Video: What’s the Benefit of Arms Up Swaddling?

Over the years, there’s been lots of variation in the kinds of swaddles and techniques available, from traditional muslin blankets to zippered sleepsacks, but Love to Dream swaddles are made with a unique approach. Instead of keeping a baby’s arms tucked into a swaddle, Love to Dream swaddles are designed to allow them to sleep with their arms by their face—which is what they experience in utero. Their research even shows that babies got almost double the sleep when in a Love to Dream arms-up swaddle: on average, sleep length went from 3 hours and 45 minutes without the Love to Dream swaddle to 7 hours and 25 minutes with it.

Want the full rundown on how these swaddles work? We tapped Mallorie, a Babylist parent of three, to test it out in the video above. Or, keep reading for what you should know before buying it or adding it to your Babylist.

What is swaddling?

If you’ve taken any prenatal parenting classes, there’s a chance you’ve been introduced to the concept of swaddling. If you haven’t, don’t worry—it’s pretty simple. Swaddling is just a way of wrapping a blanket around your baby tight enough so they can’t wriggle out.  

And while seeing your baby wrapped up like a tiny burrito might be all the reason you need to do it, there’s a real benefit to swaddling. Parents and pediatricians swear by it to help comfort newborns because the snuggly fit reminds them of being in the womb, which in turn helps them sleep more and cry less.

Why should I try an arms-up swaddle?

There are a few reasons babies prefer sleeping with their arms up:

• Face-touching: In the womb, babies soothe themselves by touching their face or sucking their thumbs. With a swaddle that allows for arm movement, they can have access to their hands the same way they might’ve gotten used to when sleeping in the womb.

• Startle reflex-friendly: Babies have something called the startle reflex or Moro reflex, where their arms shoot up, seemingly unprovoked. You can see what that looks like here at 01:09. It’s a totally normal part of development and response to environmental stimuli. During sleep, a baby’s startle reflex can get activated, causing the arms-up position. The Love to Dream Swaddle Up enables babies to rest in an arms up position, while also calming the startle reflex. Traditional swaddles only do the latter.

Love to Dream Swaddle Up Original 1.0 TOG - Gray

$32.95

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Why not just arms-out swaddling?

There are some swaddles that leave your baby’s arms completely free (aka arms out), but there’s more to creating a more womb-like experience than allowing them to move their arms. Babies also still really love that snug feeling, almost like a soft compression, which you get with the stretchy jersey fabric on the Love to Dream Swaddle Up. The gentle squeeze around the arms and waist gives them that cozy, bundled feel all over and also helps calm the startle reflex. See what that looks like at the 01:37 mark. Bonus: because your baby’s hands are enclosed in the wings, it keeps them from scratching their face.  

What is a hip-healthy swaddle?

Swaddling your baby too tightly can lead to hip dislocation or hip dysplasia (an abnormal formation of the hip joint). With the Love to Dream swaddle, there’s no need to fuss or tighten a loose blanket, and there’s plenty of room for babies to flex their hips and legs.

How to use a Love to Dream Swaddle

Compared to traditional swaddling, getting your baby into a Love to Dream swaddle is an easy process: just put their arms up, put their legs in and zip up. With a two-way zipper, you can do quick diaper changes without having to take it off; all you have to do is unzip it from the bottom. See just how that works at 02:21.

How do I get the right fit on a Love to Dream Swaddle?

Getting the right fit on your Love to Dream swaddle is important for baby’s safety and for creating that snug swaddling effect. Take into account your baby’s weight for the best fit. The stage one swaddles come in sizes newborn, small and medium. If you’re right on the cusp of a specific size, we recommend you go with the smaller size.

To make sure you have the right fit, check that the zipper is completely closed and there’s enough space in the neck opening to fit two fingers between the swaddle and baby’s neck. Then, check for a snug fit around the arms and waist and room in the hip area. It’s okay if your baby is able to touch the bottom of the bag with their feet (it helps them feel the swaddling effect).

You’ll know your baby is ready for a bigger size when they show signs of starting to roll. To get the same snug fit, you can upgrade to a Love to Dream stage two transition bag, which has the same snug feeling of a swaddle, but with zip-off wings so that when your baby is ready, they can sleep with their arms free. 

Who do we recommend the Love to Dream swaddle for?

Any new parent will tell you: you'll try anything for a few extra hours of sleep. And when your baby gets a good night of sleep, it’s likely you will, too. An arms-up swaddle can help create a comfortable environment similar to what a newborn experiences on the inside, leading to more sleep. Parents often switch to arms-up swaddling after their baby rejects other styles of swaddles (or consistently breaks out of them), but you can start using a Love to Dream arms-up swaddle from day one—especially if you want to give your baby the chance to self-soothe.

This article is sponsored by Love to Dream. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.