How Long Is It Ok to Swaddle?

I found that swaddling helped all my babies sleep better. I swaddled them as long as possible- don't really remember how old- eventually, they start wiggling their way out of it. But, I always put them down swaddled, until they would wiggle out of it before I even left the room, that's when I knew they didn't want/need it anymore. But even now, they all love to sleep with blankets covering them or in their arms(ages 3, 2, & 1).

2 months is the limit, otherwise it might affect motor development. If you decide to go beyond this, definitely stop before he can roll over.

My son also loved to be swaddled! He stayed that way until about 6 months, when he started rolling around more at night. As he got bigger I put his feet in a sleep sack (those zippered blanket bags) and would wrap his arms down tightly using a swaddle blanket. It was the ONLY way he would sleep more than a couple hours between feedings. We're long past that now (he's almost 2), but he's a great sleeper as an older baby and toddler, and I think that swaddling added comfort that let him learn to sleep. Good luck!

Hi K.! My son slept so much better when we swaddled him. I also compared it to a straight jacket! : ) At four months, he definitely let us know he didn't want to be swaddled anymore. He would scream and wriggle his little body. I really think your baby will let you know!

We swaddled my daughter until she was about 4 months as she just started to kick out of it by then. Then we moved her into a sleep sack and at 13 months, that's still what we use:) Whatever works for YOUR baby is fine.

Hi K.,
I would swaddle your son for as long as possible. Follow his cues and your instincts, he will let you know when he's had enough by kicking out of it and/or fussing. They also have swaddlers at Babies R Us in different sizes so they can be used for a while!

If its working and he's sleeping longer because of it, stick with it!!!

Take care.

I agree with the rest of the posters - he will let you know. My LO starting kicking his feet out of the swaddle around 5 months, but still liked his arms wrapped. I think he was around 7 months when he started pulling his arms out.

Enjoy the sleep!

As long as your son enjoys it and it's helping him sleep, do it as long as you want. It's not harming him in any way. Once he starts moving around more in his sleep it'll be more difficult to keep him swaddled. But for now, let him enjoy the comfort of it.

I still swaddle my 7 month old daughter, it helps her stay asleep and I think it still makes her feel snug like we're holding her. She rolls over but is strong enough to roll herself right back, and if she really wants to she can pull her arms out of the swaddle too. I wouldn't do it if she wasn't safe, I think it's just comfy for her. We use those Kiddopotamus fleece SwaddleMe ones that have the velcro. She kicks herself right out of regular blanket swaddles.

K. H WE as mohters know best what our wonderful little creatures need and want from us. So you are best to judge what is working and not working. I know sometimes it gets a little overwhelming knowing if we are making the right choice. So as a rule of thumb just keep in mind if you are doing something and not sure if it is right think about this is it hurting anyone especially the baby, is it something dangerous that could hurt someone especially the baby, if it is making everyone more comfortable especially the baby then go with it. K. Lots of luck and sleep on.

HI K.,

I agree with all the other moms, swaddle as long as he will let you! I swaddled my baby boy for 7 months for his naps until he let me know he didn't want to be wrapped up. He was napping 2 hours swaddled and then one day he decided to fuss and cry when I swaddled him. He wasn't napping well that day so the next day I deswaddled him. It was VERY hard for the first 4 days probably but it got much better after a week or so. It was tough and he went from napping 2 hours to about 18 mins for the first few days. UGH! That was hard and I'm glad it's over with...but I HAD to do it! He wanted his hands! Anyway, his naps are now back to about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours since we unwraped him on March 7th...he was two weeks shy of turning 7 months. Then we still kept him swaddled at night b/c he was not fighting it until for two nights in a row, he would not go down...he just squirmed and tried to get his hands while crying. It was right about 6 weeks after we unwrapped him for naps so he was used to having his hands freed. Anyway, he was almost 8 months old when this happened and he slept right through for the first two nights of no swaddling!! I was in shock!! Since then, he has been totally deswaddled and it is just too cute to see him sleeping hands free! I love it!!

I wasn't sure he'd ever get out of the swaddle! haha!

Hi K. -

I swaddled my twins until they eventually kicked out of it. That is what my ped. said to do. The transition was a little tough when they started kicking out, but it didn't last long. I believe they were around 6 months when it started. Don't feel bad. Your baby feels more secure when swaddled, not confined. Good luck.
J.

I still swaddle my daughter and shes will be 2 in a month.

Hi K.,

I have a 6 month old now and yes, I still swaddle. I will say though, she is quite strong and does seem to wiggler her arms out shortly after I put her down but I think it still soothes her nonetheless. When I get her in the morning her arms are twirling about but her body is still wrapped. I'll probably do this a little while longer, maybe a month or so and see what happens. I personally don't think there's any right or wrong time to quit, it's all just personal preference. Good luck!

Hi K.,

You can swaddle your baby as long as he likes it. With my son, we swaddled him until he was 5 months old - but I have friends who have kept their babies swaddled at night up to a year.

J.

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My doctor recommended swaddling only until the baby could rollover. It would be dangerous to have a baby swaddled that rolls to their stomach.

Hi. My daughter was not a good sleeper (she didnt sleep through the night until 9 months). We swaddled her until she started busting out of it (LOL) and she didnt want to be swaddled which was about 6 months. I say do what works to get the extra sleep time in.
K.

My third loved to be swaddled whe nshe was tiny. Otherwise she would wake herself. She was clear when she was ready to be done - pulling out of the swaddle repeatedly and then sleeping soundly without startling herself. Just follow her cues. While it might look confining to you, if it helps her to rest well, then it's probably a sign that it offers her comfort. When it no longer does that, then it's probably time to stop.

K.,
Don't worry--he'll let you know when he doesn't want to be swaddled anymore! They become little Houdini's and you'll know. I'd swaddle him as long as he seems to like it and he's sleeping well.

AS long as the baby is comfortable!!! My oldest son loved to be swadled for sleep for alomst his first year and my middle son liked to be swaddled up untill 3 months or so. As long as they are happy, go with what works!!!