There’s nothing cuter or cuddlier than a snoozing, swaddled newborn. Diligently wrapped and tightly tucked like a veritable baby burrito, your little one feels snug, secure, and safe in the confines of a soft blanket.
The compactness of a swaddle mimics the coziness of the womb, and it helps to decrease fussiness and foster sleep. Of course, any new parent will tell you that swaddling is an art form and not always the most intuitive task. Practice makes perfect, though — as does having the right option.
No, not all swaddles and sleepsacks are the same, so you’ll want to browse the options and choose wisely. With that in mind, we have rounded up our top picks for the best swaddle blankets. Rest assured that sleep is on the way.
Most innovative: Love to Dream Swaddle UP
If you’ve ever watched an unswaddled baby nap, you may have noticed that their arms intuitively rest next to their head pointing up; and yet, most swaddles tuck and bind a baby’s arms down. Ergonomically designed with a stretchy fabric, the Love to Dream Swaddle UP keeps a baby’s arms up, giving them the ability to rub their sweet tired faces with their hands and self-soothe. Best of all, there’s no way for this swaddle to become unraveled during the night. Do note that once your baby begins to show signs of rolling over, there is a transitional Love to Dream option that frees up one arm at a time to allow for a smoother transition and get your infant accustomed to sleeping without a swaddle.
Why we like it:
- Ergonomically designed
- Features a stretchy fabric
- Impossible to unravel overnight
Easiest to use: SwaddleMe Original Swaddle
Don’t compare yourself to the maternity nurse who helped you at the hospital. Those experienced swaddlers can wrap, tuck, and soothe a baby swiftly and efficiently. Learning to effectively swaddle a fussy little one will take patience and practice. In the meantime, you can “cheat” with a more intuitive option. Available in three, sizes, this one has a pocket for your baby’s legs and two sides for wrapping; one gets tucked behind the back, and the other is wrapped and fastened on the outside. Easy breezy.
Why we like it:
- Great for beginners
- Made of soft machine-washable fabric
- Available in three sizes
Best for wrapping: aden + anais Classic Muslin Swaddles
Once you have mastered the art of wrapping and tightly tucking (tip: Practice with the starchy blanket provided by the hospital), you are ready to graduate to a traditional muslin swaddle. Aden + anais blankets are known for their beautiful designs and soft breathable bamboo fabric. Bonus: Once your baby no longer needs to be swaddled, you can still use these blankets for draping over the stroller or car seat.
Why we like it:
- Beautiful design
- Made of soft breathable bamboo fabric
- Multipurpose once your baby outgrows swaddling
Best weighted sleep sack: Baby Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack
Some babies just don’t like to be swaddled. You can try every wrap option available, but that stubborn little sweetheart of yours might decide they’re just not having it. In that case, turn to a sleep sack. This one is made with two thick layers of fabric to offer subtle but comforting compression and help encourage uninterrupted sleep. And if your baby does need a late-night diaper change, the two-way zipper makes that easy.
Why we like it:
- Great option if your baby doesn’t like swaddles
- Two thick layers of fabric offer subtle compression
- Two-way zipper enables quick diaper changes
Best for comfort: HALO SleepSack Swaddle
An option with Velcro, the HALO SleepSack swaddle features a zippable body with two wrapping sides for securing Baby’s arms. Made with a double-knit cotton material, it’s super soft and absolutely delicious to the touch. Best of all, you can just unzip for quick middle-of-the-night diaper changes; no waking necessary.
Why we like it:
- Zippable body makes diaper changes convenient
- Double-knit cotton is soft to touch
- Two wrapping sides keep your baby’s arms in place
Best weighted swaddle: Nested Bean Zen Swaddle
- Gentle weighting mimics how it feels to be held
- 2-in-1 design grows with your baby
- Adjustable and easy to use
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