Sleep Like a Baby?
Whoever coined the phrase, “sleep like a baby,” did not have firsthand knowledge of how babies sleep.
Parents know exactly what this means. Babies aren’t great sleepers.
Newborns typically sleep for two to three hours at a times. A solid four or five hours at once is practically unheard of. It makes sense. Babies have tiny tummies and they need to wake frequently to eat.
And it can take months – some might even say years! – before your child will sleep beyond 8 hours on their own. Of course, the teenage years of sleeping until noon will come, so keep that glimmer of hope in mind if you’re currently sleep deprived and living off coffee.
Now, you might already know about the ancient secret of swaddling. Perhaps your mother, a kindly nurse, or an invaluable Doula taught you how to swaddle.
But there’s something that can make your life even better.
If your baby has kicked or squirmed their way out of a swaddle because the blanket was too small or not wrapped up properly, you’ll want to check out this list of swaddle blankets.
That’s right, swaddling made easier.
A better night’s sleep could be only a swaddle blanket away.
Why Swaddle?
Swaddling has been proven to give babies – and their exhausted parents – a better night’s sleep. It provides a snug fit that is intended to mimic the comfort of the womb’s cramped quarters.
Swaddling also helps reduce baby’s startle reflex. Have you ever startled yourself awake as you’ve drifted off to dreamland? Then you know how annoying your jumpy arms and legs can be.
A swaddled baby is also a safer, warmer baby. A baby that is swaddled will rarely kick off their blankets.
This means:
- no loose blankets in the crib. We know soft objects are a suffocation hazard to infants.
- a baby who will not wake up because they’re cold.
Which Swaddle Blanket Do I Pick?
Although some children clearly benefit from being swaddled, other babies will only be encouraged to fight against their snuggly wrapped blanket. It’s hard to say before your child is born whether or not you’ll benefit from a swaddling blanket.
What to do? Look for a swaddling blanket that gives you swaddling options. Some are more versatile than others.
Consider the sizes available. Some swaddling blankets come in multiple sizes, others only have one or two sizes. If you plan to swaddle a 7-pound newborn, ensure the blanket you buy can accommodate a tiny baby.
Think about the climate you live in. Those that live in colder climates would be wise to buy a thicker blanket. If you plan to swaddle during the heat of summer, look for a lighter weight swaddling system.
Another thing to consider is the type of closure the swaddle blanket has. Some have velcro which can be noisy and lose its adhesiveness. Others have zippers. Note the type of closure each swaddle blanket has.
Top Best Swaddle Blankets
Just to be clear, this is not a swaddle blanket.
It is, however, a top-rated sleep sack. A sleep sack is a safe alternative to a blanket. It keeps baby warm but allows plenty of room for baby to kick their feet and move their arms which is essential for motor development.
The sleeveless design prevents baby from overheating and a zipper that unzips from the bottom makes nighttime diaper changes easier.
The generous fit allows you to put the appropriate weight of sleeper on your child, making the SleepSack work in any climate.
The HALO SleepSack is:
- available in four sizes – small, medium, large, x-large;
- made of soft, organic 100% organic cotton;
- easy to use;
- helps keep crawling babies and toddlers safe in bed.
Aden + anais sells these four generous-sized blankets, nearly four feet square, that make swaddling your baby much easier.
These high quality blankets are:
- made of soft, breathable, 100% cotton muslin.
- made with washable material that gets softer the more you wash it.
- available in several different prints and colours.
If you’re not sure if you’ll be swaddling your baby, purchasing these swaddling blankets is a good route to take.
The blankets are large enough to swaddle your child yet versatile so you can use them for many other things if you don’t swaddle.
They’re large enough to be used as nursing and stroller covers. They can also be used like a regular receiving blanket, for burp clothes and cleanups, and on the floor for tummy time or as a changing pad.
HALO’s SleepSack has evolved into a swaddling blanket. This warm, 100% polyester micro-fleece is ideal for winter-born babies and is machine washable.
This swaddling blanket has the same generous sized bottom of HALO’s original SleepSack, allowing baby to kick, promoting good hip health. However, it has an upper-body swaddling system that lets you immobilize your baby’s arm to prevent the startle reflex.
There are 3 ways to swaddle with the HALO SleepSack:
- arms in,
- hands to face,
- or 1 or 2 arms out.
With these swaddling variations, this SleepSack can grow with your child.
This swaddling SleepSack also:
- unzips from the bottom to make diaper changes easier,
- has large, adjustable velcro fasteners,
- comes in 3 sizes: preemie/birth, newborn, and small up to 18 pounds.
One of the most expensive swaddling blankets on this list, the Miracle Blanket comes with many five-star reviews from happy parents.
Without any velcro, snaps, or zippers, this patented arm flap design allows you to swaddle your baby securely in this 100% cotton wrap.
This one-size-fits-all swaddle blanket is ideal for a newborn baby and it will grow with your child until they are 14 weeks old. This is the recommended time you begin to transition your baby out of a full swaddle, one arm at a time.
The Miracle Blanket comes with a 100% guarantee and a paediatrician recommendation. It is available in several choices of colours and patterns.
Just as the name implies, these lightweight, 100% cotton swaddling blankets are perfect for the summer baby. Each package of SwaddleMe infant wraps contains 3 swaddling blankets.
These affordable, stretchy, swaddling blankets are:
- simple to use,
- available in multiple sizes,
- available in your choice of colours and prints.
The zippered leg pouch opens conveniently for nighttime diaper changes. The velcro closures at the top gives you multiple swaddling positions, allowing you to change how you swaddle your child as he/she grows.
There are four stages in the SwaddleMe system that help your child move from being fully swaddled during the early weeks all the way to the sleep sack stage during early toddlerhood where movement is limited but not restricted.
These popular, five-star reviewed swaddling blankets, although intended for swaddling, can be used for much more!
Ziggy Baby’s large (48 by 48 inch) swaddling blankets are soft, lightweight, breathable, and made from high quality, 100% muslin cotton. The best part about the muslin is that they don’t fall apart when you wash them; they get softer.
Each package of 3 swaddling blankets comes in a set of modern grey and white patterns which makes them perfect for either boys or girls.
Beyond their ability to make swaddling super simple, these blankets can be used for so much more:
- burp cloth,
- nursing cover,
- car seat and stroller cover,
- security blanket,
- toddler blanket.
Even when your baby has passed the swaddling stage, you still get your money’s worth from the blankets.
Ziggy Baby has a “No Questions Asked” return policy.
The Woombie Swaddle blanket comes in 7 sizes and a variety of prints and colours.
These swaddling blankets are designed for newborns up to 6 months of age. The two-way zipper makes nighttime diaper changes easier.
Although they look a lot like a sleep sack, the Woombie’s simple design allows baby’s upper body to be held snuggly while still allowing room for movement below the waist.
This lightweight swaddler is made with 95% cotton and 5% spandex, making it breathable yet stretchy. The material moves with the baby, mimicking the environment of the mother’s womb.
Designed by an infant care specialist, these durable, easy to use, swaddling wraps are sure to make any new parent’s night a little smoother.
If you live in a warm climate and have a young baby, this set of 3 affordable swaddle blanket wraps is a good choice to consider. And if you live in a colder climate, all you need to do is dress your baby in a warm sleeper before wrapping them up in this breathable swaddle blanket for the night.
Made out of 100% premium cotton, these thin, lightweight swaddle blankets have adjustable fabric wings that fasten quickly with velcro. The attractive colour and patterns scheme will work for both boys and girls.
Designed for babies 7 to 14 pounds, this one-size-fits-all wrap will help you get through the early weeks of your child’s life with a little more rest.
Ziggy Baby offers a “No Questions Asked” return policy for their “Mom Approved” swaddle wraps.
Wrapping It Up
Swaddling has been a new parent’s best trick for years. And blankets designed specifically for swaddling can offer you and your child a better night’s sleep.
Some of the things you should consider when you’re choosing which swaddling blanket to have is:
- do I want more than one swaddling blanket? Some items on this list come in more economic packages of 3 or 4 while others are sold individually.
- if swaddling doesn’t work for my child, would I like to have a blanket that is intended for more than just swaddling?
- during what season will my child be swaddled? Choose wisely for your climate.
Swaddling should only be done for the first few weeks of a baby’s life. Ideally, you should be allowing them more freedom as they get older.
Choose the best swaddling blanket for you and your child so you can enjoy your well-rested baby more.
