Swaddle vs Sleeping Bag - Which Should I Use?

A traditional swaddle is a large, square piece of fabric used to wrap a baby securely for sleep. They are usually made from a lightweight muslin, stretch cotton or merino. Nowadays, many swaddles are fitted in style and look more like a sleeping bag. They are much easier to use and are usually more secure than a traditional fitted swaddle.

Swaddling a baby is essentially wrapping them up securely with their arms across their chest to help reduce their startle (Moro) reflex, which can often wake a baby up from their sleep. The Moro Reflex is when a newborn’s arms and legs move suddenly and involuntarily and can often wake them up from sleep. Newborns develop the Moro reflex just after birth and it usually disappears between 2 and 6 months.

Swaddling is safe, as long as you follow a few simple steps.  

• Back to sleep: Always sleep your baby on their back (whether your baby is swaddled or not). This is recommended by Te Whatu Ora, Ministry of Health, and is one of the biggest factors in reducing SUDI.  

• Hip-healthy: Choose a hip-healthy swaddle so babies can move their legs freely, whilst still having their arms close to their chest. The swaddle should reduce the movement in their arms, but let hips and legs be free to kick and move to prevent Hip Dysplasia.

• Prevent Overheating: Consider how many layers you are dressing the baby in and how warm the nursery is, being careful not to overheat your baby. You can check their temperature by placing your hand gently on their chest or the back of their neck.

• Signs of Rolling: Finally, once your baby shows signs of rolling, it’s important to stop swaddling. If a baby rolls whilst swaddled they can suffocate, so as soon as your baby shows signs of starting to roll, stop swaddling and switch to a sleeping bag.

• Do not bed share while swaddling: If you’re going to bedshare with your baby, take care to follow safe bedsharing guidelines, which includes not swaddling baby. Read more guidelines about safely bedsharing with your baby.

Read more about Safe Sleep >

As soon as your baby shows signs of rolling, you need to stop swaddling and move to a sleeping bag. Usually this is around 3-4 months old, however it can happen as young as 2 months, so take care to watch for signs of rolling and then stop swaddling.

A baby sleeping bag is a bit like a wearable blanket. It's like a pouch which has a hole for the baby’s head and arms and it usually zips up at the front or side of the bag. Sleeping bags can be used from newborn and are generally used until your baby starts to resist it, starts climbing out of the cot or moves to a big bed.

The main difference is that baby’s arms are out when wearing a sleeping bag, but enclosed with a fitted swaddle. Some fitted swaddles have arm snaps which give the option of arms in or out.

Baby sleeping bags are a safer option for babies than traditional loose bedding/blankets. So if you’re not going to swaddle, we recommend choosing a baby sleeping bag as a baby’s bedding.

There are several benefits to using a sleeping bag, the main one being that a sleeping bag can’t be kicked up and cover your baby’s face, whereas a baby could scoot under a blanket if they’re wriggling around a lot. A sleeping bag will also help keep your baby’s temperature regulated for the whole night, rather than kicking off blankets and waking up cold.

Once your baby is showing signs of rolling, you’ll need to use a sleeping bag for the safest sleep. So if your baby is happy in a sleeping bag from birth, then using a sleeping bag from birth or the early weeks avoids the transition to a sleeping bag later on!

The short answer is you won’t! Like a lot of parenting, it’s a case of trying and seeing what works for you and your baby. Because of this, we recommend having at least one swaddle and one sleeping bag suitable to use from newborn and ready to go before you have your baby. You can also choose swaddles that have arm snaps which means you can use them as a swaddle or sleeping bag with arms out. That way you can experiment with what works best for your little one.

If your baby is calm and sleeping well, there’s no need to use a swaddle at all. Many babies sleep well in a sleeping bag from birth and this avoids any safety or transition issues. It simply comes down to your baby’s preference and what works for your family.