What Is a Muslin Swaddle? A Parent's Guide

The short answer: A muslin swaddle is a large, lightweight square of cotton muslin, a plain fabric with a loose, open weave. Parents use it to wrap newborns snugly, and then for a dozen other jobs once the swaddling weeks are over.

What muslin actually is

Muslin is cotton woven loosely, so there are tiny gaps between the threads. Hold a muslin swaddle up to a window and you'll see light coming through the weave. That's what makes it light to carry, quick to fold into a diaper bag, and easy to wrap without bulk.

Mulmul is the name used in India for a fine, soft muslin, the same fabric used in Indian homes for generations. It's the cloth our swaddles are made from, and where our name comes from.

Read the label

"Muslin" describes a weave, and not every blanket sold as muslin lists the same fiber content. The label tells you what's actually in it. Our label has one line: 100% cotton. Read ours, then read anyone else's.

What parents use them for

• A snug swaddle wrap for a young baby
• A burp cloth over your shoulder
• A nursing cover
• A clean surface for supervised tummy time
• A quick towel, changing-mat cover or spit-up catcher on the go

That range is why a muslin swaddle usually ends up living in the diaper bag instead of a drawer.

Using a swaddle safely

• Wrap snugly around the arms but loosely around the hips, so the legs can bend up and out.
• Always place a swaddled baby on their back to sleep.
• Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll.
• Never leave a muslin loose in the crib. Once it isn't wrapped around your baby, it's a loose blanket.

Our step-by-step guide shows how to swaddle with a muslin blanket, and the NIH Safe to Sleep campaign has the full safe-sleep basics.

How many do you need?

Most parents find 4 to 6 is enough: one in use, one in the wash, one in the bag. More on that in how many muslin swaddles you need.

Our 3-pack of mulmul muslin swaddle blankets is woven in India: one fiber, never a blend.