How to swaddle a newborn, and when to stop

Wrap snug at the chest and loose at the hips, lay the baby on their back, and stop swaddling the moment they show signs of trying to roll.

Black-and-white photo of a newborn lying on their back, snugly swaddled in a white wrap, with an adult's hands gently framing the head — Photo: Natalia Olivera / Pexels

Area: BodyFrom age 16Time to learn: 20 minutes, with practice on a doll or rolled towel

Swaddle with a thin blanket so two or three fingers fit between the blanket and the chest and the legs can bend up and out. Always place the baby on their back, and stop swaddling at any sign of trying to roll, which can happen as early as 2 months.

SafetyFollow the American Academy of Pediatrics and Canadian Paediatric Society safe-sleep rules every time: back to sleep, an empty crib or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress, no weighted products, and no swaddling once the baby tries to roll. Before the baby arrives, take an infant CPR class; the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and many hospitals offer them. If a baby is not breathing, call 911.

Why it matters

Swaddling can calm a newborn, but done wrong it carries real risks. Swaddled babies who are placed on, or roll onto, their stomach have a higher risk of SIDS and suffocation. Legs wrapped straight and tight can damage the hip joints, and a swaddle can make a baby overheat. In 2024 about 3,400 babies in the US died suddenly and unexpectedly, so the safe-sleep rules matter at every sleep.

How to do it

Use only a thin blanket. Spread it flat in a diamond shape and fold the top corner down.
Lay the baby face-up on the blanket with their head above the folded edge.
Straighten the baby's left arm down by their side. Wrap the left corner of the blanket over the body and tuck it between the right arm and the right side of the body.
Tuck the right arm down by their side. Fold the right corner of the blanket over the body and tuck it under the baby's left side.
Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side, leaving room for the legs to bend up and out at the hips. Never wrap the legs straight down and pressed together.
Check the fit: you should be able to slide at least two or three fingers between the baby's chest and the swaddle, and the hips and knees should move freely.
Place the baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat mattress in a crib or bassinet with nothing else in it: no loose blankets, pillows, bumpers or toys. Watch that they do not roll over while swaddled, and remove a swaddle that has come loose, because a loose blanket can cover the face.
Watch for overheating: sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash or fast breathing mean the baby is too warm. Keep the room at a temperature that feels comfortable to you.
Stop swaddling as soon as the baby shows any sign of trying to roll over, which can be as early as 2 months. Switch to a correctly sized sleep sack that leaves the arms free and does not squeeze the arms or body.

Common mistakes

Using a weighted swaddle or weighted blanket, which puts too much pressure on a baby's chest and lungs.
Wrapping the legs straight and tight, which can lead to hip dysplasia or dislocation.
Keeping a baby swaddled after they have started trying to roll, or laying a swaddled baby on their side or stomach.
Using a thick blanket or wrapping so tightly at the chest that two fingers do not fit.

You can do this when …you can swaddle a baby with two or three fingers of room at the chest and bent, free legs, lay them on their back in an empty crib, and name the sign that means it is time to stop.