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Best swaddles for newborns - wrap your little one up for peaceful naps
Keeping your baby snuggly and comfortable, swaddles can work wonders however your baby likes to sleep. After researching and testing the UK's best swaddles, we reveal the products that came out on top.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Jun 2, 2023
The practice of swaddling has been used in cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. The best swaddles will wrap your baby up in a way that mimics the womb, creating a warm, safe feeling for your baby, which encourages them to sleep for longer in their crib.
As well as researching modern baby must-haves like the best baby monitors and the best travel cots, at Mumsnet we know the importance of tried and tested methods our members swear by for better sleep, like swaddling. Getting a good nights’ sleep is key for both you and your baby, especially in those early weeks and months.
Babies have a ‘startle reflex’, an instinctive movement that frequently wakes them up throughout the night. Swaddling your baby involves wrapping them up so that their arms are held close to their body, and so they're is unable to move and ‘startle’ themselves awake. This often means they can sleep longer and more deeply, in turn allowing you a little extra rest.
As with many decisions around getting your baby to sleep, this is a personal choice and will vary from parent to parent. If you’re looking for the best swaddle for you and your baby, we’ve done the hard work for you - after scouring the Mumsnet Talk forums for authentic recommendations from our network of millions of parents, we've weighed up the pros and cons of a wide range of swaddles, and we've come up with recommendations that we think offer something for everybody.
These are the best swaddles to buy.
Best swaddles - editor's pick
1. Best overall swaddle: Love to Dream SwaddleUP
RRP: £33.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Zip-up sleeping bag | Fabric: Cotton and elastane | Sizes: small and large
What we love
- Easy to use
- Handy zip for nappy changing
- Babies can sleep in the arms-up position
What to know
- Doesn't keep arms hugged to baby's body, which some little ones prefer
- On the pricier side
What Mumsnet users say
“Love to dream! We tried the TT gro swaddles and found the sizing to be quite small. It felt really constricting around her torso with her arms in and and she wasn’t a big baby. Also she likes to have arms up a bit so the love to dream has been great. Most of my mums group use the love to dream also.” (Loved by Mumsnet user Lpc123)
“Love2dream suits. I buy them as presents for any friend with a new baby, they are amazing…” (Recommended by Mumsnetter SW1amp)
“I can recommend Love to Dream swaddle bags. I bought mine off Amazon but I know that Jojo Maman Bebe sells them as well. My large 10 week old is in the large size version. They are zip up swaddle bags but with the arms up by their heads- the best way I can describe is arms up as if surrendering to the police!! I think the arms up position is supposed to be better for babies this sort of age as by now a lot of them would get annoyed having their arms down by their sides, but still helps to stop the Moro reflex jolting them awake.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user HidingUnderTheSofa)
Our verdict
A great combination of tight swaddling with a little bit of wiggle room, this swaddle works wonders however your baby likes to sleep. The fabric is lusciously soft and light, and our mini-tester seemed extremely cosy and content in her Moses basket.
The USP here is definitely the inclusion of some eye-catching ‘wings’ built into the top of the swaddle. At first glance, they're maybe more Batman than cute and comfy, but our tester found the movement this provided priceless for soothing her little girl, as it allowed her to sleep in her favourite 'arms-up' position. While not all babies like to sleep in this position, this is the swaddle most highly rated by both our tester and most frequently recommended by Mumsnet users.
Read our full Love to Dream SwaddleUP review.
2. Best budget swaddle: Little Seeds Swaddle Blanket
RRP: £16.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Wrap | Fabric: Cotton | Size: One size
What we love
- Great price
- Comes in a pack of 3
- Easy to use
What to know
- Fastenings better suited to newborns than older babies
What Mumsnet users say
“In case the arms up is not necessary - we really liked the Little Seeds ones - lovely soft cotton and much cheaper than a lot of of others as you get three in a set.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Etherealhedgehog)
Our verdict
At £15.99 for a pack of three, these soft cotton swaddle wraps from Little Seeds are a real bargain. As with anything that comes within 5 feet of a newborn, swaddle blankets need frequent washing, so it’s a good idea to have a collection.
With no complex folding techniques needed, these swaddles are a doddle to use, thanks to the intuitive velcro fastenings. However, some reviewers say that while the fastenings work great for a newborn, older babies will undo them with vigorous wriggling.
Related: The best baby sleeping bags, according to Mumsnetters
3. Best swaddle sack: Tommee Tippee Grosnug
RRP: from £19.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Zip-up sleeping bag | Fabric: Cotton | Sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6 months
What we love
- Easy to use
- Zips open for quick and easy nappy changes
What to know
- Mumsnetters say they run small
What Mumsnet users say
“We also have a grosnug! The ollie the owl one. Wasn't as successful as either of the others but was ok. We did try her sleeping in it with arms out the other day for 2 nights but she flapped all night and didn't sleep very well so went back to the cactus.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Mizydoscape)
“The Tommee Tippee Gro Bag snuggle. It can be used as a swaddle with the arms poppered or as a regular sleeping bag with them undone. Just beware the sizing as I found they run really small.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter RandomQuest)
“We were given a couple of grosnugs and they were an absolute saviour for us while the startle reflex was so strong. Just zip their arms in and they can't throw them up and wake themselves up. We progressed on to a baby sleeping bag at about 3 months I think when the startle relax had gone and I was confident she was big enough to not wriggle down into the neck opening. I could never get the swaddling quite right with a blanket and the grosnug saved the hassle.” (Loved by Mumsnet user salad49)
Our verdict
Mumsnetters love Grobags for older babies, so it makes sense that the Grosnug swaddle is equally popular. Available in a range of cute and colourful designs, it features a zip opening which enables you to change your baby’s nappy without un-swaddling their top half.
With plenty of space for your baby to sleep with their legs in a ‘frog’ position, sleep sacks like this give you the best of both worlds - snuggly at the top and roomy at the bottom, without the need for easily-kicked-off blankets.
4. Best swaddle wrap: Miracle Blanket
RRP: £22 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Wrap | Fabric: Cotton | Size: 0-3 months
What we love
- Helps with colic
- User-friendly
- Money-back guarantee
What to know
- Only recommended up to 14 weeks
What Mumsnet users say
“We tried so many different swaddles and my DD seemed to hate them all - she would just fight against it and get so frustrated and angry. I'd just about given up on swaddling, and the idea of her sleeping anywhere other than me, then tried one last type called the Miracle Blanket. It comes with a 100% guarantee that it will help your baby get to sleep and stay asleep longer and it honestly works! It's saved my sleep.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter MissHoney85)
“The miracle blanket swaddle is bloody amazing.” (Loved by Mumsnet user sirlee66)
Our verdict
With its money-back guarantee and Mumsnetter stamp of approval, the Miracle Blanket certainly lives up to its name. The unique blanket is recommended for use from birth to 14 weeks, babies can sleep with either one or both arms inside the blanket, and it’s been developed to help with colic.
The Miracle blanket comes highly recommended by parents who’ve tried other swaddles and come to their wit’s end. So if your baby has a strong startle reflex, colic or finds it hard to settle, it’s definitely worth giving the Miracle Blanket a whirl.
Want to know more? Here’s our in-depth Miracle Blanket review.
5. Best muslin swaddle: Aden + Anais Classic Swaddle
RRP: £22.99 | Buy now from Boots
Key specs
Type: Muslin squares | Fabric: Cotton muslin | Size: One size
What we love
- Multi-purpose
- Great value
- Soft and durable fabric
What to know
- You need to know how to swaddle - scroll down for our video tutorial
What Mumsnet users say
“I have a load of these and love them. I’m on baby no. 4 now and the ones I bought for baby 1 are just as lovely as they were when new.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Isawthathaggis)
“I found them much softer and much bigger than most other muslins. I also got them from TK Maxx, they had another brand called I think baby style which were similar. I had loads of others from the high street but these two brands were much nicer. DC4 now 7 used two particular A+A ones as comforters, they've almost disintegrated now but the pieces that are left are soft as silk.” (Loved by Mumsnetter Notso)
Our verdict
A traditional swaddle, a cot blanket and a cot cover rolled into one? The Aden + Anais Classic Swaddle is a winner in our book.
Made with 100% cotton muslin, our tester rated it for its softness and breathability. But by far and away the biggest selling point for this swaddle is the multiple uses it has. It can be used as a cot blanket on a warmer day, a blanket for the park, a cot cover for nap time, a muslin for burping and, of course, as a swaddle.
Read our in-depth Aden + Anais Classic Swaddle review.
6. Best swaddle for older babies: Woombie Air
RRP: £36.86 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Zip-up sleeping bag | Fabric: Cotton and spandex | Size: Premie, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months
What we love
- Larger sizes adapted for older babies
- Stretchy but snug fit
- Ergonomic design
What to know
- Larger sizes are harder to find online
What Mumsnet users say
“My DS was the same, we ended up using a woombie (the mega size) until he was 9 months old. He then transitioned easily to a sleeping bag.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Captainj1)
Our verdict
If your baby is a few months old and still loves to be swaddled, you might find that they’re growing out of their swaddle blankets, or that they’re wriggling out and waking themselves up. Mumsnetters love the Woombie Air for its soft, cosy fabric, easy to use zip-up fastening, as well as their larger sizes.
However, while the 0-3 and 3-6 month Woombies are readily available, we found the 6-9 month ‘mega baby’ sizes difficult to track down online in the UK at the time of writing. It’s worth checking Amazon who have the odd one, or eBay and Facebook marketplace for secondhand Woombies.
7. Best velcro swaddle: SwaddleMe
RRP: £56.50 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Wrap | Fabric: Cotton | Size: One size
What we love
- Choose how tightly to swaddle
- Leg pouch leaves room to wriggle
- Easy nappy changes
What to know
- Velcro can be loud!
What Mumsnet users say
“Swaddling has been the answer over here! SwaddleMe velcro wraps are great and easy to use. When ready to transition out you can just let one arm out then the other but keep the wrap tight around the chest. You can then loosen a little (obviously not too loose to be dangerous) until you are ready to pop in a sleeping bag instead.” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Mizydoscape)
Our verdict
SwaddleMe's simple Velcro fastening and wing design make this swaddle easy to use, and gives parents flexibility on exactly how tightly to swaddle their baby.
The fastening also meant that we could easily access the nappy for any middle-of-the-night changes (which, let’s be honest, are inevitable). You can easily get access into the leg pouch without unwrapping the arms, meaning it aced our ‘night-time’ test. This was definitely simpler than unravelling a traditional swaddle and trying to get it done back up again on two hours' sleep in the pitch black.
Read our full SwaddleMe review.
8. Best swaddle for summer babies: Ergobaby Swaddler
RRP: £17.95 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Wrap | Fabric: Cotton | Size: One size
What we love
- Cute designs
- Super soft organic cotton
- Leave the leg pouch open when it's hot
What to know
- Will be grown out of quickly
What Mumsnet users say
“We have since been using an Ergobaby Swaddle Wrap with the Velcro top bit and sack like bottom bit - nervous for when the time will shortly come to transition out of it as he sleeps so well (he’s just turned 15 weeks).” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Biscuitsandteaplease)
Our verdict
Made from soft, snuggly, 100% organic cotton, the Ergobaby swaddler is a great-looking swaddle pouch. More importantly, it includes the essential cosy wrap for your babies arms, while keeping their legs free and their hips ergonomically positioned to support their development.
Ingeniously, the swaddle can be used with an open leg pouch - perfect for summer borns who benefit from the feeling of swaddled arms but need to keep cool at the same time.
9 Best swaddle for hip health: Purflo Swaddle to Sleep Bag
RRP: £29 | Buy now from John Lewis
Key specs
Type: Zip-up sleeping bag | Fabric: Cotton, polyester and Dupont Sorona | Size: 0-4 months
What we love
- Ergonomic design
- Poppers for arms in or out
- Cosy 2.5 tog with breathable panels
What to know
- On the pricier side
What Mumsnet users say
“Our little girl loves being in her Purflo swaddle bag, keeps her arms in close but is hip friendly! Poppers on the sleeves allow you to transition from swaddling at the appropriate age :)” (Recommended by Mumsnetter noslen)
“My DD is 9 weeks old and for the first 3 or 4 weeks we used cellular blankets with the holes in. I found it awkward as she'd waken when you tucked them in or she'd kick them off and i worried about them going over her face even though they had tbe tiny holes in them. That was until I found the purflo swaddle to sleep bags they are for newborns to 4 months and I wouldn't be without them now. I had her arms in for the first few weeks so she was nicely swaddled and she definitely slept better, I'd highly recommend them. Also they have information on how to dress baby when wearing the bag.” (Loved by Mumsnet user Superhanz)
Our verdict
With a focus on innovative and breathable baby equipment, Purflo products are being recommended more and more in the Mumsnet forums. Their Swaddle to Sleep Bag has cute foot pouches designed to keep babies’ hips in the correct position, while allowing your little one to wriggle and kick without undoing the swaddle.
The bag has breathable panels to keep your baby cool, comes with a cosy 2.5 tog rating and a guide to dressing your baby for bed. Certified hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, this is an easy to use swaddle bag that comes highly rated by experts and Mumsnetters alike.
What is swaddling?
Swaddling is the practice of wrapping a baby snugly in order to soothe them. It’s been used in many cultures for thousands of years, and it works because it reminds babies of being in the womb, and helps stop babies’ startle reflex from waking them up.
Some studies suggest that swaddling reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), as it keeps babies in the safest sleeping position, on their back. However, others have suggested the risk is increased, as deeper sleep means they are less likely to wake up if they overheat. With this in mind it’s important to make sure your baby is wearing the right amount of layers and that the room is a safe temperature (the NHS recommends 18C). You can read more about how to swaddle safely below.
It may not feel like it, but your newborn spends up to 20 hours of each day asleep. Because of this, it’s vital to make sure your baby is swaddled safely and that risks are minimised as much as possible.
Underneath the swaddle, your baby should wear normal sleep clothes. The Lullaby Trust recommends using swaddles made of thin fabric to avoid overheating, and although most swaddle products will adhere to these standards, it never hurts to check. Don’t be alarmed if your baby’s hands or feet feel cold, as this is normal. To check whether they are too hot or cold, you should feel their chest or back.
Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep.
Always make sure your baby is able to move her legs, or that her hips are in the frog position to reduce risk of hip dysplasia. Many swaddle blankets will be designed to accommodate this.
Babies should never be swaddled above the shoulders as this risks suffocation.
Although these safety warnings can sound alarming, it’s important to remember that SIDS is rare and that swaddling as a practice has been used for thousands of years.
How long should you swaddle a baby for?
You should stop swaddling a baby’s arms when they’re able to roll over - around 2-4 months old. This is because they need their arms to roll back over. Many swaddles have ‘arms out’ options to help transition out of swaddling into a baby sleeping bag. If you use a muslin square, you can just leave one arm out when you swaddle your baby.
What’s the best swaddle to buy?
With its ‘arms up position’ and rave reviews from Mumsnet and beyond, we think the Love to Dream Swaddle UP is the best swaddle to buy. Having said this, different babies get on with different types of swaddles, so the most popular one might not be best for you. We’ve got a soft spot for the Miracle Blanket, which has saved many a Mumsnetter’s sleep when they thought nothing else would help.
How we chose our recommendations
As well as testing out a number of the UK's top swaddles with a parent tester and her baby, we spent several hours sifting through Mumsnet's forums for our users' recommendations on the best swaddles they rate. We were also on the lookout for poor reviews of products to avoid.
We consulted recommendations from experts, consumer websites and print media and ensured we included brands that regularly appeared in the top 10 lists.
We then looked at reviews for our longlisted swaddle blankets to check if those previous customers were satisfied with their purchases.
By doing this, we whittled our longlist down and chose a selection of products that we think offer something for everybody.
Why you should trust us
At Mumsnet, we believe parents should be able to access impartial and honest advice about products and services they may purchase.
We consult real parents as well as experts so we can offer the benefit of honest experience and we don’t take payment for our reviews from companies.
Our team of writers is made up of experienced consumer and parenting journalists who between them have a wealth of experience and knowledge at their fingertips.
After lots of research, we handpicked eight of the most talked about and highly rated swaddles on the market and pitted them against each other to find our best of the best.