Finding the best swaddles can be a daunting process with so many products on the market.
Whether you are just starting your baby registry, stocking up your nursery, or are looking for sleep solutions for your baby, this guide has every type of swaddle, sleep sack, or wearable blanket you can imagine to keep your baby warm and snuggly from day one to age 3.
Note: Babies should not be swaddled after they start trying to roll. Make sure to read the product information carefully for all of the swaddles, sleep sacks, sleepsuits, and wearable blankets in this post in order to provide the safest sleep environment for your little one.
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The Best Swaddles of 2021
Best Swaddle For Hands-Up Sleepers: The Love To Dream Swaddle Up
Sizes and Weights: Newborn (5-8.5 lb.), Small (7-13 lb.), and Medium (13-18.5 lb.)
Ages: 0-6 months
The Love To Dream Swaddle Up provides the snug fit in the arms and torso that babies love with more freedom for the legs. Their swaddle places babies in their natural sleep position with their arms up by their head, rather than a traditional swaddle that brings the arms down to the sides.
Bonus: Love To Dream has a Swaddle Up Transitional Bag that allows the baby to transition to arms-free sleep.
Pros: The Love to Dream Swaddle Up allows the baby to sleep with arms up but keeps the hands warm. There is a double zipper for easy diaper changes. There are multiple fabric types and weights to keep the baby at the right temperature. They have multiple transitional products once the baby outgrows the swaddle.
Cons: You will likely have to buy multiple sizes. The newborn swaddle only comes in one fabric weight.
Best Priced Swaddle: The Swaddle Me Original
Sizes and Weights: Preemie (up to 7 lb.), Small (7-14 lb.), and Large (14-18 lb.)
Ages: 0-6 months
The Swaddle Me Orginal Swaddles are 100% cotton swaddles. They come in packs of 3 with tons of color and pattern options.
Pros: The Swaddle Me Original Swaddles are very affordable, with a 3-pack of swaddles typically costing less than one of the leading swaddles. They offer a transitional product called the Arms-Free Convertible Swaddle.
Cons: This is a big one: There is no opening for diaper changes AND the closure method is velcro (very loud). It would be nearly impossible to do a diaper change without waking the baby up.
The designers at Swaddle Me have taken this complaint seriously and created the new Swaddle Me Easy Change Swaddle which features a zipper at the bottom for easy changing. These run at a slightly higher price, although still very affordable.
Best Swaddle For Active Babies: The Zippadee-Zip
Sizes and Weights: Extra small (8-13 lb.), Small (12-19 lb.), Medium (18-26 lb.), Large (26-34 lb.), and Extra Large (34 lb.+)
Ages: 3 mo.-3T
As seen on Shark Tank, the Zipadee-Zip swaddle is a starfish-shaped swaddle. The design allows babies to feel snuggled and swaddled without limiting their range of motion. This long sleeve baby sleeping bag also has enclosed feet to keep your little one warm. Babies look like adorable little starfish with ease of movement of the hands and feet.
Pros: The Zippadee-Zip is safe for babies who roll and need to be transitioned from a regular swaddle. This swaddle provides the safety benefits of arms-free sleeping that freely allows the baby to roll and push up, all while keeping the hands and feet enclosed for a swaddled feel. This is a product to try if your baby shows signs of rolling early but isn’t ready for a traditional wearable blanket.
Cons: The sizing can be tricky with the extra small and small having some overlap. According to their sizing chart, a 12-month-old baby could have potentially needed 4 different sizes of the Zippadee-Zip since birth.
Best Sleep Brand Overall: HALO
Halo was the brand of swaddle used at my hospital and the brand we trusted through the early months of our son’s life to get the most sleep.
Halo is the biggest name in baby sleep, offering everything from cribs and bassinets to swaddles and wearable blankets.
Favorite Product: The HALO SleepSack Swaddle In 100% Cotton
Sizes and Weights: Preemie (up to 5 lb.), Newborn (6-12 lb.), and Small (13-18 lb.)
Ages: 0-6 months
The HALO SleepSack Swaddle In 100% Cotton is a super soft, premium feel fabric. This HALO Swaddle is a 3-way swaddle, meaning babies can sleep with arms tucked in, hands up, one arm free, or both arms free.
Pros: The HALO SleepSack Swaddle is versatile with the 3 way swaddle. It is offered in a variety of fabric types and weights. There is an easy access zipper for diaper changes. If you have an early roller, you can use this swaddle to transition to arms-free sleeping without having to buy a specific transitional product.
Cons: The wrapping process has a bit of a learning curve so that babies don’t wiggle their little arms out.
The Best Swaddles For TransitioningOf 2021
Best Transitional Swaddle Overall: Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit
Sizes and Weights: Small (12-18 lb.), and Large (18-21 lb.)
Ages: 3-9 months
My son slept through the night (10 hours) the first night in his Magic Sleepsuit. Read my full review here.
The Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is a swaddle transition product designed to help babies go from a snuggly swaddle to sleeping arms free. The sleepsuit looks like a snowsuit but is made of breathable jersey fabric, polyfill, and a cotton lining.
The unique design adds just enough weight to babies to provide a feeling of security. Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit can also help lessen the Moro Reflex that wakes babies after they stop being swaddled.
Pros: Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit was designed for the specific purpose of transitioning from a swaddle to arms-free sleeping. It is made of super-soft materials that are cozy for babies. The zipper is strategically placed for easy use. The collar is scooped to prevent the fabric from riding up and covering the face. With thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon, my personal experience, and the experience of friends and family, it works really well.
Cons: The suit is used for a very specific period of time (3-9 months). I wish my son could have used it longer as it was so effective.
UPDATE: Baby Merlin’s has launched the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleep System to help this problem and transition babies to regular sleep sacks! See below:
Baby Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack
Baby Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack features the same cozy materials and double-layer fabric as the Magic Sleep Suit to make the transition for babies easier.
Baby Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack Walker
🡺 See The Full Baby Merlin’s Product Line On Amazon 🡸
Baby Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack Walker is the next step in transitioning for toddlers who can walk and want their feet free! Just like the original Magic Dream Sack, the Magic Dream Sack Walker has the familiar and comfortable materials of the Magic Sleepsuit.
Best Long-Sleeve Swaddle: The HALO Easy Transition Swaddle
Sizes and Weights: Small (13-20 lb.), and Medium (19-24 lb.)
Ages: 3-9 months
The HALO Easy Transition Swaddle is a double-layer cotton quilted wearable blanket. It features half-sleeves for babies who still need to feel secure around their arms, but are ready to transition from a regular swaddle blanket.
Pros: It is one of few long-sleeve wearable blankets on the market. Typically, long sleeve sleep sacks are made of fleece which can be hot and doesn’t breathe well. The HALO Easy Transition Sleep Sack is made of breathable cotton. The heavier weight of the quilting around the arms helps to lessen the Moro (startle) Reflex that causes infants to wake in the night.
Cons: While it is made of cotton, the HALO Easy Transition Swaddle has a TOG rating of 1.5, which is warmer than most swaddles. It is important to make sure the baby and the room are at safe temperatures to avoid overheating.
Best Sleep Sack For Babies With Moro Reflex: SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack
If you have stumbled across this article because you are a mom of a baby who showed early signs of rolling and can no longer wear a traditional swaddle but are struggling with night wakings due to the Moro Reflex.
I’m sorry. I’ve been there mama.
My son started to roll at 6 weeks (yes, 6 weeks). Gone was the swaddle, and with it gone were nights of peaceful dream feeds and back to sleep. Now, he would be awake for hours, only to fall asleep and suddenly startle awake a few minutes later because of the Moro Reflex. It was horrible.
I scoured the internet for days because was too small for most of the transitional products out there (many recommend 12 weeks and up).
I ordered every sleep sack that I could find that promised any hope of helping our baby with his Moro Reflex–I actually own MANY of these swaddles for that reason.
I finally found the SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack and it really helped fill in the gap before my baby could move to the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit.
Sizes and Weights: Small (6-14 lb.), and Medium (14-21 lb.)
Ages: 0-6 months
The SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack is designed specifically to help our younger babies who need arms-free sleeping but who struggle with the Moro (or startle) Reflex. It is made of a very cozy cotton knit.
Pros: The SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack has half-sleeves that position baby’s hands in an upright position beside their heads. This is similar to the Love To Dream Swaddle Up position; however, the SwaddleDesigns Swaddle Sack has foldover mitten cuffs that allow babies to keep their hands tucked in, or out. This is great for transitioning babies very slowly–one hand at a time–instead of an entire arm at once.
Cons: The only problem that I had with this swaddle was with sizing. I ordered the medium thinking that my baby could grow into it, but the opening at the neck was too big and he could squirm to the point that the fabric covered his face. Switching to the small solved this problem, but we did have to buy both sizes. Luckily Amazon Prime has free shipping and returns, so exchanging the product was not a hassle.
The Best Sleep Sacks 2021
Best Sleep Sack of 2021 Overall: The HALO 100% Cotton Sleep Sack
Sizes and Weights: Small (10-18 lb.), Medium (16-24 lb.), Large. (22-28 lb.), and Extra Large (26-36)
Ages: Birth-24 months
The HALO SleepSack Wearable Blanket is the original wearable blanket. I love the 100% cotton as it can be layered with pajamas to keep warm in the winter, or with fewer layers to stay cool in the summer. The material is so soft and gets softer with each wash.
Pros: The HALO SleepSack offers many types and weights of fabric to meet the needs of any climate. There are tons of gender-neutral patterns, so they can be passed down from child to child. There is a double zipper, even on the larger sizes for easy diaper changes.
Cons: These sleep sacks are sleeveless, so you have to layer with pajamas underneath. There isn’t a lot of overlap with sizes, so your baby may outgrow them quickly.
Best Weighted Sleep Sack: The Nested Bean Zen Sack
Sizes and Weights: One size fits all
Ages: 0-24 months
The Nested Bean Zen Sack is made of a premium nontoxic cotton material. It features a weight pocket that provides gentle comfort and security for babies like the weight of a parent’s hand on their chest.
Pros: Many parents swear by the Nested Bean Zen Sack for calming even the most reluctant babies to sleep. It has adjustable straps that grow with the baby, so there is no need to buy additional sizes. It can be used for front or back sleepers.
Cons: Parents rave about the overall quality of the wearable blanket and the soft and cozy material; however, not all babies seem to be calmed by the weight of the beans. Luckily Nested Bean offers a satisfaction guarantee, so you can contact them if the product doesn’t work for your baby.
Best Luxury Sleep Sack: The Kyte Baby Sleep Sack
Sizes and Weights: 0-6 months (10-18 lb.), 6-18 months (16-28 lb.), and 18-36 months (26-40 lb.)
Ages: 0-36 months
Kyte Baby provides the ultimate luxury for babies with its premium bamboo fabric. The 1 and 2.5 TOG-rated bags are quilted to help maintain the shape over time. Overall the Kyte Baby Sleep Sack is simple at its finest, with every emphasis on quality of materials, functionality, and premium touches.
Pros: The Kyte Sleep Sacks have a wide range for their sizes, so you will not have to change sizes so often. The sleep sacks have a TOG rating to have more peace of mind when choosing the best fabric weight for different climates. There is a j-shaped zipper to make using it easier than blankets that zip up the middle.
Cons: The product tags are right on the collar which can be irritating. However, the company is in the process of changing to labels printed right on the garment, but they cannot guarantee which type of label you will receive at this time.
Best Long-Sleeve Sleep Sack: Carter’s Sleepbag Wearable Blanket
Sizes and Weights: Small (6-12 lb.), and Medium (12.5-20 lb.)
Ages: 0-6 months
The Carter’s Sleepbag Wearable Blanket is made of microfleece. There is a two-way zipper for easy diaper changes.
Pros: Carter’s Sleepbag Wearable Blankets are one of the few to have long sleeves. This wearable blanket can be worn alone as pajamas or with jammies underneath in really cold conditions.
Cons: The Carter’s Sleepbag Wearable Blankets only come in a fleece material. Fleece doesn’t breathe as well as cotton and could cause the baby to get too hot. There are only two sizes for up to 6 months, but these sleep sacks are great. Please make them in larger sizes!
Best All-Weather Sleep Sack: The Woolino 4 Seasons Sleep Sack
Sizes and Weights: One size fits all
Ages: 2-24 months
The Woolino 4 Seasons Sleep Sack is designed to be worn in all four seasons of the year. There is an outer cotton fabric with an inner 100% merino wool lining. The merino wool regulates body temperature so babies can wear the bag year-round.
Pros: While it looks like a basic wearable blanket, the Woolino 4 Seasons Sleep Sack has very smart features like shoulder and underarm snaps to adjust for baby’s size, a double zipper for easy diaper changes, and seatbelt slots for easy transition between crib and stroller. With the Woolino 4 Seasons Sleep Sack, you don’t have to worry about switching the baby to a different sleep sack each season. Additionally, it is designed for 2-24 month wear, you also won’t have to worry about a transition period to a different size bag.
Cons: the Woolino 4 Seasons Sleep Sack is one of the most expensive on the market; however, the bag is designed to be used from 2-24 months, providing a higher value. The temperature regulation of the merino wool also means you won’t have to shell out for different types and weights of fabric throughout the year.
Want to make your own baby blanket? Here is the best crochet stitch for a baby blanket as well as some free baby blanket crochet patterns.