When to Unswaddle?

P. - I'm not sure if there's an age when swaddling stops or not - maybe it's different for each baby. Around the same age as your daughter, my son (who is now 8 months) couldn't stand having his arms contained. So, we switched to a "legs only" swaddle. Basically, we swaddled him the same way, but left his arms out. This made him much happier, and still kept him snuggled and warm. We did this for a month or two longer, than eventually switched him to a "sleep sack".
Not sure if this will work for you, but maybe it's worth a shot.

Hi P.. I swaddled my son until he was almost 4 months old. He loved it and wouldn't sleep without it. When I didn't swaddle him his hands went crazy, he'd get frustrated and I'd ultimately end up swaddling him. Once I thought he was ready, each day I tried to give him one nap without being swaddled or swaddle with one arm out. I gradually increased that and before I knew it, he no longer needed to be swaddled. I was a little anxious that he'd always need to be swaddled, but now my son is 7 months old and its a distant memory.

Good luck!

Hi P.,

From what I understand, babies need to move around and explore their fingers and toes. It is helpful not to swaddle. I don't think it would be a problem to stop especially because your baby is restless when swaddled.

B.

Congrats on your daughter.
My daughter liked being swaddled for about the first month, but then she was able to get herself out of it. Have you tried the swaddle blankets with the velcro? They didn't work for me bacuse my daughter was too small and I could not get them tight enough, however I know parents that love them. Be careful because they will shrink in the dryer. Good luck to you.

Dear P.,

It sounds like you have your answer already....Listen to your little one. She wants to expand and reach out. Soon she'll be rolling over! Hooray. Allow her to use her little muscles to solve her own positioning issues. There is no right or wrong here. Upper body strength is important to your little one sitting up, eating solids, crawling, etc... Besides, tummy time will be good for her..you don't want a flat head!) When she can use her arms to lift her chest her risk of SIDS is greatly diminished. Use a bedsack for warmth if you want.
Good luck and enjoy your new little one!!!

D.

Hi P., my son who is almost 13 weeks now only liked swaddling for the first 2 weeks after we brought him home from the hospital. Like your daughter he managed to get his arms and legs free. I purchased the halo sleepsacks so he was warm. They have worked so well and he loved being able to move his arms and legs. My little one took alittle while to start napping during the day in his bassinet. In the very beginning he only wanted to be held for naps during the day. Now he sleeps content in his sleepsacks. So my answer to you is I don't think it is to soon to unswaddle. Hope that helps. Good luck!!

It is not too early to unswaddle her. My daughter never really liked to be swaddled and I she never slept all swaddled up after she was about a week old and she did just fine. So, I would say take your cues from your baby, if she sleeps better not being swaddled then don't swaddle her at night, or atleast not after you have gotten her up to be breastfed at night. If you listen to your child she will let you know what she needs when she needs it. No two babies are alike and there is no set time when you should or shouldn't do a lot of things. You'll do fine. Just make sure that you have warm enough pajamas on your child so that she doesn't get cold and she'll be fine.

Hi P.,

I kept my son swaddled until he was 5 months old. He started sleeping 8 PM till 4 AM at about 4 weeks and I think the swaddling really contributed to his sleeping so well. He would wriggle out of it a bit as he got older, but I think it still helped. I would say keep her swaddled as long as she will tolerate it. I always swaddled him before nursing, and then would lie him down on his side after he nursed.

J.

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can make it looser. Don't need to swaddle and also perfectly fine if when she wakes up she unswaddled. I did do it for first 2-3 months just stopped.

If it seems like she wants out of the swaddle, try it. You can try a sleep sack or let her sleep in a blanket sleeper.

I quit swaddling when they started moving around a bit on their own. I think 6 weeks is about that time. Put her to bed in a nice warm sleeper and see how she does. Good luck and best wishes.

When my little boy was that old (he's now 7 mos.) he wouldn't stay swaddled either. I took my cues from him and just tucked the blanket in lightly around him when I laid him down.

Congrats on your newer arrival!
I only swaddled for a short while probably not even 6 weeks. I did sling my children for a bit. I have a friend who does not put her child to bed during nap time for the first year but wears them all day. In a way I see this as a comfort type swaddling next to mom.

I beleive all babies are different and each mom will gauge when the baby seems ready to progress away from something.
Baby will absolutely let you know that their hands and feet want to be free.

Enjoy while they participate, things change quickly. :)

Someone else just posted a similar question and my response is that its really not that big of a deal if the baby doesn't want to be swaddled. My son broke out of swaddles really early age yet my daughter on the other hand still likes being swaddled sometimes and shes almost 2. I have some friends that have never swaddled their babies at all. It is very comforting for some babies just like a pacifier but not all babies take to it.

Hi there,

Neither of my kids wanted to be swaddled at all. So, I didn't. There are no rules as to when you should or shouldn't stop. You are the best indicator of your little ones needs. If you think shes done, then be done. My son, *gasp* would only sleep through the night if he was on his belly. After weeks of fighting it - I finally gave in, against the "rules" - which are ever changing anyway.

Good luck!

I swaddled my daughter just like you are and in the hospital, this started. She would push and poush to get her arms out. I never did it again. Instead I would just use warmer pajamas and I also had one of those bag sleepers that you put over a pair of pajamas. That is what I used. Hope this helps.

Once my son-now 6 mo old- pulled his Huodini act I switched to the sleep sacks. I don't think he liked being scrunched together anymore. He sleeps much better in the sleep sack and I have peace of mind knowing he's safe. Good luck

I think I swaddled just in the 1st three weeks after birth... It's during that time that they have such an exaggerated startle reflex in their sleep that the startle wakes them up. After that, I think I may have wrapped my baby's lower half, but left the arms out. They do need to start moving about more.

I have always used 'white noise' to let my son know it's time for nap or bedtime. Either a fan or a sound machine on "wind" setting blocks out all other noises and seems to let him know it's sleepy time. A small sound machine is so lightweight and portable, it comes w/ us on vacation, visits to Grandmom's and the same comfortable noise puts him to sleep! I swear by it!

P.,
HI! If she can get out of the swaddle, the swaddle is not tight enough. Don't be afraid--they like it snug!
Any questions, feel free to e me directly.
smiles,
L., 39
Brianna 21m & yes! still bf'ing!
and baby
butterflylindamarie at yahoo dot com

My son needed to be swaddled everytime he slept until he learned how to roll over (4-6mths? I can't remember). He's a total belly baby and couldn't sleep on his back. When I was tired of fighting w/ him I would lay him on his belly on the couch next to me and he would sleep forever. But otherwise, we had to hold him so tight and still or swaddle him for him to go to sleep. He eventually became really good at escaping the SwaddleMe blackets (which made him wake up an cry, of course), so we took an extra long recieving blanket and wrapped that on top. People thought we were crazy, but he slept 6 hrs straight by 6 wks. That made us happy : )

I believe in long-term swaddling.
Good Luck,
T.

Whenever they don't want it anymore. I swaddled my son for about 2-3 weeks until he protested just the same as yours. I then started putting him in sleep sacks to keep him warm. That way he could still move his arms and legs around.

The only time either of my girls were swaddled was while we were in the hospital.

I have read that one month is all that is necessary for swaddling. Both my boys hated it, so I didn't really use the method. I've known moms to swaddle their kids for a year!! Do what works for her to keep her happy. The "right" thing is what works for you guys. If you want to keep her swaddled, use one of those swaddle blankets with the velcro, they are pretty hard to Houdini out of.

My son never liked to be swaddled (even in the hospital), there is no reason that you daughter has to be swaddled if she obviously wants so badly to get out of it. Try to find other ways to show her it's bedtime (keep it dark in the room with only a nightlight on, turn on music, create a bedtime routine) instead of pushing the swaddling.

My third child is not about 7 1/2 months old. It was only a few weeks after they were born that I didn't worry about swaddling anymore. Instead of worrying about swaddling, I started using the sleeping bags they make for infants. The ones where the top has arms but he bottom is just a bag and they zip up the front.

These worked better for us. They kept the kids warm but not overheated and allowed them a little more movement. My kids didn't (and don't) like being confined.

Good luck.