KeaBabies Swaddle: How to Use the Soothe Swaddle Wraps

Newborn babies love to be swaddled - and what better way to gently swaddle your little one than with the KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps!

KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps at a glance

The KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps are wrap-style swaddles with an arm pocket, a hip positioner and a leg pouch. Hook-and-loop fasteners hold them closed, so you don't have to fold a blanket. They fit babies between 6 and 20 pounds and up to 25 inches long.

Use them for naps and nighttime, always with your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface with nothing else in the crib. Stop as soon as your baby shows any signs of trying to roll over, which can start as early as 2 months. After that, switch to a sleep sack that leaves your baby's arms free, such as the KeaBabies SOOTHE Sleep Sack.

Swaddling can help calm a newborn and promote sleep, but it doesn't lower the risk of SIDS, so the safe sleep basics apply every time you use a wrap.

Swaddling your baby is helpful for more than making your sweet little one look extra adorable and snuggly. Swaddling actually reminds your baby of her time in the womb, when she was gently curled up, surrounded by the warmth of your body. Swaddling can also keep the startle reflex, or Moro reflex, that babies are born with from waking your baby. The Moro reflex is your baby’s response to a sudden movement or sound, which causes her to extend her arms and legs - and this can be very disruptive when it comes to peaceful sleep! When you swaddle your baby, it reminds your baby of being held and touched, which provides a sense of security and calm. Swaddling can also prevent your baby from scratching his face with those sharp newborn nails that are so difficult to trim! 

Although you can swaddle your baby with any blanket of your choosing, many parents opt for velcro or zipper swaddles for convenience! The KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps are the perfect addition to your newborn’s accessories. They are ergonomically designed with style and comfort in mind, and are super simple to use! Your baby will be comfortable and secure in the KeaBabies Swaddle Wraps, gently surrounded from shoulder to torso with 2-way fabric stretch knit.

Each swaddle wrap contains an arm pocket, a hip positioner, and a leg pouch. They fit babies between 6 and 20 pounds, up to 25 inches in height. Stop using them as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll over. Rolling usually happens around 3 to 4 months, but some babies start trying as early as 2 months.

You can swaddle your baby in four easy steps: 

1. First, open up the swaddle, and place your baby in the middle, the top of the swaddle at shoulder level. 

2. Insert your baby’s legs into the leg pouch. 

3. Cross the left arm pocket over the front of your baby’s chest. 

4. Cross the right arm pocket over the front of your baby’s chest, and secure the straps. 

Tip: Make sure the hip positioner flap is lifted and attached with the hook and loop fastener on the inside of the arm pocket to prevent your baby’s hand from getting out. 

Safety checks each time you swaddle

• Lay your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat mattress with only a fitted sheet. Keep blankets, pillows, bumpers and toys out of the crib.
• You should be able to slide two or three fingers between your baby's chest and the wrap.
• Your baby's legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips inside the leg pouch, not be held straight and pressed together.
• Keep your baby's face and head uncovered, and skip hats indoors.
• Dress your baby lightly under the wrap, and check for sweating, a hot chest or flushed skin.
• Weighted swaddles and weighted blankets aren't safe for babies, so never add weight.
• Don't attach a pacifier to the wrap while your baby sleeps. The AAP advises against attaching a pacifier to a sleeping baby's clothing.
• For sizing and care, check the instructions that came with your wraps.

What sets the KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps apart from the rest? 

1. They are made of premium organic cotton that won’t shrink over time. 

2. They are machine washable. They can be washed in a cold cycle and dried on low heat. Do not use fabric softeners or bleach on the wraps. 
   

3. They come in beautiful, affordable sets of three swaddles - perfect for baby shower gifts or for moms that don’t want to do laundry every day!
   

4. They provide comfort and security, the key to a good night’s sleep. 

5. They come in three adorable, gender-neutral designs, the perfect gift for any little boy or girl. 

6. They are larger than other swaddle wraps on the market, meaning you can get more use out of them as your baby grows. The KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps will retain their shape and size over time due to the durable two-way stretch fabric technology. 

When to stop swaddling and what to use next

Swaddling is for the newborn months. Once your baby shows signs of trying to roll over, stop swaddling, even if they still seem to love it. A swaddled baby who ends up on their stomach has a higher risk of SIDS and suffocation.

The next step is a wearable blanket, or sleep sack, that leaves your baby's arms free. It keeps them warm without a loose blanket in the crib, and you can keep using one well past the swaddle stage. Our guide to the KeaBabies SOOTHE Sleep Sack covers sizing and how to dress your baby underneath. If you'd like to swaddle with a regular blanket, see our step-by-step guide to how to swaddle a baby safely.

Do remember to follow us on Instagram @keababies and join our loving and supportive KeaCommunity Facebook Group!

Parenting is awesome. Sleep is overrated. Every day is an adventure.