Wrapping your baby securely in a blanket (swaddling) helps the baby feel warm and safe if you are not able to hold and snuggle him or her skin-to-skin. Here is one method of swaddling newborn:

  • Fold a square blanket diagonally to make a triangle. Turn the triangle so the flat base is at the top and the point is at the bottom.
  • Lay the baby on top of the blanket with the head above the straight base of the triangle (the shoulders should be even with the base of the triangle) and the feet toward the point.
  • Pull one side of the triangle all the way over the baby’s torso and tuck it under the baby’s body. It is a good idea to leave at least one arm free so the baby can suck on his or her fingers.
  • Bring the bottom of the blanket loosely over the baby’s feet and all the way up to the neck. It is very important to keep the baby's feet and legs free to move. Your baby's legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips. Tight swaddling may cause a condition called hip dysplasia. If your baby has hip dysplasia, don't swaddle him or her. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joint does not form normally.
  • Wrap the other side of the triangle across the baby’s chest at the level of the armpits. Make sure you can still insert two or three fingers between the baby and the blanket.
  • After your baby is swaddled, place your baby on his or her back for sleep, even at naptime. Check often for the following:
  • The blanket stays secure. A loose blanket can cover the baby’s face and cause suffocation. Swaddling is associated with an increased risk for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and this may be part of the reason. It may also be that some babies who are swaddled sleep too deeply.
  • The baby is not overheated. If your baby is hot, remove the blanket and use a lighter blanket or sheet, and swaddle again.
  • Swaddling infants is a common practice worldwide. But some research studies have found a very rare increase in infant deaths from swaddling.

You may want to discuss this practice with your baby's healthcare provider before you start swaddling your newborn.