Can a swaddle be too tight?

The most basic way to tell if a baby is swaddled too tightly is to place two fingers between the baby’s chest and the swaddle. If there is just enough room to fit two fingers of space between their chest and the swaddle then the baby is swaddled correctly — not too tight, not too loose.

Is swaddling safe? Swaddling is safe in the right conditions — and sometimes a lifesaver for fussy babies and parents — so brush up on your safe sleeping practices if swaddling is right for your baby.

Why is swaddling bad? Several empirical studies show evidence of negative effects of swaddling. Swaddling, especially traditional forms, increases the risk for hip dysplasia. Tight swaddling, particularly where the head is covered, reduces the baby’s ability to cool its body temperature which can lead to hyperthermia.