When should I stop swaddling my baby?

Swaddling is the most loved lesson in parenting classes. After three kids, I still enjoy watching cute videos of babies being swaddled into warm cozy bundles. Swaddling is one of the easiest ways to put a newborn to sleep. It mimics the womb environment and prevents the startle reflex which helps the babies to fall asleep for longer stretches. 

There are arguments about whether swaddling is safe or not, but it can be accepted that swaddling is not dangerous to your baby as long as you can assure that the blanket will not be unwound during sleep. As you already know, loose blankets and bed covers are choking hazards to babies. 

Swaddling can be a lifesaver for new parents in the first few months of the baby’s life. But it cannot be continued forever and you have to stop swaddling when the baby grows out of the newborn stage. Keep reading to know when you should stop swaddling before it becomes unsafe. 

CONTENT

1.   When to stop swaddling?

2.   Signs to know that it is time to stop swaddling

3.   How to transition out of a swaddle?

1.    When to stop swaddling? 

According to the American Association of Pediatrics, babies should not be swaddled after two months of age when they start to show that they are capable of rolling over or moving their bodies. When babies can move themselves, they can roll over during sleep to end up on their stomach which increases the risk for SIDS. Additionally, babies will tend to move their hands and legs more which can unravel the swaddling blanket leaving a loose cloth on your baby’s crib. 

You can continue to swaddle the baby with one or both arms out, but you have to watch out for signs which can confirm that your baby has grown out of swaddling. 

2.    Signs to know that it is time to stop swaddling

• Startle Reflex is no more

 Startle reflex is an involuntary motor response that infants develop shortly after birth. It may involve the infant suddenly spreading their arms and moving their legs before bringing their arms in front of their body. This one of the main reasons why babies need to be swaddled. 

When the startle reflex happens during sleep, it can interrupt a baby’s sleep making them wake up suddenly. Swaddling can prevent the impact of the startle reflex helping the babies to sleep in longer stretches. Every baby is born with this startle reflex but when they become 2-4 months of age, this condition fades away. Then your baby will be ready to sleep without being swaddled.

• Frequent unusual wake up during the night

If your baby has started to wake up in the middle of the night at unusual times but does not need to be fed or changed, it can be a sign that the baby needs to sleep without the swaddle. 

Although swaddling is comfortable for newborns, it will not be the same when they grow up, Babies will need to move their bodies and change into a cozy position but the swaddle will take away that chance from them. Swaddles can also become too warm for the babies. If you notice that your swaddled baby wakes up for no reason in the night, try putting him to sleep without the swaddle and check the difference.  

• Unraveled swaddle in the morning

As I said in the beginning, swaddles are safe as long as they do not become loose. When the babies grow up and become strong, they will find a way to push their arms out of the swaddle, When the baby has his arms out of the swaddle, the swaddle blanket will easily become loose. A loosen, unwound swaddle blanket is a choking hazard for a baby as same as a normal blanket. So if you find that your baby is now capable of unswaddling himself, it is a big sign to stop swaddling. 

• The baby can rollover

Parents are advised to put their babies to sleep on their backs to minimize the risk of SIDS. Swaddling will ensure that your baby sleeps on his back until he manages to move himself. Roughly around 8 weeks of age, the babies will try to work on their rolling over skills. You should stop swaddling from the point that you notice them trying to roll over. 

An attempt to roll over at night can put him on his stomach and a swaddled baby cannot reposition easily. Hence, sleeping on the stomach increase the risk for SIDS in babies. If you think your baby is trying to roll over, the safest option is to stop swaddling him. 

• The baby does not like swaddling

It is normal for babies to refuse and resist swaddling. But if your baby does not like it more than usual and keeps crying after being swaddles, it can be his way of communicating to you that he is no longer comfortable being swaddled. The comfort of the baby comes first, so try putting him to sleep without being swaddled for a day and see whether it helps him to sleep better. 

3.    How to transition out of a swaddle? 

You can go cold turkey and just stop swaddling in a day if it is your baby who refuses to be swaddled. But if you are going to stop swaddling for some other reason such as the baby can now rollover, you have to help them transit to the new sleeping style. 

• Step by step transition. 

Babies do not like surprises in their life. Instead of putting them to sleep unswaddled suddenly as a surprise, try swaddling them with one hand out first. Then from the next day, they can sleep with both hands out. 

• Use a sleep sack 

Sleep sacks are my favorite alternative for a swaddle because they allowed me to put my babies to sleep without worrying about the swaddle being unraveled. They are easy to use and provide the warmth that your baby needs. 

• Give the baby a pacifier

A pacifier is good companion for your baby to help falling asleep. It teaches your baby to self-soothe and fall asleep by himself if he wakes up in the middle of the night. 

• White noise

White noise can create a relaxing environment for the baby to sleep in. When you use white noise regularly, white noise will become an indication of bedtime to the baby.