How to swaddle a baby

Step by step

1. Set up. Spread a thin square blanket as a diamond on a flat surface and fold the top corner down about 15cm.
2. Position. Lay the baby face-up with their shoulders just below the fold, head clear of the fabric.
3. First side. Hold their right arm gently down at their side, bring that side of the blanket across their body and tuck it under their back on the far side.
4. Bottom. Fold the bottom corner up over their feet, leaving room for the legs to bend up and out at the hips.
5. Second side. Hold their left arm down, bring the last corner across the body and tuck it underneath.
6. Check. You should fit two or three fingers between the blanket and their chest. The hips and knees should still be able to move freely.

The two safety rules

The rest of the rules

• Always on the back to sleep, every sleep.
• Thin, breathable fabric only. Never over the head or face.
• Watch for overheating — feel the chest or back of the neck. Sweating, flushed skin or rapid breathing means too warm.
• Nothing else in the cot: no loose blankets, pillows or bumpers.
• If it visibly upsets the baby, don't force it. Plenty of babies hate being swaddled and a fitted sleeping bag is a fine alternative.

Why it's worth learning properly

A good swaddle dampens the startle reflex, which is one of the most common reasons a newborn wakes seconds after being put down. It takes about five minutes to learn and pays off nightly for a couple of months. Practise it during the day on a calm baby, not at 2am on a screaming one.