How to Swaddle a Baby

Mothers have swaddled their babies for thousands of years. It's no wonder: swaddling keeps newborn babies warm and helps them feel secure.

There are a few different ways to swaddle babies, but the objective is always to just wrap your baby snugly.

My favorite blankets for swaddling are the aden + anais swaddlers. The reason they're so perfect is that they are HUGE but also very light. The large size lets you easily get a secure wrap, while the lightness of the fabric ensures that your baby doesn't get too warm.

I use a basic wrap to swaddle my babies:

Lay the blanket out flat and fold one corner down 2/3 to form a triangle.
Place your baby in the middle of the blanket, with their shoulders lined up to the edge.
Tucking your baby's left arm to his or her chest, bring the left side of the blanket across their body and tuck it under their right side.
Bring the bottom of the blanket up and tuck it into the top of the blanket.
Tuck your baby's right arm to his or her body and bring the right side of the blanket across the front and all the way around their body.
Tuck the end of the blanket into the swaddle.

You want to be careful to swaddle tight enough to help your baby feel secure – but not too tight, as it can cause issues like hip dysplasia.

In the winter, you can usually just swaddle your baby in their clothes. If it's hot out, swaddle in a diaper only.

Simple!