3 Ways to Swaddle Your Baby

There are many different ways to swaddle a baby and with a little bit of practice and experience, you'll soon find what works best for you and your little one. Below we outline three of the most popular methods that you can try out depending on your baby's age, preferences and your own swaddling skills. 

Diamond swaddle

This is the most popular swaddling technique and a great one to start off with.

Step 1 -Lay a blanket down on a safe, flat place in a diamond shape with the top-most corner folded down 4-6 inches.

Step 2 -Lay your baby down on their back in the centre of the blanket with their shoulders in line with the top of the folded edge.

Step 3 -Holding baby's arm gently at their side pull the right side of the swaddle over and snugly tuck under the body, making sure not to wrap the hips too tightly. 

Step 4 -Pull the bottom corner of the swaddle up to the height of baby’s right shoulder.

Step 5 - Holding baby's right arm gently at their side, wrap the left side of the swaddle all the way around baby and tuck into the little pocket you’ve created on the front.

Step 6 - Make sure baby's hips and legs aren't wrapped too tightly and there is room for the legs to bend at the hip.

Hands Up Swaddle

A technique recommended for the first couple of weeks when your baby will prefer holding their hands near their face.

Step 1 - Lay your swaddling blanket down on a safe, flat place in a diamond shape with the top-most corner folded down 4-6 inches.

Step 2 - Lay your baby down on their back in the centre of the blanket with their shoulders in line with the top of the folded edge.

Step 3 - Take the right arm and tuck under the top edge of the diamond folded blanket being sure to pull the blanket down to the elbow. The right hand is up near the face with a little room to move.

Step 4 - Pull the blanket across from left to right across the body keeping it nice and snug and tuck under your baby's left side under the armpit.

Step 5 - Bring the bottom point of the diamond up and tuck in over the chest. Be sure to allow plenty of room for hip flexion.

Step 6 - Now tuck your baby's left hand under the top edge and take the fabric down to the elbow - as we did on the other side.

Step 7 - Bring the remaining right-hand point of the diamond over the body - right-to-left - bringing it across your baby's right elbow and then under the body and over to tuck in at the chest.

Burrito Swaddle

This technique works well if you have a large thin swaddling blanket and your baby is old enough to tolerate an arms-down position.

Step one - Lay a blanket down squarely on a safe, flat and soft surface.

Step two - Lay your baby down on their back in the far left corner - about a body’s width from the edge - with the top aligned with the baby’s shoulders.

 Step three - Bring the left edge of the swaddle blanket across your baby’s right arm and body, keeping the arm down and tuck under the left arm. 

Step four -Next bring the right-hand edge over the body and tuck it under, keeping the right arm down, and making sure it's nice and snug.

Step five - Now fold up the material from the bottom edge up towards the chin. Make sure you allow for plenty of movement in the legs and hips.

Step six -Roll and tuck. Take the material from the left and tuck it under the body rolling your baby gently on their front to bring the material right around to the front where you can tuck it in. Do the same on the other side and there you have the burrito swaddle.

Further advice

For more advice and some great videos showing you how to achieve these and other swaddling techniques visit 7 Swaddles.