California Code § 102425(f): Infant Swaddling Ban

📋Type B Violation🏢Affects: Family Child Care Homes

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

What Is California Code § 102425(f): Infant Swaddling Ban?

California Code § 102425(f)

An infant shall not be swaddled while in care.

💬What Providers Tell Us

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.

facilities cited (last 90 days)

That's 1 in 10000 facilities

counties affected

110

most common citation

📈

Increasing

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

4 facilities (was 2)+2 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data as of Mar 19, 2026. Updated weekly.

4 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days.

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What Other Providers Do for 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

❌ Common Mistakes

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.

What's Being Cited in Each Region Over the Past 90 Days

Based on facility inspection reports filed with California's Community Care Licensing Division, here's how this citation appears across different regions in the past 90 days.

Los Angeles County

2 citations

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San Mateo County

1 citations

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Santa Barbara County

1 citations

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Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 3/19/2026

Learn More About This Topic

California Daycare Inspection Timeline: Complete Process

What to expect before, during, and after a CCLD inspection visit.

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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.

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This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed childcare 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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