17 best baby swaddles + wraps UK 2023

The unsnapped armholes allow babies who prefer to be less constrained or who are transitioning out of swaddles to be swaddled with one arm out. I inspected and tested each swaddle on my own baby, who was around 12 weeks old when testing began. Then I split the best swaddle blankets between our four test panel families with babies ranging in age from 2 to 9 weeks, and they tested our finalists for two weeks. Especially in their first weeks of life, babies are nurtured by a secure environment that helps ease their transition into a big, bright world outside the womb. These early months are often termed “the fourth trimester,” an adjustment period for both babies and parents. A form-fitting neck-to-toe sack, this swaddle leaves a baby free to move their limbs and keep their hands closer to their face than with other swaddles.

The fold should just be sitting at their shoulders, not neck. One is printed and the accompanying blanket is a solid color. To clean, pop them into your machine, wash with cold water, and use tumble dry on your low setting. We evaluated the best baby bottles on the market to help you choose. Swaddling can make babies sleep harder, which may actually increase risk of SIDS.

Know, though, that if your baby is very tall, they might grow out of this swaddle. Swaddled babies, like all babies, should only be placed to sleep on their back . Placing a swaddled baby to sleep on their side or stomach increases a child’s risk of SIDS. Babies should also stop being swaddled for sleeping once they can roll over. Known by names such as the Woombie or SwaddlePod, these are made of stretchy, elastic fabric and zip up to enclose your baby and keep them swaddled. They have no arm or leg holes and are designed to mimic the enclosed, yet slightly flexible, environment of the womb.

Without any wings to hold the arms in place, this design is intentional, as it helps keep the material from pushing up and covering the baby’s face as they move their limbs beneath the fabric. But some testers were concerned about the tightness of the neck and how comfortable this specific feature might be, especially for larger babies. Others found that some bunching of material around the shoulders was still possible as the baby moved around within the sack. Many parents move onto a sleep sack (a wearable blanket that’s a safer alternative to loose blankets in the crib) once the swaddling days are over.

When your child outgrows swaddling, they can sleep in a wearable blanket, which can’t accidentally fall over their face and become a suffocation hazard, like a loose blanket could. A smooth polyester-rayon fabric blend is ideal for babies who prefer a stretchy knit over gauzy muslin. You have to learn how to swaddle, but that’s a small price to pay, considering this receiving blanket can be used as an all-purpose blanket after the swaddling phase. Plus, it’s good for families who are looking for an option that can function as a stroller blanket now and a toddler blanket later.

These four men wanted to combine innovation with contemporary design to bring a new aesthetic to baby products. Their aim is to create functional products that align with the preferences of modern parents. The transition into parenthood is wonderful, and Bloom’s founders believe you and your baby should move in style. As you transition from couplehood to parenthood, your family gains a new identity.

Make sure your infant is swaddled securely so they can’t roll, nor can the blanket become loose and create a suffocation risk. First, you place your baby in the swaddle, and then you secure their arms so they’re down at their sides and held in place with the hook-and-loop closures on the flaps. Next, you bring the third flap up between your baby’s legs and secure that one on top of the other flaps. Finally, you zip up the outside of the sack, and your baby is firmly swaddled. That said, despite how quick and easy the process sounds, we found that securing a baby takes longer than the promised five seconds.

(Though it’s still fine to use a swaddle that allows a baby to keep their arms free.) The AAP recommends parents stop swaddling by eight weeks, well before the baby even begins to attempt to roll over. Some experts say about 3 months is the limit of swaddling age, others say 4 to 5. For many, swaddling works best as one tool that helps a baby settle into a consistent sleep pattern. The Halo also includes dedicated armholes for extended wear and a larger sack than the Sleepea’s for more convenient middle-of-the-night diaper changes. There’s no Velcro or zippers on this swaddle, just a pouch and long fabric wings—but don’t let that fool you.