Not all babies are swaddled of course, but there are a few circumstances when swaddling can be helpful... Made with 100% cotton muslin, our tester rated it for its softness and breathability. But by far and away the biggest selling point for this swaddle is the multiple uses it has. It can be used as a cot blanket on a warmer day, a blanket for the park, a cot cover for nap time, a muslin for burping and, of course, as a swaddle.

Two tired mums. Two very different babies. And two tales of sleep success thanks to iconic baby sleep bag brand — Gro Company— and its AMAZING Swaddle Grobag. If you’re on the hunt for a sleeping bag for your little one, then the Swaddle Grobag is our recommendation! Not only is the brand trusted and award-winning, but its products also work in REAL LIFE. My daughter Lilyjust turned five months and I had accepted that fact that sleeping is just not one of her strong points. She’s cute. She’s generally happy. But she wakes up four times every night and that’s on a good night. The safest way to swaddle is to do it from birth rather than suddenly introduce swaddling at the vulnerable age of three months when the SIDS risk is highest. Not every baby needs to be swaddled. Many full-term, healthy babies learn to sleep quite happily without one. Some parents even prefer to have their baby adjust to “outside the womb” sleeping conditions right from the start, so that they don’t have to wean the swaddle a few months later when their baby starts to roll. Although these safety warnings can sound alarming, it’s important to remember that SIDS is rare and that swaddling as a practice has been used for thousands of years. How long should you swaddle a baby for?With no complex folding techniques needed, these swaddles are a doddle to use, thanks to the intuitive velcro fastenings. However, some reviewers say that while the fastenings work great for a newborn, older babies will undo them with vigorous wriggling.

I’d gotten used to functioning on broken sleep. And wearing sunnies everywhere to mask the mum zombie look. It is super easy to use, feels soft and is cute to boot. But would that make any difference to our nightly routine? It would seem so! From two hour wake-ups to SIX hours straight sleep. Hurray! Ever since our first two children were young babies, we have used ‘Gro’ products, most notably the Grobags for sleeping and napping in from about 8 weeks. We have just started using a Grobag at night for Arlo, but have also had the opportunity this time around to test out a ‘ Groswaddle‘, an easy way (and safe) way to swaddle your young baby. After reading more about the ‘4th trimester’ this time around, it made sense that babies under 3 months want to feel as safe and secure as possible, so the Groswaddle sounded like an excellent idea! Mumsnetters love Grobags for older babies, so it makes sense that the Grosnug swaddle is equally popular. Available in a range of cute and colourful designs, it features a zip opening which enables you to change your baby’s nappy without un-swaddling their top half.

8. Best swaddle for summer babies: Ergobaby Swaddler

If you choose to swaddle your baby with their arms free as they get older, you may want to adjust their clothing. In the recommended nursery temperature of 61-68°F (16-20°C) we advise using a cotton long-sleeved sleepsuit or both a bodysuit and long-sleeved sleepsuit. We tried so many different swaddles and my DD seemed to hate them all - she would just fight against it and get so frustrated and angry. I'd just about given up on swaddling, and the idea of her sleeping anywhere other than me, then tried one last type called the Miracle Blanket. It comes with a 100% guarantee that it will help your baby get to sleep and stay asleep longer and it honestly works! It's saved my sleep.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter MissHoney85) If your baby is a few months old and still loves to be swaddled, you might find that they’re growing out of their swaddle blankets, or that they’re wriggling out and waking themselves up. Mumsnetters love the Woombie Air for its soft, cosy fabric, easy to use zip-up fastening, as well as their larger sizes. Keen to find out if the Swaddle Grobag might help your little one get a safe (and hopefully longer) night’s sleep? The Tommee Tippee Gro Bag snuggle. It can be used as a swaddle with the arms poppered or as a regular sleeping bag with them undone. Just beware the sizing as I found they run really small.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter RandomQuest)

As well as researching modern baby must-haves like the best baby monitors and the best travel cots, at Mumsnet we know the importance of tried and tested methods our members swear by for better sleep, like swaddling. Getting a good nights’ sleep is key for both you and your baby, especially in those early weeks and months. In a very warm bedroom, you could use the Groswaddle with no clothing underneath. If the bedroom is hot (over 75°F/ 24°C), For a few days before planning to remove the swaddle completely, you should stop swaddling your baby’s arms and just wrap their legs and body up to chest height. At the same time, you should gradually loosen the tension of the swaddling.When testing swaddles we consider a number of factors including ease of use, material, comfort and value for money. Use a light cotton materialsuch as anewbornswaddle or swaddle blanketand make sure that the swaddling finishes at shoulder height. Your baby’s head must be uncovered.

We asked a group of real mums what they used to swaddle their baby and what they liked and disliked about it. Please refer to What to Wear guide to ensure you dress your baby in the correct clothing under our Swaddlebags. The Miracle blanket comes highly recommended by parents who’ve tried other swaddles and come to their wit’s end. So if your baby has a strong startle reflex, colic or finds it hard to settle, it’s definitely worth giving the Miracle Blanket a whirl. My DS was the same, we ended up using a woombie (the mega size) until he was 9 months old. He then transitioned easily to a sleeping bag.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Captainj1) Our verdict The Swaddle Grobag Newborn Plus (more about the sizes down below) was a great fit for my little girl and felt tight and secure. But she was also freely able to move, which is her favourite thing to do right now.As a general rule, in the recommended nursery temperature of 61-68°F (16-20°C) we recommend either a cotton bodysuit (short sleeves and no legs), The practice of swaddling has been used in cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. The best swaddles will wrap your baby up in a way that mimics the womb, creating a warm, safe feeling for your baby, which encourages them to sleep for longer in their crib. Our Swaddlebags come in two sizes: 0-3 months (7-13lbs 8oz/3.2-6.1kg and up to 62cm in height) and 3-6 months (from 13lbs 8oz – 18lbs/6.1-8.2kg and 62-68cm in height) so you can choose the best fit for your baby. The Groswaddle is our traditional wrap, a shaped swaddle with exactly the right amount of fabric for a safe swaddle – with no risk of overwrapping. You can use it to swaddle your baby arms in or arms out, by using different wrapping techniques. Babies have a ‘startle reflex’, an instinctive movement that frequently wakes them up throughout the night. Swaddling your baby involves wrapping them up so that their arms are held close to their body, and so they're is unable to move and ‘startle’ themselves awake. This often means they can sleep longer and more deeply, in turn allowing you a little extra rest.