When swaddling your baby at night, be sure to keep a close eye on the temperature in your child’s room and make sure that the fabric your child is wearing is appropriate for the climate of your home," Ashton McCutchen, a certified pediatric sleep consultant, and a pediatric registered nurse tells Verywell Family. "Also, be careful not to over-swaddle your baby during the day, as this can result in your child getting too much daytime sleep, which will make for less nighttime sleeping.

Along with hip dysplasia, the main risk of swaddling is doing it incorrectly and leading to situations that may cause sudden infant death syndrome. You may have heard that swaddling has the potential to be unsafe. And that’s true, if it isn’t practiced correctly. That’s why it’s important to understand how to swaddle, what situations may make it unsafe, and when to stop swaddling altogether.

Rolling. Again, the AAP specifically notes that swaddling can contribute to SIDS if a baby is placed on his side or stomach for sleep or if he rolls to that position while sleeping. Securely fold the bottom of the swaddle up toward the body. Be sure to leave plenty of space for your baby’s legs to move and groove. As we said, every baby is different and some may prefer to stretch out after only a few days or weeks, while others will enjoy the cosy feeling for longer. Experiment and see what works for your little one. Further, the National Resource Center For Health and Safety In Child Care and Early Education notes that “in child care settings, swaddling is not necessary or recommended.” http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/how-to-swaddle-a-baby/sls-20076006

Swaddling has been scientifically proven to soothe upset babies because it mimics pressure similar to the pressure felt in their mother’s womb," Ashton McCutchen, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and pediatric registered nurse, tells Verywell Family. "Swaddling also helps your baby control their startle reflex, which is what causes their arms and legs to jolt when startled by noise or movement." The surface baby sleeps on matters, too. Place your baby in their own sleep space onto a firm surface. This may be a crib in your room, a bassinet, or, alternatively, a side-car sleeping device like the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). American Academy of Pediatrics announces new safe sleep recommendations to protect against SIDS, sleep-related infant deaths [Press release]. Then grab the (baby’s) left corner of the blanket and wrap it around the right side of the body, under the armpit, to snug them in tight.

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Lay your blanket on a flat surface and fold the top corner about halfway down toward the middle of the blanket. The key to a good swaddle is keeping it snug. Some studies call this a type of “motor restraint,” which is just a technical way of saying that it restricts a baby’s movements so they don’t set off their moro or “startle” reflex. Our tester had no issues putting this on their child, scoring the swaddle 5 out of 5 for ease of use. A zipper down the front makes it easy, and you only need to put the baby’s arms into the wings (another simple step). Lay your swaddle fabric out onto a flat surface so it makes a diamond shape. You’ll want to fold the top corner down about a third of the way toward the middle of the blanket. This HALO swaddle feels warm and cozy with its 100% polyester micro-fleece. But because the material may be too warm in the summer, we didn’t give it a 5 out of 5 for comfort. If that’s a concern, the company also sells a cotton version. (To tell how warm a swaddle is, look for its thermal overall grade or TOG rating to give you an idea of what temperatures they work best in. For example, the micro-fleece swaddle has a 3.0 TOG rating, ideal for room temperatures of 64-68 degrees.) The material also held up well after multiple washes and never lost its durability. A two-way zipper makes late-night diaper changes a breeze, while the zipper covers at the top and bottom prevent the fasteners from irritating or scratching skin.

Swaddles come in different sizes for each age, which is an important factor many parents and caregivers don’t know. Knowing the correct size will keep your baby safe as a blanket that’s too big for them may become loose and then a suffocation hazard.Experts also explain that traditional swaddling, particularly binding of the legs, may be a risk factor for developing hip dysplasia. This condition happens when a baby’s hip joints do not form properly or when they dislocate easily. While it’s available in multiple sizes (small through large) to accommodate any baby, it’s best as a newborn swaddle due to its snugness. You’ll want to ensure it’s not too restricting, as tightly wrapping a baby’s legs can lead to hip dysplasia or hip dislocation. Grab the (baby’s) right corner of the blanket and wrap it around the left side of their body, under the armpit. Lipton EL, et al. (1965). Swaddling, a child care practice: Historical, cultural, and experimental observations.