Swaddle

Swaddling is the practice of wrapping a newborn snugly, usually with arms in or gradually freed, so the startle reflex does not wake the baby repeatedly. It can be done with a large square blanket folded a specific way, or with a purpose-made swaddle wrap that uses zippers, snaps or Velcro-style closures to hold the shape without needing wrapping skill.

Swaddling is meant for a specific window, generally the early weeks when the startle reflex is strongest, and it stops being appropriate once a baby shows any signs of trying to roll over. Hip position matters too, guidance generally favors swaddles that leave room for the legs to bend up and out rather than pinning them straight, to support healthy hip development.

The most important point to plan around is that swaddling should stop once a baby starts rolling, since a swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach cannot free their arms to reposition. Overly loose swaddles can also come undone into loose fabric in the crib, so a snug, correctly wrapped swaddle or a well-fitted wrap product is safer than a loosely draped blanket.