snoo, Olive was just over five weeks old. Sleep wise, she’s actually a dream at night, but during the day was another story with well over an hour trying to get her down. This first DOWN is the key to successful swaddling! Do it snugly...or the whole swaddle can unravel! Know your baby may cry. Don’t be surprised—and don’t worry—if your bub’s cries escalate when you start swaddling. You are not hurting them! Your baby simply doesn’t yet realize that they’re only seconds away from happiness. Traditional Swaddle Blanket: These thin blankets made of soft muslin or cotton are usually about a 47-inch square. They’re meant to be manually folded around your baby to create a snug wrap. Nurses and midwives most-often wrap newborns in these types of swaddles after birth. ( Here’s how to fold a traditional swaddle.)

Avoid weighted swaddles. The AAP urges parents not to use weighted swaddles or blankets, since they can place too much pressure on a little one’s chest and lungs. Essential Colours: Midnight Planets, Charcoal Planets, Graphite Planets, Ivory Planets, Rose Planets, Teal Planets, Charcoal Stars, Graphite Stars, Teal Stars, Rose Stars, Sky Stars Even though your baby’s arms were bent during the last month or so of pregnancy, it’s recommended that you swaddle your newborn with their arms down and to their sides. Swaddling with bent arms allows Baby’s hands to wiggle out, making them cry more and making the swaddle very easy to unravel, which is dangerous. The exception: Preemies can be wrapped with bent arms…until they get close to their due date. ( Learn more about caring for your preemie at home.) Swaddling for Sleep As Olive is our first, it’s hard to compare but when considering other babies in my mum groups, she’s one of the best sleepers (sorry to be “ that mum”). She’s really good at self-settling and it’s not something we’ve had to directly work on as the responsive nature of the Snoo did it for us. On the other hand, if you have a winter baby and live in a cold area, a fleece swaddle—like the Halo—may be the best option for keeping your newborn warm and toasty.Allow hips to be flexed and open. A hip-safe swaddle means babies can sleep with their hips and legs open in a frog-like position, not straight like a cigar! Certain things in the baby-gear world (hello, baby carriers) develop an almost cultlike following, and the Miracle Blanket falls into that category. Parents who love it constantly sing its praises. It's a large, stretchy cotton-knit swaddle that you can wrap multiple times around your newborn for a warm and snuggly fit. No closures, no snaps.

Make sure your swaddle is secure! Choosing the right size swaddle blanket helps ensure a secure fit. A swaddle that can easily come loose is dangerous. Shoot for a swaddle blanket that’s about a 47-inch square. As long as your baby doesn’t soil or spit up on the swaddler, you don’t have to wash it daily. Once or twice per week is just fine. Once you find one that works for you, invest in at least three of them so that you'll always have a clean one on hand. When To Stop Swaddling Part of finding the right swaddle for your newborn is experimenting with different styles. Some babies simply refuse to sleep with their arms at their sides, and that’s where swaddle wraps like this Love To Dream Swaddle Up come in. Babies arms are zipped into the swaddle cocoon but have enough room to fidget, stretch a bit and even sleep with their arms overhead. This swaddle couldn’t be easier to use, and the two-way-zip allows for easy entry and diaper changes. It’s available in a number of neutral shades and comes in three sizes, starting at newborn.Our reviewer Erika was impressed with just how fast it was to wrap up her daughter. ‘This is truly a five second swaddle,’ she says. ‘I can even put it on her when she’s already asleep.’ Other babies may prefer being swaddled with their arms placed across their chest, or with their arms outside the swaddle. As with much of parenting, finding the right swaddling method for your particular baby may take some practice. How Many Swaddles Do I Need? When you’re just learning to swaddle a baby, it’s best to practice when your little one is calm or already asleep. Also… Type:Wrap, transitional | Material: Cotton, elastane | Closure:2-way zipper | Size: Newborn, small, medium (up to 19 pounds)