When & How to Stop Swaddling

Is it time to stop swaddling your baby?

 Photo Credit: Yari Garcia Photography

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends discontinuing swaddling when your baby is 8 weeks old.

 

Why we swaddle:

Before we jump into when and how to stop swaddling your precious baby, let’s talk about why we swaddle her in the first place. When your baby was in utero, she was used to this cozy, tight and warm space where everything was holding her in. So when she was born, we swaddled her to help recreate that secure, womb-like feeling. Swaddling your baby will also keep her nice and warm. In addition, swaddling your baby is helping control that startle reflex, right?! Having her limbs close to her body helps calm her down when the Moro reflex strikes. The good thing is that this reflex tends to disappear between 4-6 months, as your baby gets stronger. 

 

When to stop swaddling:

When it comes to swaddling, it’s important to follow developmentally appropriate practices. When your baby can roll over, or if she’s getting close to rolling over, it’s time to stop swaddling. Following these safety precautions will ensure that your baby’s hands are free to push off the mattress and roll herself over. If she rolls over to her belly, she needs to be able to push herself up and move her head around so that she’s not face down on the mattress.

 

How to transition out of the swaddle:

Now I’ll recommend the top 3 ways to transition out of the swaddle.

1. Cold turkey: If your baby is already breaking out of the swaddle, this may be your best option. Breaking out of the swaddle and leaving a loose blanket around the baby is a dangerous situation. If she scoots around and the swaddle gets over her face, her breathing may become obstructed. The best option would be to move directly to a sleep sack. Some of my highly recommended sleep sack options include The Nested Bean, The Zipadee Zip, and The Halo Sleep Sack.
    

2. One arm out: If you’re planning ahead and you have time to make the transition slowly, you can take one arm out at a time. Using a swaddle, such as the Ollie Swaddle, you would just leave one arm out for 1-2 weeks then proceed to both arms out once your baby is adjusted. The time frame for this is just an example, as every baby will respond differently. As long as your baby isn’t rolling over yet, let her take the lead and continue with the transition at her pace. 
    

3. Partial Nights: This isn’t my favorite option, but for some babies, it can work. This option should ONLY be used IF your baby IS NOT ROLLING over yet. Start the night unswaddled, preferably using a sleep sack, and only put the baby back in the swaddle when she wakes up and clearly cannot get herself back to sleep without it. This option can be used with both arms in the swaddle, or one arm out. Try to encourage a longer stretch of the night without the swaddle as nights progress. 

If you have questions about this, please send me an email. The safety of your baby is my highest concern. And as always, if you already stopped swaddling your baby and her sleep has completely derailed, set up a free call with me to discover which sleep package would be the best fit for your family. I am here to get your back on track. Whether you need just one phone call or four weeks of one-on-one support, there is something for everyone. 

 

 

If you’re ready to start working together, let’s set up a time to chat!

Some things to think about when deciding when you want to start sleep training your baby/toddler:

• Ensure it’s the proper timing– make sure your baby isn’t sick, you aren’t traveling, or you don’t have any big life changes coming (new baby, moving, switching jobs/childcare, etc.).
   

• Be prepared to put in the work. Consistency will pay off in the long run. Sleep training isn’t overnight success; it takes many nights and dedication to help your baby learn to sleep.
   

• Create a plan, or invest in a sleep consultant. If you choose to work with me, I will assess your baby’s sleep habits and write a customized step by step sleep plan for your baby. No two plans are the same, just as no two babies are the same. My sleep plans are based on your child’s temperament, age, parental preference and so much more! My sleep packages also come with unlimited support for the duration of your purchase- you can ask me anything and share every triumph and victory!
   

  If your baby is over 4 months old, one-on-one sleep support would be a perfect fit. With my personal support, you would have a written sleep plan, supporting documents, email and sleep log support and 1-4 weeks of one-on-one help to perfect your child’s sleep. 

   

  If you’re pregnant or if you have a newborn, check out my prenatal/newborn sleep guide. I offer 38 pages of step by step instructions on how to teach your baby healthy sleep habits from the start, so you don’t have to get to a point of needing sleep training. This guide is not sleep training. It involves lots of snuggling and cuddling your baby, while practicing healthy independent sleep habits when the baby accepts it. This guide is broken down by month to make it easy to navigate and follow.

   

  Don’t wait for your child’s sleep to “fix itself,” because most of the time, it doesn’t.

   

  ^^ —- Click here to view my package details.

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Sweet dreams,

Missy Yandow