How to Transition from Swaddling?

you just keep on swaddling that sweet little bundle. she is telling you that it comforts her, and that is ALL that matters. we swaddled until 7-8 mo. and she is the happiest, most confident baby we know

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Hi R. - My 5 1/2 mos old still likes to be swaddled from the waist down going to bed at night. He's in daycare and unfortunately there is a licensing regulation that states you cannot have blankets in the crib. My providers have cheated a little bit on those days when he's been fussy and have used the bouncy seat/boppy for naps. I wasn't crazy about doing that because I wanted consistency and thought it would mess up his sleep schedule at night. But I wanted to reassure you that it has not. He's still a great sleeper at home although he is about ready to get rid of the blanket which seems like another transitional sleepless nights. Best of luck going back to work; it will be hard at first but soon both of you will adjust.

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If it is a good day care they will accomodate you and your baby as best as they can. Way back when before kids when I worked at daycare I took care of the 6wks-6mth olds. And we tried to do everything with the babies exactly the same way that the parents did. It is a hard enough transition on everyone as it is...try limiting what you do to a minimum. Over time she will learn the new environment, such as constant noises, other babies crying, etc. And she will adjust and get used to it and be absolutely fine with it. It will probably be harder on you than anyone. I would suggest starting your first week at the end of the week, so that you only have a few days to leave her before the weekend.

Good luck! This is not an easy transition...and probably the reason I chose to stay home with my kids, but I am fortunate and have that luxury right now. My heart is with you!!

H. Z. (SAHM 5, 3, and 14 month old boys)

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Hi R.,
I swaddled my daughter till she was about 5 months old. She started daycare at 12 weeks and they didn't have a problem doing it at all. I actually used the "Swaddle me" version with velcro. The daycare providers didn't mind using even though she was the only one. If it helps her sleep why not use it? She will outgrow it herself. At least mine did. When it got to the point she was getting out of it herself we would just wrap it around her waist and then eventually just stopped using it.
Just my opinion but in case you were just stopping using it for the daycare purpose.
Also, did you talk to them about it? Did they not want to use it or do you just feel it is time?
The other suggestion would be like I mentioned where we wrapped it around her waist for a few weeks so she still felt snuggled a bit.
Take care

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Both of my sons were the same way until 6 and 5 months old. The first just stopped needing to be swaddled at 6 months; it was like someone hit a switch. At 5 months my second son became too strong for the swaddling blanket, even a double layer of a tightly wrapped regular blanket with one of the velcro ones on top to hold it all together. It was just getting too dangerous to swaddle him, so he had to learn to sleep on his own. I wasn't sure whether he was too young for the cry-it-out method, but it worked after only a couple of days. Still, 3 months is probably too young for that, and I agree with other moms; lots of babies still need to be swaddled at this age, and the daycare should be willing to accommodate. Otherwise, she's unlikely to get a nap, and that will be horrible for her and for you.

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Why do you have to stop swaddling her? If she likes it & the day care does not have an issue what is the problem? So what if "all the other babies" aren't swaddled? Good for them but your kid is not them! If she is happier and sleeps better swaddled what is the big deal? I would continue to swaddle her if I were you. Is she now rolling over at all because that would be different. What I did because my son did not like being swaddled anymore after 2 months & always had to have one arm out was I bought the Halo Sleep sack & he loved it & his arms were free. They now have the Halo sleep sack 2 in 1 so you can or not swaddle them!!

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Who cares what the other babies are doing? You have enough on your plate going back to work.
Talk to the child care and ask them to continue to swaddle your daughter - offer the velcro versions if they don't know how to swaddle a baby with a blanket. I, myself, would be concerned if the childcare center wasn't happy to work with you on providing the best care for your daughter - and that would include a continuity of care from home to childcare. Swaddling is a great comfort to many babies and with this transition, your daughter might benefit from the comfort.

Good luck going back to work - the transition can be bumpy at times. You and your family will figure out how and what works best for your own situation and family needs.

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Hi R.,

First off, I think it's fine to keep swaddling past 12 weeks, as long as your little girl isn't actively rolling yet. We just stopped swaddling my son at 5 months. But in anycase, we used the Kiddopattomas Swaddle with velcro and what we did to transition him was to first swaddle with one arm out, for a few weeks and then both arms out. We actually still wrap him in it so he sort of has a blanket around him but his arms are free. We also use the sleep sack now, which is a good alternative to swaddling. I think it also helps signal that it's sleep time. I'm sure the daycare would be flexible enough to accommodate swaddling vs. not swaddling or something in between. Anyway, the gradual transition worked for our son although it might be harder to swaddle this way with a regular swaddling blanket.

D. D.

Hi R.-

I swaddled my son until he was about 6 months old! I found he slept through the night and at naps better being swaddled. He also went to day care at 3 months. I just asked them to wrap him (swaddle) in his favorite blanket at nap time. I found for the most part they did. The other thing they would do was stand by the crib and rock it (crib was on rollers) or settle him down by placing their hands on his chest. They will usually try to accamodate you the best they can.

Hope this helps.

I swaddled my son for 8 mos (there abouts) and it really helped him sleep better. He would fuss a little at first as well. If she still flails her arms she may still need to be swaddled. I used the miracle blanket and that worked really well. Then you don't have to put their legs in if you don't want to. If it helps her sleep better I say stick with it. The other thing to try is to roll up receiving blankets and tuck them in on either side of her so she feels more secure.

Good luck
R.

Hi R.-
I definitely wouldn't worry about your baby being swaddled. If she sleeps better, is calmer etc... keep going. :) I swaddled my son until 4+ months. (I thought that was a long time, but I've heard of other moms going for longer). When we transitioned him, we did one arm out for a few days to a week, then both arms out, then just wrapped the blanket down at his tummy. Before long, he was sleeping without. :)

Hi R.~

I am a first time mom but I will offer you what I have done with my 5 month old. He too always liked to be swaddled and he too would jump and startle when his arms went a flailing. So I went to Walmart and they make these 2 pillows that are connected together one is a little longer than the other and I went to TJ Maxx and fould a Halo Sleep Sack...(so you dont have to use a blanket cause this acts as one) and put him in his crib with the pillows and the sack and he has slept fine ever since. I think the pillows act as a comfort for him cause it makes him feel snug and the sack works wonders cause then I dont have to use a blanket and worry about him kicking is up and going over his head. I just dress him accordingly and he never wakes up cause he's cold or anything like that. Plus to if your daycare doesnt allow blankets in the crib cause its a law in some states, she can have the sleep sack and still be warm. I hope this helps and please let me know what worked for you. BTW the total cost for the pillows and sleep sack was like $30 - $35 and it was well worth it for me! Take Care. ♥ S. ♥

My son did the exact same thing, but one night when he was 4 months old he just stopped. He fussed when I swaddled him to put him to bed, and when I removed the blanket he relaxed and fell off to sleep.

I would just ask the daycare if they wouldn't mind swaddling her for her naps. I'm sure they're used to it with babies her age, and it works. The only advice I can give about transitioning her is you probably wont need to. One day she'll just be done, probably when she has more motor control which will be soon.

Why don't you ask the daycare provider to swaddle her? I have my son in daycare and they are great about following the same systems I use at home! She will kick herself out of the blanket when she is ready to sleep unswaddled :-)

i transitioned my daughter about this time as well... it was november and i was going back to work..... i put her in a sleep sack, and put her at one and of the crib, with the top of her head touching the bumper - something about it made her comfortable. she was on her back with her arms out and i put one of those NAP neck roll pillows from brookstone on each side of her.... she slept like a champ.... you can easily put a set of pillows at daycare too.

she's now 2 and when she sleeps in her crib she sleeps the "short" way - with her legs all crunched up... she just likes being in close quarters.

She'll transition herself out of swaddling when she's ready. I thought my son was never going to sleep without swaddling, and once in a while I'd try putting him down without swaddling (for day naps) and then one day it just worked, when he was about 6 months old. I tried the one arm at a time method but that didn't really work. Each child is different though. She's still young and I would continue swaddling until she no longer needs it. Especially during this transition, don't change things that you don't have to change. Good luck with the transition, it was super hard for me, so just know that you're not alone!

Hi R. - I agree with the other posts. If it works for you daughter, then why stop? My daughter was swaddled at night until she was 5 or 6 months old. We would try every now and then to not swaddle her, and she would do the same... flail and not sleep. I've read about slowly making the transition too... swaddle with one arm out, then two, etc... Good luck!

I didn't swaddle my girls, but when they were napping at daycare my younger one loved sleeping in a sleeping bag, being completely wrapped but not too tightly and she slept really well. Most daycares let your child bring some sort of comfort object, the sleeping bag might work as a transition to just a blanket. You can get sleeping bags for little kids that are very cute and kid-sized.

When my preemie was in the nicu, they would roll up blankets to make a nest around her. We continued this once she was home, under her bassinet or crib sheet. It gave her a cozy place to sleep. Perhaps you could do the same and slowly move the blankets out as she seems to get used to them. I hope it works for you. Mine always hated being swaddled, but I don't think most babies are swaddled to 12 weeks. You could also try warm jammies. My friends baby always slept if he was warm. Footies, even in the summer!!

Can you get her one of those swaddlers and place her in the crib? I'm only pregnant with my first so can't offer more advice on how to ween her out of it. Sorry!