Violation

California Code § 102425(f)Infant Swaddling Ban

How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.

Type B, generalAffects Family Child Care Homes5 facilities cited in the last 90 days

ℹ️ Educational reference based on public CCLD inspection records. Not legal or compliance advice. Verify requirements with official sources. Full disclaimer →

Regulation text

What California Code § 102425(f) actually says

California Code § 102425(f)

An infant shall not be swaddled while in care.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

This is one of the clearest bright-line rules in infant care: no swaddling, period. Inspectors doing unannounced visits during nap time will walk straight to the infant room and look in every crib. If they see a swaddled baby, it's an immediate documented deficiency, no verbal warning. It doesn't matter if the parent signed a waiver or sent the swaddle blanket from home. The most common scenario is a provider swaddling during the first week to help with the home-to-care transition. Use a sleep sack instead. According to CCLD data, 4 facilities were cited in the past 90 days, with 2 in Los Angeles County alone.

By the numbers

5^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
3^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
110^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: More citations than the prior period
+1 facility

5 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.

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What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Infant Swaddling Ban

Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.

Common practices

Never swaddle any infant during care hours, regardless of parent preferences
Remove any swaddling blankets before placing infant in crib
Use only fitted sheets and sleep sacks if parents provide them
Document parent requests for swaddling and explain the regulation
Train all staff that swaddling is prohibited during care

What to avoid

Honoring a parent's written request to swaddle their infant. Providers want to respect family preferences and assume a signed form provides legal cover. It doesn't. Inspectors will cite you regardless of parent consent because the regulation has no exceptions.
Using a transitional swaddle or swaddle-style sleep sack with arm restraints. Providers think products marketed as 'safe alternatives' are compliant, but if the garment restricts arm movement like a traditional swaddle, inspectors document it as swaddling. Stick to open-arm sleep sacks only.
Allowing infants to arrive already swaddled and not unwrapping them. Providers don't want to wake a sleeping baby who arrives swaddled from the car ride. Inspectors check infants at the moment of observation. A swaddled baby in your crib is your citation, not the parent's.
Staff who swaddle during evening or low-supervision hours when they think no one is watching. Unannounced inspections can happen any time during operating hours. Inspectors specifically target nap times for infant room checks.

Regional record

Where this citation appeared in the past 90 days

Citation counts and rates by California county, drawn from CCLD inspection records. Click a county to see its weekly intelligence report.

Regional citations for Infant Swaddling Ban, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
San Mateo	3	--	--
SANTA CLARA	1	--	--
Santa Clara	1	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-05Updated weekly

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is the Infant Swaddling Prohibition?

California Code 102425(f) prohibits swaddling any infant while in your care. This is a bright-line rule with no exceptions, regardless of parent preference, signed waivers, or cultural practice. Sleep sacks with free arm movement are the approved alternative. If an infant arrives already swaddled from the car ride, you must unwrap them before placing them in a crib.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 4 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 3 California counties. Los Angeles County leads with 2 citations, followed by San Mateo and Santa Barbara with 1 each. That's roughly 1 in 10,000 inspected facilities. Because inspectors walk directly to infant cribs during unannounced visits, even one swaddled baby results in immediate documentation.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors doing unannounced visits during nap time walk straight to the infant room and look in every crib. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, a swaddled baby is an immediate documented deficiency with no verbal warning. They also check for transitional swaddle products or sleep sacks that restrict arm movement, which get treated the same as traditional swaddling. Parent consent forms or signed waivers requesting swaddling provide zero protection.

How can I prevent this citation?

Remove all swaddling blankets from your infant room entirely. Use only open-arm sleep sacks approved by your licensing analyst. When parents request swaddling or send swaddle blankets, explain the regulation in writing and store those items in the parent's cubby. Train every staff member during orientation that swaddling is prohibited during all care hours, including evening and early morning when supervision feels lighter.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Remove all swaddling materials from infant care areas immediately. Purchase compliant sleep sacks with unrestricted arm movement as replacements. Send a written notice to all infant-room parents explaining the regulation and your updated sleep policy. Conduct documented retraining for all infant care staff within one week, covering safe sleep practices and the specific prohibition on swaddling. Post the safe sleep policy visibly in the infant room. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

Related violations

Other citations in this regulation family

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed child care compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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