Wondering if your newborn baby needs a swaddle blanket?
Does she sleep for short periods of time?
Wake herself up with flailing arms?
Find it hard to settle?
If your answer to any of those questions is yes, then a swaddle blanket could well be you and your babies saving grace.
Swaddle blankets are quickly becoming the new must have for every new parent and for some excellent reasons – most newborns like the feeling of being swaddled. After going out of fashion for a while swaddling has come back in and in a very big way.
Let’s have a look at some of the different types of swaddle blankets available to buy.
The Miracle Swaddle Blanket
Miracle Blanket Swaddle, Natural Beige Buy Now
The Benefits of Swaddling
Whether you decide to go for a baby wrap or swaddle blanket either will help your baby sleep longer by preventing their uncontrolled arms and legs waking them up when they’d really rather be asleep, so ensuring more sleep for the household and a more rested and happy baby. They make baby feel snug, warm, secure and protected just like they did in the womb and swaddling can also reduce the symptoms of colic. Additionally swaddling your baby helps them stay on their back while sleeping and makes feeding easier.
Different Sizes & Prices
Ranging from around $10 to over $60 there’s a swaddle blanket out there for every budget and size of baby. They are available in a range of sizes from newborn to 22lbs, so you can make sure that your baby can be swaddled for as long as they want to be.
Lightweight Ones
SwaddleMe Original Swaddle 3-PK, Busy Bees (SM) Buy Now
Cotton fabric swaddlers tend to be cheaper and are perfect for the summer months or warmer climates because cotton is the most breathable fabric. Organic cotton swaddle blankets are more expensive but of course they have less impact on the environment and are the better choice for eco-friendly parents.
Fleece swaddles are brilliant for wintertime, if your baby sleeps in a cold room and for going out strolling on chilly days.
Fleece Swaddle
HALO SleepSack Micro-Fleece Swaddle, Cream, Small Buy Now
Luxury Swaddle
For those who want something extra special, the Merino wool swaddle blanket and cap is wonderfully soft and lightweight and helps regulate your babies body temperature so it’s perfect for any weather. Easy to use and convenient with the safety belt allowing you to put your swaddled baby safely in the car, it’s the superior choice for parents that want to give their babies the best.
Woolino Swaddle Blanket, Merino Wool Baby Blanket, 0-3 Months, Sheep Buy Now
Baby Wraps
If you’ve decided to go for the wrap method of swaddling, the video above shows you how to do it perfectly. Muslin wraps are cool, lightweight and come in some great designs. The Aden + Anais Cotton muslin swaddle wraps are available in at least 26 designs, so your baby can look beautiful while they sleep. They are also a very generous size of 47″ by 47″ so that even if this is your first time swaddling a baby, there’s plenty of fabric to work with. Muslin wraps have the added advantage of being multi-purpose and can be utilized for a whole host of practical uses, making them more versatile than the dedicated swaddle blankets.
How to Swaddle Your Baby
A Swaddle Blanket is The Perfect Newborn Gift
With all these benefits, swaddle blankets make excellent gifts for parents to be whether it’s the first, second, third or sixth baby and are described by many parents as one of the miracle products they just can’t live without.
For those parents with a limited budget you can use an old sheet cut into a square and then learn the art of swaddling your baby (there’s a video below which shows you how to wrap your baby). For those of us that want something a bit more convenient there are a huge variety of pre-made swaddlers on the market. These are easy to use, securely stay in place due to the velcro fasteners, are available in different fabrics and come in a wide variety of funky designs and patterns.