Weening a 3 to 4 Month Old from Her Swaddling Before Naps and Bedtime.

There is no reason to stop swaddling her some babies like it until they are 8 or even 10 months old. Swaddling is not a bad habit. Just keep doing it until she fusses when you do it then you will know it is time to stop.

We started to phase it out when our son was 6 months buy wrapping him looser until he no longer needed the security of being wrapped up. It took a while for him to settle himself at night we would place a firm hand on his chest which worked most of the time but if it started getting really bad we would swaddle him. I think it took a couple months to completely stop the process.

I just weened my almost 6 month old from the swaddle sleep sac. He also slept great in it so I used it as long as I could, but the heat and his rolling over made us decide it was time.

Parenting magazine has an article in this months issue on weening from swaddling and this was very reassuring for me. Basically we gradually weened him. I started with an afternoon nap and swaddled him with one are out. The first time he barely slept but we kept with it and by the next day he was sleeping well with one are out. After two days I tried swaddling him, but with both arms out. He freaked out so I went back to one arm. After a week of one arm I tried both arms again (afternoon nap) and he fought it but eventually slept.

Now, one week later, he sleeps without the swaddle sleep sac. It does take him longer to go down but he eventually falls asleep and naps 1-2.5 hours. I was very nervous about this process before hand but I am so glad we did it. I found nursing him to sleep and letting him cry it out were critical.

Good luck!

At 4 months our pediatrician said to stop swaddling my twins, my son had already outgrown the desire for it on his own (he stopped being calmed by it, it started freaking him out more), but my daughter still wanted it. So we swaddled her till 5 months, then started trying one arm out (if she didn't respond well we waited a couple more weeks), eventually she liked one arm out, and then both arms out but chest-down swaddled, and now at 8 months she doesn't need it anymore. Follow your baby's cues, if it calms her, then continue it. Evenutally she'll stop needing/wanting it.

N.,
First of all, your description of yoruself could be me talking! I feel so fortunate to be a mommy at this age! My dauhgter is now one and slept well just like yours and we swaddled her until she wanted one and then two arms out, and then she would have worked it off as she slept. However, until then, we continued to swaddle her and she continued to sleep very well. We stopped swaddling her for her naps but not for bedtime. Maybe that helped the transition.
Good luck and don't worry. She will tell you when she wants something different!
P.

Unless she's getting too hot because it's summertime, I don't know of any reason you would have to stop swaddling. I swaddled all 3 of my boys until they started breaking out of it by themselves. It makes them feel secure and safe! It's been my go-to answer for moms who can't get their babies to sleep for hours at a time.

I can't believe she sleeps that long! Good for you, Mama!

you should let one arm out at a time. Let he get used to the change slowly. Then take the other arm out, but still swaddled. The slow approach with make it easier for her

I swaddled my son until he was 6 months because he loved it and it worked so well. We weaned him by swaddling him with one arm out for a few nights, then two arms out for a few nights, then not a all.

I'll echo everyone else-why stop? I swaddled my son until he was 5 months, and then at that point he didn't want it anymore, so there was no transition problem. I think we did wrap him with one arm out for a couple nights, but he didn't mind that, so we went cold turkey after that and it wasn't a big deal at all! Keep wrapping if he loves it; whatever you gotta do to get him to sleep-for him AND you!

Who says you have to stop swaddling? I swaddled until my kids got themselves out of the blankets themselves. sometimes until 7 months. You will see there is a time they won't want it anymore....and until then, if it's not broke, don't fix it.

I am not sure why you "have" to stop, but I recommend gradually weaning by removing one arm from the swaddle for week, then the other arm and finally everything. Good luck!

Make it a GREAT day!

S.

Hi N.,

My question to you is why do you have to stop at 4 months? If she will still let you swaddle her continue to do so until she can wiggle herself out of her swaddling. Then Try swaddling her with one arm out and then both arms by the time she is used to this she should be able to put herself back to sleep without the swaddling. Hope it helps.

I don't understand having to stop swaddling. What's the reason for that???

If she likes it, keep doing it. When she can get her self out of the blanket, keep doing it.

I guess start swaddling her in a loser wrap little by little.

But really, Why do you HAVE to stop swaddling?

Hi N. - I'm amazed she has lasted this long - why do you have to stop? If she enjoys the security of the blanket, go ahead and wrap her up. She is already strong enough to break free of the swaddle if she wants to. Did your doc suggest this? Start leaving one arm out of the swaddle and then both arms as a way to help her feel comfortable without the swaddle.

While she is awake work on tummy time and upper body strength and all those fun baby exercises to keep her muscles toned.