Swaddling: when to start, and when to stop

This guide is general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're concerned about your child's health, or they're unwell, please see a doctor.

A well-wrapped newborn often settles more easily, because swaddling helps contain the startle reflex that keeps jolting them awake. It is also one of the few sleep tools with a hard safety deadline. Getting the stop point right matters more than the wrap itself.

The stop rule, first

Red Nose is specific about the deadline: free your baby's arms, or stop wrapping altogether, as soon as your baby shows signs of beginning to roll, or reaches three months of age, whichever comes first. This is the critical point, because a wrap can stop an older baby who has rolled onto their tummy from getting back to the safer back-sleeping position.

In practice the three-month mark usually comes first: most babies don't begin to show signs of rolling until about four months, though some roll earlier and some later. So treat three months as the outside limit, and watch your baby as well as the calendar.

Arms out earlier than you think

The startle reflex usually fades around three months, and once it does the main reason for wrapping has gone. Many families move to arms-free wrapping, or to a safe infant sleeping bag, well before rolling begins.

How to wrap safely

• Always place your wrapped baby on their back to sleep, never on the tummy or side.
• Use lightweight, breathable fabric such as cotton or muslin, and keep baby's face and head uncovered.
• Wrap firmly but not tightly across the chest, so it does not restrict breathing, and leave the hips and legs free to bend up and out.
• Don't overdress under the wrap, since the wrap itself is a layer and overheating is a risk.
• Never wrap or swaddle a baby if you are sharing a sleep surface with them.

What to move to next

A safe infant sleeping bag, correctly fitted, with no hood and with baby's arms out, is the usual next step. It keeps your baby at a steady warmth without loose blankets that can slip over the face. Red Nose does not recommend swaddle-style sleeping bags that enclose the arms as a way to carry on wrapping, since the whole point of moving on is to leave the arms free.

Expect a few unsettled nights when the wrap goes. Many families drop one arm out at a time over several nights, which softens the change without dragging it out.

Choose the sleeping bag carefully: it should be the right size for your baby, with a firm-fitting neck and armholes so they cannot slip down inside it, and no hood. And at every stage, keep the hips and legs free to bend up and out, which is why a wrap should never be tight around the legs.

Sources

• Red Nose Australia, Wrapping or swaddling babies
• Red Nose Australia, When should we stop wrapping?
• Red Nose Australia, Six safe sleep recommendations

Last updated: July 2026. Sources include Red Nose Australia and Raising Children Network where cited above. This guide is general information only. For individual concerns, see your GP or child health nurse.