Wrapping up your newborn in a cozy, comfortable organic baby swaddle helps keep them warm while also reducing the chance they’ll startle themselves awake. The organic cotton HALO® SleepSack is our top pick based on staff testing.
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My baby proved to be especially wriggly and disliked our attempts to contain her flailing. But, while we didn’t swaddle for long, we did have a chance to try out a few types of swaddle. Hands down (or up!), my favorite was the HALO® SleepSack as it’s so much simpler to re-swaddle in the middle of the night after feeds and diaper changes.
Here’s my round-up of the best organic baby swaddles based on my first-hand experience. Confused about the term TOG? I explain that below.
Key Takeaways
- Swaddling is an age-old practice but is complicated! No wonder, then, that companies have figured out more modern swaddle designs with zippers and Velcro to help beleaguered parents.
- Modern swaddles are often made with synthetic materials our readers don’t want in their nurseries. Zippers can also pose a hazard, especially if a company doesn’t pay attention to the kinds of metals used.
- The simplest swaddles comprise undyed, unbleached, organic cotton and nothing else. For additional cuteness, you might want a swaddle made with organic cotton dyed naturally and pre-washed to minimize initial shrinkage.
- Conventional cotton is typically bleached and dyed. This can expose your baby to chlorine bleach byproducts such as dioxins and other hazardous chemicals. Thankfully, many companies now make organic baby swaddles without azo dyes or other harmful processes. If you receive hand-me-down swaddles, chances are that any potentially hazardous chemicals will have already been washed away.
- For safety, stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling.
Organic baby swaddles & sleep sacks: our top picks
HALO® SleepSack® Newborn Organic Cotton Swaddle
Highlights: Pretty much foolproof, once you figure out the system, the HALO® SleepSack is a 2-in-1 design that lets you swaddle your baby with their arms in or out. Made with organic cotton, with Velcro wings that wrap around to safely ensconce wriggly baby arms.
We were lucky enough to snag some secondhand HALO® SleepSack, which is always the best way to reduce your environmental footprint. The downside is that this meant figuring out how these bizarre looking tangles of fabric worked. Once we unfurled the Velcro wings, things were much clearer, and the sleep sacks quickly replaced all attempts to use square swaddle blankets to secure our newborn at night.
The HALO SleepSack Swaddle is made with cozy organic cotton that helps wick away moisture. It is easy to use over sleepwear and zips up the front. The sleep sack is roomy in the legs to allow for proper hip alignment and is approved as “Hip Healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
The easy-to-use wings that secure snugly with Velcro to immobilize your baby’s arms and prevent that startle reflex. Thanks to the inverted zipper, the HALO® SleepSack makes for easy diaper changes (no need to remove the whole sleep sack) and helps prevent your little one kicking off the swaddle in the middle of the night.
One of the things I really like about this wearable blanket is that it avoids the worry over excess swaddle blanket material bunching up over your baby’s mouth and nose. This sleep sack is also a great option if you have a baby who, like mine, loves to have one hand up against their face while sleeping. With the Velcro wings you can swaddle with arms up or down.
The HALO® Organic Cotton SleepSack is made with 100% certified organic cotton and fits newborns up to 3 months old or 6-12 lbs. or 19-23 inches long. The SleepSack has a cozy 1.5 TOG value and can be machine washed and dried. My top tip: fasten the Velcro wings and turn the sleep sack inside out before washing. This helps avoid the sleep sack sticking to other things in your laundry.
Under the Nile Swaddle
Highlights: Snuggly soft swaddles made in Egypt in a Fair Trade Certified facility with 100% Egyptian organic GOTS-certified cotton.
Under the Nile make beautiful organic baby products, including an inexpensive organic cotton Swaddle Blanket. Neutral-toned and super soft, this blanket measures 34 inches by 34 inches. Machine wash and dry on low.
Under the Nile makes all its products with 100% Egyptian organic cotton that is GOTS certified. Egyptian cotton has extra-long fibers, which make for softer, more durable cotton products. Most items are made at a Certified Fair Trade facility in Egypt. They use no azo dyes, and products are free from BPA, flame retardants, formaldehyde, fragrance, PVC, and lead.
Under the Nile uses low impact dyes for the lowest environmental impact, which also helps to reduce water and electricity consumption as clothing fibers are dyed at lower temperatures. The company claims this uses 60% less water and results in only 5% wasted dye, compared to 50% waste with conventional dyes (which are also toxic). Under the Nile is bleach-free, using oxygen whitening where necessary rather than chlorine. The products are also free from lead and nickel in snaps and dyes and products are shipped in plastic-free in packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials.
BLAYNK Organic Cotton Baby Swaddle
Highlights: Soft, undyed, muslin swaddles made with organic cotton, rainwater, and wind power!
Baby swaddles don’t get much more eco-friendly than those from BLAYNK. These soft, durable, delightful muslin swaddle blankets are made with chemical-free certified organic cotton, using rainwater, in a wind-powered factory in the US. The swaddles are minimalist, sustainable, and get softer with each wash. The fabric is not dyed, which saves a huge amount of water, and BLAYNK goes a step further by using a rainwater harvesting process.
BLAYNK’s factories are Fair Trade and OEKO-Tex certified and 100% powered by wind, producing no carbon emissions. The company does not use harmful dyes, detergents, or other chemicals, avoiding the toxic run-off often associated with textile manufacture. The factory provides employees with educational opportunities and healthcare options and BLAYNK’s supply chain is highly transparent.
BLAYNK sources all its organic cotton from Chetna Organic, a non-profit based in India working with cotton farmers. These farmers use rainwater to grow their cotton and avoid the use of pesticides, GM seeds, and other problematic inputs. Chetna Organic is certified by Fair Trade USA, GOTS, and Fair Trade International.
BLAYNK ships swaddles plastic-free in recyclable packaging and a reusable cotton bag made from leftover material from the production process. Wash these organic cotton muslin swaddles cold on a gentle cycle and dry on low.
Terra Thread Home 4-Pack Organic Cotton Muslin Baby Swaddles
Highlights: Great value, larger muslin swaddles made with two-ply GOTS certified organic cotton. Carbon neutral, Fair Trade, and available in a range of delightful patterns.
Carbon neutral and just delightful, Terra Thread Home organic cotton baby swaddles come in a value pack of four with a choice of a half dozen patterns. These two-ply muslin swaddles are large at 47 by 47 inches, making them ideal for swaddling larger babies, soft and absorbent burp cloths, as covers for a carrier, or as a sunshade for a stroller.
Each pack of muslin swaddles saves an estimated 246 days of drinking water, 16 km of driving emissions, and 6 square meters of land treated with pesticides. These Fair Trade certified blankets also help contribute 40 donated meals to children and families in need, through Terra Thread Home’s charitable partnership with Feeding America. Terra Thread Home’s parent company, Gallant International Inc. is a certified B Corp and all of the company’s products are traceable to farmers’ cooperatives.
Patterns include Clouds and Stars, Carnival, Dino and Friends, Tribes, Busy Bees, Confetti, and Raindrops and Rainbows. Terra Thread Home makes these blankets using low-impact, GOTS certified, heavy metal-free dyes (free from lead and formaldehyde). Machine wash cold and dry on low.
Burt’s Bees Baby™ Swaddle Blanket
Highlights: GOTS-certified organic cotton swaddles from a well-loved brand with solid ethics. Includes thermal receiving blanket and cozy cotton swaddles in a well-priced value pack.
Burt’s Bees are a great choice for many things baby, including swaddles! The swaddles are all made with GOTS certified organic cotton and of impeccable quality, with a variety of cute designs. The company uses mechanical processes known as ring-spinning and combing the organic cotton to create the soft texture.
The Organic Cotton Thermal Receiving Blanket has a woven texture for comfort and warmth. This smaller blanket measures 23 inches square and is machine washable. Burt’s Bees Baby® A-Bee-C Organic Cotton Receiving Blanket is a reversible blanket measuring 30 inches by 40 inches and is also machine washable.
Burt’s Bees Baby® also offers Dottie Bee Organic Cotton Muslin 3-Pack Swaddle Blankets for even greater value. These blankets are ultra-soft, get softer with every wash, and boast whimsical designs. They measure 47 inches square and are machine washable.
Burt’s Bees have long used packaging printed with soy ink and are now transitioning their remaining recycled plastic packaging wrappers to 100% organic cotton reusable bags. The company also uses silt remaining from recycled factory waste water to make bricks for construction, and favors factories that use renewable energy.
Love & Lee Organic Cotton Muslin Swaddle Wraps – Arctic Ocean
Highlights: Difficult to track down in the US, but made under fair labor conditions using 100% organic cotton muslin from India.
Love & Lee swaddles are hard to track down in the US, but well worth the effort. The company makes swaddles under fair labor conditions using 100% organic cotton muslin grown in India. The swaddles measure 47 inches square and are free from harmful chemicals including azo dyes and heavy metals.
Useful as a swaddle, playmat, or blanket, a breastfeeding cover or picnic rug, these swaddles come with packaging that turns into a cute toy – Louis the Lion. Pop it on the nursery shelf for later fun or give an older sibling a fun toy to play with.
Love & Lee is an Australian brand committed to being 100% natural. They make the effort to use cotton labels and plastic-free everything, including using compostable cornstarch bags, cardboard, and paper-based packing tape. Even their business cards are made using cotton T-shirt offcuts!
Colored Organics Baby Swaddle
Highlights: Colored Organics Swaddle Blankets and Snuggle Blankets are made of GOTS certified organic cotton and measure 46- and 48-inches square respectively. The large blankets boast cute prints that match the company’s organic bodysuits.
A generous 46 by 46 inches, Colored Organics single jersey organic cotton swaddles are lightweight and stretchy and come in a variety of fun patterns. These blankets can be machine washed cold and are GOTS certified and made in India in a fair labor environment. The company only uses azo- and heavy metal-free dyes, eco-friendly water-based dyes, and nickel- and lead-free snaps.
Colored Organics Wee Gallery Organic Bear Snuggle Blanket is another great option. This organic muslin swaddle measures 48 by 48 inches. It is ideal for use as a swaddle, stroller cover, or as a lightweight crib blanket or change table cover.
Colored Organics partners with charities to support children all over the world, including in India and in the US. Colored Organics offers free shipping within the continental US on orders over $25 and also ships products worldwide (though you’ll have to email the company to order as the pandemic has made international shipping more complicated).
Nature Baby Cotton Wrap
Highlights: New Zealand company that sells a variety of organic cotton and wool essentials including swaddles from a GOTS-certified factory.
Nature Baby offers a wide array of organic baby clothing and toys, including organic cotton, muslin, and merino wool swaddle blankets. The company pre-washes all cotton items at their GOTS certified factory to minimize shrinkage. Nature Baby sources merino wool from humanely pastured sheep in New Zealand.
These blankets are made under fair labor conditions and are free from azo dyes and other troublesome chemicals. Several sizes are available, from 39 inch square cotton swaddles to 47 inch square muslin swaddles. Machine wash and dry on low.
Nature Baby ships its products from New Zealand. It isn’t clear if the company uses eco-friendly packaging. These swaddles are a bit pricier than other options, but the company also offers delightful eco-friendly clothing and toys, so can be a great one-stop-shop.
Finn + Emma Swaddle Blankets
Highlights: Finn + Emma currently offer three swaddles varying in size, all made with GOTS certified organic cotton, one with a reversible design.
A smaller swaddle at just under 36 inches square, the Reversible Blanket from Finn + Emma is great for swaddling smaller babies, as a nursing cover, or lightweight blanket. The company also offers larger swaddles measuring 42 inches square but with one-sided designs.
These swaddles are ethically made in India with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, using non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes. Finn + Emma also make organic baby clothes and toys, with all items produced under fair labor standards. The company doesn’t mention if they use sustainable packaging.
Love To Dream Organic Cotton Swaddle
Highlights: Award-winning 1 TOG swaddle that keeps baby contained with an arms-up position and zip-up swaddling in seconds! Made with 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane for stretch, and available in three sizes.
Love to Dream Organic Cotton Swaddle is an award-winning patented design that helps keep your baby cozy and contained but with their arms up. This allows for self-soothing using their hands. The design is Hip Dysplasia Institute certified as ‘hip-healthy’ and available in three sizes in the US and Canada. Choose Newborn size for babies weighing 5-8.5 lbs., Small for babies 8-13 lbs., and Medium for babies 13-19 lbs.
The Swaddle Up™ is available in 0.2, 1, and 2.5 TOG fabrics, all with seams are on the outside and a covered zipper, helping to avoid chafing and irritation.
The 1 TOG is a good fit for rooms ranging from 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit. The 0.2 TOG Organic Lite is made with a finely woven, ultra-light, single layer of 97% cotton and 3% elastane to minimize the risk of overheating. It is ideal for moderate temperatures between 75 and 81°F.
The Swaddle Up™ Organic Warm 2.5 TOG is made from 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane, and has a 100% viscose (from bamboo) filling. This makes it better than many thicker swaddles but I’d much rather see a filler made from organic kapok, cotton, recycled down, or humanely sourced wool. The 2.5 TOG material is ideal for cool temperatures between 61 and 68°F.
The twin zipper makes for easy diaper changes and thanks to 5% elastane, the Swaddle Up™ is stretchy and simple to use. Machine wash and dry on low.
Happiest Baby SNOO Sleep Sack
Highlights: Organic cotton swaddle blanket and specialized swaddles with a two-way zipper and convenient design, from a trusted company.
Happiest Baby offer a basic organic cotton swaddle blanket, the Organic SNOO Sleep Sack and the Sleepea 5-second Organic Cotton Swaddle. The Sleepea is similar to the SNOO Sack but doesn’t have the wings to attach it to the SNOO. The Sleepea shouldn’t be used with the SNOO Bassinet. Both the Sleep Sack and Sleepea make it easy to swaddle your baby without having to master fancy folding techniques. They feature two-way zippers and extra quiet Velcro to keep your little one cozy and contained.
Hip-safe and certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, these sleep sacks have soft mesh windows at the shoulders and waist to help prevent overheating. The two-way zipper makes for easier diaper changes, and there’s no need to undo the Velcro for diaper changes! Undo the arm openings to allow your baby to sleep arms-up.
The SNOO Sack and Sleepea are available in Small (for babies 5-12 lbs.), Medium (12-18 lbs.), and Large (18-25 lbs. / 26 lbs. for the Sleepea). The SNOO Sack costs $34.95 and the Sleepea $32.95 at the company’s website.
Happiest Baby offer no details about eco-friendly packaging, azo-free dyes, or nickel-free zippers or clasps, which suggests these aren’t benefits of the brand.
SwaddleMe® Original Organic Swaddle 2-Pack
Highlights: Inexpensive, lightweight swaddles with Velcro fasteners, made with organic cotton and Spandex.
SwaddleMe® Organic Swaddles are made with 93% organic cotton and 7% Spandex for a stretchy, snug fit. The description for this product states a two-way zipper design but there is no zipper on the SwaddleMe®, just Velcro fasteners. As such, you have to remove the swaddle fully for those nighttime diaper changes.
This swaddle is easy to use and lightweight, making it a good choice for summer swaddling. It is available in a smaller size ideal for premature babies and smaller babies. The SwaddleMe® small/medium size is best used for infants weighing 7-14 lbs. and up to 26 inches long.
Machine wash in cold water. My top tip: fasten the Velcro before washing. Otherwise, it can bunch up and get tangled with other items, making it hard to use next time around.
SwaddleMe® also makes a wide range of swaddles using conventional, i.e., not organic, cotton, so be sure to check carefully before buying. The company doesn’t make any claims about using non-toxic dyes or eco-friendly packaging.
ergoPouch® Size 0-3M Organic Cotton Cocoon Swaddle Bag in Mountains
Highlights: Two-way zipper swaddle made with GOTS certified organic, bamboo, and elastane, 1 TOG fabric for cozy sleep – converts to a sleep sack for older babies!
The ergoPouch 1.0 TOG Cocoon Swaddle Bag has a two-way zipper design that is easy to use and less fussy than wrapping. My favorite feature is the press stud poppers in the armholes, which allow you to convert this swaddle into an arms-free sleeping bag once your baby no longer needs swaddling. This clever design saves resources and money!
The ergoPouch comes with a thermometer and dressing guide, which seems a bit unnecessary, frankly. Other downsides include the materials used for this swaddle: 55% organic cotton, 40% bamboo viscose, and 5% elastane. Use the 1 TOG swaddle for fall or spring, when temperatures are above 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are three sizes of swaddle available: 0-3 M swaddle fits babies up to 15 lbs. and measures 23 inches long; 2-6 M swaddle fits babies 11-17 lbs. and measures 27 inches long; 3-12 M swaddle fits babies 15-26 lbs. and measures 31 inches long.
Notes on TOG values
Babies like to be cozy, but it’s better to err on the side of cooler rather than too hot. The easiest way to do this is to layer, i.e., use a cozy sleep sack over top of a long-sleeved bodysuit on cooler nights or over just a diaper on warmer nights. Baby will let you know if they’re too chilly!
To help you figure out how warm the baby will be, many items have a TOG value. TOG is a unit of thermal insulation (Thermal Overall Grade) used in the textile trade. It originated in Britain, quickly becoming the international standard measurement of a blanket’s effectiveness at keeping you warm. In short, the higher the TOG, the warmer you (or in this case, your baby) will be.
As a general rule, the following TOG values are good for the following room temperatures:
0.2 TOG – 75°F – 81°F
1.0 TOG – 68°F – 75°F
2.5 TOG – 61°F – 68°F
3.5 TOG – 61°F.
Happy swaddling!