Best Way to Discontinue Swaddling?

My son is eight months old and swaddling is still the best way to get him to fall asleep on his own. Eventually, he squirms his way out of the blankets, turns 180 degrees and rolls over all while still sleeping (8-10 hours per night)! Sometimes babies need that firm pressure to relax and get into the "zone". He's weaned himself from his pacifier, I'm sure the same will happen with the swaddling. Either that or he'll just be too big for the blanket!

1 mom found this helpful

swaddling ur baby... is good for development like for arms stay with the body it helps develop the brain better during sleep. that s what i heard. i am not sure if i heard about that correct.

it actually help baby sleep better like in the womb.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M., I was amazed to hear that she is still allowing you to swaddle her at all at this age. That typically fades earlier than 4 months. I remember not ever wanting it to fade because my babies wer just so precious all snug and warm. how to fade this may depend on your bedtime routine with her, if you swaddle her and rock her to sleep, or if she falls asleep in your arms while feeding then you put her down, than I would unwrap her after you lay her down if she is already asleep. If she wakes, it is ok to let her fuss a little. If you put her in bed awake and swaddled, then wait till she falls asleep and go and unswaddle her. she will eventually be more comfortable if she has the ability to move around. Also, it would give her the opportunity to suck her thumb or fingers and self soothe which was a huge savior for me. Either way, you may have a few fussy nights, but she will get past this. best of luck and enjoy her, she will grow so fast!!!
L. C.

1 mom found this helpful

This was recently asked by another poster. I also say why stop swaddling? My daughter is 19mo old, I still swaddle her so to say. I lay her blanket in her crib, put her on it and wrap her, she loves it and sleeps fantastic, of course she will turn over and move around, when I go back to check on her I just cover her with the blanket.

1 mom found this helpful

I found I didn't have to wean my sons from swaddling. Once they discovered fingers and toes they fought not to be swaddled . They were able to undo the blanket so I knew it was time to stop

Have you tried not swaddling her at naptime? Maybe you both can "wean" her off that way? We just swaddled her more loosely where she could get out and move around if she wanted but we didn't do this until she was 5.5 months. Good luck!

I would try one arm out at a time. Also my son who loves being swaddled also loves blanket sleepers. With him we think it is a warmth thing.

Hi there. Has your daughter found her fingers to suck on? If not, then swaddling should be fine. Once she has found her fingers, try swaddling her with one arm out. If it disrupts her sleep, re-swaddle. Try again in a week with one arm out. Some babies need and like to be swaddled for months!

Why stop? There is no set date when swaddling is no god anymore. Your daughter will let you know when she doesn't want it anymore.

I swaddled my son until he was about 10 months old, and then he just stopped liking it, so we stopped.

There was no "weaning" process and his sleep was undisturbed.

M., you dont have to wean her off. just stop it, completely. when she wakes up in the night, you should not show up. this is what she wants. let her cry, she will go back to sleep. it will pay off in the end. i was a daycare mom with 40 years experience. i am 60 years old today. even at her age, she will know you will not go into the room anymore, so she will go back to sleep. then she should not do this anymore. and stop the swaddling during the day. its a habit to her. let her cry, she will see its not working anymore. ok. D. from n.prov. r.i.

I agree with keeping the swaddle! Anything that keeps everyone asleep Im all for!!I swaddled my oldest until I had to buy bigger blankies!!I have a 4 month old too and she moves and squrms so much that I feel she needs some "help" calming down at night. And yes she may make her way out of it during the night, but she falls asleep all snug and happy. I have heard that IF you want to stop the reliance on it for sleep,to start with one arm out,then both arms out, etc. until they find another soothing method. Good luck :)

We let our son tell us when he was ready to stop. We kept swaddling him and eventually he would get out of it and when he started doing that we stopped. I don't think there is any time when you have to stop.