Inside: Here are some must know swaddling tips for newborns. Swaddling is a great way to teach babies the difference between day and night and help them sleep better. Who doesn’t want that?
It was like the second worst moment of my motherhood career… The first being when I saw my 2-day old daughter gasping for air. It’s okay… she was okay…
But this was almost more shocking.
I went in, for the 2,356 th time that nap, to check and see how Baby Girl was doing.
Turns out, she’d moved enough that her blanket (which I’d used to swaddle her) had come undone and was covering her face.
I died a thousand deaths.
I didn’t even bother being gentle and grabbed that blanket like she was on fire and there she was breathing just fine.
It was a super breathable blanket I guess.
What's in this post...
That Was the Turning Point
That’s when I ordered a proper swaddle and said forget that blanket mess.
Clearly, I was an inexperienced swaddler.
But this post is not about how to or how not to wrap up your baby, but how to use the swaddle for maximum benefit. There are a lot of swaddling tips for newborns going around, but these are sure fire and work.
Read: How to swaddle a newborn safely in the summer (day and night)
Swaddling isn’t just cute, it’s very beneficial to teaching nighttime routines!
There are actually many reasons using a swaddle rocks, and here are but a few.
- Swaddling helps teach babies day/night differences
- Helps babies stay asleep during nighttime changes and feeds
- It helps to promote sounder sleeping and prevents the startle reflex from waking baby
- Brings comfort and closeness
Read: 8 Reasons You’ve Got A Whiny Baby (And How To Fix It!)
Tried-and-true *hands on* newborn settling strategies that even the most fussy (or wide-awake-sleep-refusing) newborns cannot resist!
Learn More7 Must Know Swaddling Tips For Newborns
Here are the ways that I’ve used the swaddle with all 4 of my children.
We’ve loved every minute and didn’t wean until around the 5 month mark for nearly every child.
1. Swaddle Your Newborn From Day One
They swaddle in the hospital and my advice to you is: don’t stop. If you don’t start swaddling from Day One there is no time in which the baby can start “fighting the swaddle.”
Now, I’m sure there’s one exception here, but you get the drift. Babies who don’t sleep swaddled sleep less, wake more, and don’t sleep as deeply without some type of sleep prop.
Read: How To Get Your Newborn To Sleep Well From Day One
Grab this newborn sleep schedule summary you can slap on the fridge! Tweak it, test it, and have calmer more peaceful and (slightly😂) more predictable days with your newborn!
2. Swaddle Your Baby In A Swaddle That Opens From The Bottom
I personally prefer the Woombie and have owned 10+ of these at least.
You can pick which you prefer, but for optimal nighttime diaper changes (without fully waking the baby) a swaddle that allows the babies arms to remain swaddled while they feed and are changed is amazing.
At night, you’ll be signaled the baby wants to feed. From the bottom you’ll change the baby (leaving arms swaddled) then immediately re-swaddle and begin feeding.
After as much milk as you can get in, you’ll just put the baby back down to sleep.
This essentially means they “sleep” through feedings.
Zips from the bottom, stretchy yet snug, and has swaddle weaning arm holes built in.
Learn More3. Do it as a “Sleep” Signal
Sleep associations are powerful things. They are positive associations your baby has with sleep that help them to fall asleep well on their own.
They also help them to calm down and know that it’s time to get sleepy. Or, if they’re already sleepy, to know that sleep is on its way!
Swaddling can clearly signal to your baby that it’s nap time and play time is over. What a beautiful thing!
Swaddle, cuddle, kiss, and continue the wind down routine. Then, when it’s clear your baby is ready for snooze land, put the baby in their sleeping spot to doze away.
4. Un-swaddle Your Newborn During “Awake” Time
Don’t leave them swaddled all the time, but use it as a signal for sleep. Even if your little one is tiny and loves swaddles, allow some room for free movement when they are awake and you’re playing.
This is true particularly as newborn when they are only awake short periods.
Play with their arms, legs, kiss their tummies, etc. Anyway, I don’t have to tell you how to enjoy your baby. By keeping the swaddle for sleepy times… you’re creating associations that’ll help your baby sleep better.
Read: Tips For Swaddling For Your Newborn Baby At Night
5. Un-swaddle Your Baby During Day Feedings
Newborn babies are notorious “snackers.” They are hungry, they begin to feed, they fall asleep at the breast in 5 minutes.
Now, this isn’t a problem unless it’s a problem for you, but it’s a big problem for me. I have other small children at home. Furthermore, I and am an only child – Type A – Confident + Take Charge mom. That means, for better or worse, I can’t feed my baby 5 minutes every hour for months.
For me, they need to take full feeds.
So, one way I help them stay awake during day feedings and get a little more wake time is by keeping them unswaddled.
I have even been known to take a wet wipe or cool towel to the bottoms of their feet or forehead so they’ll be awake enough to drink.
Read: What To Do When Baby Is Feeding Every Hour (& Not Sleeping!)
6. Keep It On for Night Feedings
In contrast, at night, I try to keep them swaddled at all times if possible.
The trick here is to change the diaper pre-feed, the swaddling has signaled “go back to sleep” and then the feed itself helps them get there.
This is the #1 way I have found to train babies to sleep for long periods at night. This is possible, even as newborns!
In fact, as soon as my babies have known the difference between day and night, they sleep all through the night only waking to signal they’re hungry.
Read: The Dream feed: The Why, The How, & When To Stop
Use this simple chart to track feeds and make sure baby is eating (not snacking), your supply is up, and everyone is well.
7. Keep Baby Partially Swaddled for Night Changes
I referenced this above, but by keeping them partially swaddled at nighttime changes – i.e. leaving their arms swaddled – you are preventing your baby from waking fully.
If you have a baby who is more “alert” at night than you’d like, I highly recommend this.
But keeping lights dimmed (or even using the flashlight on your phone which you know you are scrolling when you feed anyway) and keeping the baby tucked close, you’re essentially keeping them half asleep all night.
This woombie unzips at the bottom so you can keep baby’s arms swaddled while changing diaper.
Read: The Habit Most Moms Start While Nursing — And Wish They Hadn’t
A quick swaddle weaning tip for your baby
I do not have earth shattering swaddle weaning tips, but I can recommend using the convertible Woombie. It is specifically designed to swaddle wean!
With this swaddle, I have found is to wean your baby by taking one arm out at a time.
You usually know it’s time to wean them when they’re around 4 to 5 months or actively rolling over while sleeping. You don’t want a baby sleeping tummy whose arms are tied down.
If you’d like a copy of these tips sent straight to your inbox then sign up below and I’ll send them over.
The Fact of the Matter on Swaddling tips for Newborns…
Babies go to sleep better and sleep longer when they are calm, settled, and in a good routine.
It doesn’t have to be a huge thing with church bells and four part harmony…
The more you are able to protect your baby’s sleep, create a good wind-down routine, and make it a regular part of your evening, the better your whole family will sleep.
Grab this newborn sleep routine summary you can slap on the fridge!
Tweak it, test it, and have calmer, more peaceful, and more predictable days with your newborn!
To recap, to help your babies sleep better at night you want to:
- Prevent them from getting overtired
- Choose an appropriate bedtime
- Give your baby a calming bath or wipe down
- Before putting on a clean diaper and swaddle, give your baby a rubdown or massage with nice calming lotions
- Have some quiet quality time to help get your baby very drowsy before putting him into the crib.
If you would like to create a simple and easy wind down routine that anyone putting baby down can follow plus some BONUS baby sleep troubleshooting checklists, click here and get instant access.
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I have found swaddling to be a great tool! Both of my babies loved it and would immediately calm down when swaddled. Thanks for your blog, I’m rather new but your encouragement in having babies close together is great! Currently preggo with #3. Baby will be born before my oldest is 3 :)
Ha, Joelle, YOU CAN DO IT!
I’m a devoted swaddler! My first was swaddled until 5 months old and we used a baby Merlin suit for the transition. So worth the investment. I’m on my second now, she’s 3 weeks, and not a fan of swaddling but I do it anyways. My question is this, at night I can’t feed her while she’s swaddled because I have a heavy let down with an over supply of milk and she will choke and also requires a vigorous burping because of the extra air from her gulping. I do other things to help with the milk supply issues, but any suggestions on how to keep her sleepy or do you think that’s not too big of an issue for me to worry about? I also have to change her post feed because she almost always poos right after I feed her. Then I’ll top her off with a bit more milk just to get her sleepy again. Thanks!
Danielle, I also had a heavy let down (even hyper lactation) but I still burped them with the swaddle on. I burped their backs, laid them on my shoulders, or rubbed their back up and down. Can you not do that in the swaddle? Oh wait, I finished your comment, yes if you know she has definitely soils the diaper immediately you’ll want to change her and then re-feed. I think that’s a great idea :)
Yep, hyper lactation for me too! I’m also still nursing my 22 month old so it’s pretty intense. She just seems to not burp when she’s swaddled, it’s so odd. I’ll keep trying though! Thanks for responding and for the encouragement to moms on your blog :)
Hi I know this is probably too late to help you any but maybe someone else….if I have a heavy let down (usually if she didn’t take that side on the previous feeding) I will feed for a little bit leaning back with baby on her belly to mine. This way she can remain calmer by taking milk against gravity so it doesn’t gush into her mouth and it keeps her from getting used to passively sucking for when my let down isn’t so much. Hope someone finds this helpful.
Swaddling isn’t recommended anymore for sleeptime. It can increase their body temperature which researchers have found leads to SIDS. Swaddling is fine when you are there to watch for overheating, but in the last year or so it hasn’t been recommended to swaddle for nighttime or times when you are not there the entire time watching your baby for the signs
I had no idea about this, but will go and research, will look into it. But if you’re there supervising for naptime or swaddling in a mesh swaddle (which we have that actually has holes) then there’s not much difference than just a onesie though is there? Thanks for sharing, love hearing things I wasn’t aware of!
Ms. Norman, you are very gracious! C, I am curious as to where you got your info. I’m a pediatrician, and I was surprised at your comment because I definitely recommend swaddling for day and night sleeping! So, as I was trained to do, I went to the primary literature to make sure I wasn’t behind the times. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does recommend swaddling for all the benefits this site promotes but notes that parents who swaddle should follow some rules (mainly applying to age of the swaddled child, not laying the child supine, and observing for cues of overheating). This site (my go-to for all the AAP recommendations!), updated this January, breaks it down nicely in easy-to-understand non-medical language: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Swaddling-Is-it-Safe.aspx. They do recommend weaning from swaddling a bit earlier (2mos), but it appears to be out of an overabundance of caution, as the studies I looked at (and upon which the AAP based its recommendations) found a higher incidence of SIDS with older swaddled infants (e.g., much more so >6mos). So, I am still going to be a big proponent of swaddling and plan to swaddle early and often with my first little one (due in a couple weeks!). I am pretty excited to have actual practical experience to draw from soon and not just studies and evidence and the wisdom of my mentors. :) That said, I trust the hard-studied results and recs of the AAP wholeheartedly.
Which comment? You mean that I’ve heard swaddling is dangerous now?
I LOVE swaddlig and we don’t swaddle above 4 months in our home, but thank you so much for sharing that recommendation here!
Oops! I meant not laying the child *prone* in my comment above. Pregnancy brain alert! :)
Big congratulations : )
CMNs reply was a response to Cs reply to your article.
There is nothing wrong with swaddling at night time and C’s comment was simply misinformation aimed towards older infants. CMN explained it very well =)
Hello, Rachel. Thank you for the advice. I’m having the hardest time getting my 6 week old to sleep through her naps. She’s swaddled but from day one she fights it. She also kicks her feet a lot and can’t seem to stay asleep. I try to give her time to self sooth but after awhile of her feeling really crummy, I go in and replace the pacifier if she’s pit it out and shush her some. I try not to pick her up unless I see she is wide awake. Any ideas on how I can help her stay asleep? Note, temperature is good, diaper is changed, wind down routine in place along with a sleep, eat and activity schedule.
Brandie, do you nurse? I only ask because my last 3 kids my letdown was very fast and they all had gassy issues until 8 weeks or so. They just seemed uncmfortable at times during nap. Do you think it could be that?
I’m absolutely interest after finding your blog, can’t stop reading it.
My girl is 6,5 weeks now and we started to use swaddling just a week ago, so we tried to survive through the nights with kids waving their arms and waking themselves up. So by that time we started to look like zombies and my husband decided to try swaddling – and it worked! It’s a real life saver, even though my girl still sleep about 3-4 hours in a row, but at least I’m hopeful that soon it will get better.
Thank you for this blog, I’ve already learned a lot from it.
Hi Rachel, my newborn hates being swaddled with her arms in. Is it still beneficial to swaddle then with arms out or Is it no longer effective?
Kara, that will at least help keep the tightness around the legs. If your baby will sleep longer than 45 minutes without teh swaddle without jerking his/her arms and waking up then do what works for you!
Is it normal to have a baby who hates! being swaddled? When I put him in the swaddle he arches his back and screams until I let his hands free. Then he rolls on his side and falls asleep. He’s eight weeks old. The problem is that the startle reflex wakes him up occasionally.
Michelle, if he sleeps well without it then go with his patterns. Swaddling is great to help babies sleep but if baby is actually sleeping much better without it, good for him!
Hi Rachel!
Do you also swaddle your baby when you’re going for a walk to catch some fresh air? When do you think is the best time to go outside with your baby (especially winter babies)?
Thanks!
Hmm if you want baby to go to sleep I’d swaddle outside or in. And winter air is so fresh and good for babies :)
Hi Rachel! I’m currently pregnant with my first and while browsing online I found your site and absolutely love your advice! I plan to swaddle from day one and use your tips for newborn sleeping. I know it all depends on the baby you have but I have to try right? My parents think I’m nuts and say “they won’t sleep you’ll just have to deal for a few months, nothing you can do”. But I’m a planner, type A, and only child so I need to have some sort of plan for my own sanity. I do have a question though (forgive me if you’ve mentioned this before or if it’s a common sense answer) but do you swaddle during day time napping as well? Will they not think it’s “nighttime” or by keeping them in a brighter environment than at night they’ll know it’s nap time? Thank you!
Yes, I swaddle for all times of sleep
Hi Rachel!
I’ve been up reading your blog as my 2 week old is feeding in the night and I find your info is helping me keep my sanity… I never swaddled from day one but my daughter startles and grunts so loud at night that I can’t sleep as it’s keeping me up :$
I can’t tell if she’s actually sleeping. In my mind I don’t know how she could possibly be sleeping while making such loud noises..Her eyes aren’t open and she’s not crying. She is fed, changed, and back in her bed but the grunting is crazy!
Do you suggest starting to swaddle now even though she’s already 2 weeks old?
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Rachel!
I’ve been following all the swaddling tips but my 3 week old still won’t nap well during the day. She will fall asleep after s feeding and then wake after 15-30 min. Then she will eventually cry from being over tired. I co sleep at night and the only think that will keep her asleep is if I’m in the bed with her during naps. However with a 21 month old, that’s not happening. She cried hysterically during bowel movements. Any advice on what I can do?
Hi Rachel,
My little one has started evening feeding clusters with pretty much continuous feeding. She is one week. Since it’s night time, should I have her swaddled? Or since she won’t sleep until she gets them out of her system, should I leave her unswaddled?
If it were me I’d swaddle but you certainly don’t have to!
Hello! I cannot figure out how to change a diaper while baby is swaddled…i use a Halo sleep sack swaddle and his bottom always seems too far into the swaddle to change without undoing the swaddle.
Also, is it ok for baby to nap in my arms during some daytime naps? I’m a first time mom and I love the sleepy snuggles. Sometimes we also have him nap in his rock n play next to us while we are doing other things, or in a Moby wrap while I’m doing chores or other things around the house. I feel like if I don’t hold him for some naps he won’t get a lot of that good input from being held, carried, and cuddled because he sleeps a lot still (3 weeks old). And I dont want to miss out on it ? thanks!
Hold that baby as much as you want when you want! If that stops working for his sleep then you can change at that point. Do what you feel is best!
Hi Rachel,
I’ve found that if I keep baby (3 weeks old) swaddled during nighttime feeds, he won’t wake enough to feed for longer than like 5 minutes, which isn’t usually enough to fill him up for more than a couple of hours. Do you think this is just because he’s still so young or would you recommend unswaddling him to wake him up enough to feed longer? What’s the priority, sleep or a full feeding? Also, how long do you recommend feeding at night compared to daytime feeds? Thanks for your help!
I am all about leaving swaddled for night feedings — but with the diaper change, how do you get to the diaper? We use halo swaddles so can access from the bottom but she has pjs on under there. Or do you recommend just wearing a diaper under the swaddle?
Hi Rachel, first time mom here! I have so many questions because I have no idea what I’m doing!
When you swaddle for naps, where do you put them to nap? Do you differentiate a specific spot for naptime and bedtime?
Also at night, when it’s time to feed (bottle feed) I’ll keep him swaddled but he only takes a little feed which makes him wake up even more times throughout the night. How do you go about this? One time my 3 week old only took an ounce of formula and ended up waking up more times in the night time.
When he’s swaddled, sometimes he’ll make these crazy noises and grunts and lets out a cry, then falls back asleep, is that normal? Does that mean he’s sleeping or in pain from wanting to get out of the swaddle??