My daughter will be 4 months old Jan 1st. We still swaddle her at night and I'm wondering how we can gradually ease her away from the swaddling - or should I give her a little bit longer with the swaddling? She doesn't try to wiggle out of it and it still seems to calm her and help her sleep. She has been sleeping all night since about 5 weeks and currently sleeps 10-11 hours a night. She doesn't get swaddled for her naps and does OK - she have never been a good napper. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks!!!
Thanks for all your responses!! I didn't want to mess with a good thing and judging by what everyone else said I was right. I guess I just thought she might be getting 'too old' for swaddling, but as long as she's happy and sleeping I'll keep doing it.
Why mess with a good thing? I recommend the book Happiest Baby on the Block for an idea of when swaddling can end, but I say don't stop if she is sleeping well.
Honestly, if your baby is sleeping that well, for such long periods of time, I think you should leave her be. She's happy, and well rested. That can be hard to come by! Once she grows and develops more, she'll start kicking herself out of the blankets over night. At that point, you'll know when to stop swaddling :)
Good Luck!
Not a thing wrong with swaddling as long as they accept it. They will 'grow out' of swaddling naturally on their own. When they get to the point that they kick or thrash out of the swaddle in their sleep, it's time to stop. If they still need the swaddle to fall asleep at that point, it's fine to keep doing it, just don't expect them to stay swaddled. They will eventually get to the point where it's no longer needed.
General consensus appears to be to not worry about it, and I totally agree. She will let you know when she doesn't need to be swaddled, and if she's not napping well why not swaddle her then as well? OR, you might try waking her up a little earlier in the morning and do a nap after her lunch. The swaddling is definitely a security thing.
I'm just curious as to why you think you need to stop the swaddling.
Each baby is different, and some need swaddling until they're older, some wiggle out of it at just a few weeks!! Like anything else that baby's do or don't do, it's variable.
There's no schedule for any of the development skills, feeding habits, etc. Each one is different. So just enjoy her sleeping all night at such a young age -- do you know how many moms out there are probably jealous?? LOL
Keep swaddling her. That is her comfort thing. Nothing wrong with it. I had a friend that swaddled her baby every night until 10 months. Of course by morning she was not swaddled, but at night it helped her go to sleep. The naps will come. You might try moving naps up 15 or 30 minutes. My son was a terrible napper and someone mentioned moving the nap time up. It worked. Instead of sleeping 20 minutes he started to sleep an hour or more in the mornings. I couldn't believe it.
Seems to me when she's able to wiggle out of it, that's the time to stop. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! LOL!
I am friends with a lot of people who are nanny's that deal with sleep training. There is no reason for you to stop swaddling her if she is not trying to get out yet. When she is ready you will know. Most of my friends say to start by taking one arm out. Then two arms out and eventually moving them to sleep sacks. I think that is close to what the other person told you but wanted you to have another opinion.
My son was very colicky and we swaddled him until he was around 4 1/2 mos. We then started leaving his arms out, and from there moved on to a sleep sack. He still felt like he was still "in" something with the sleep sack, so I think that made the transition easier. I guess the indicator would be if she starts trying to roll over- then it is definitely time to move out of the swaddle. Otherwise, I think that if it works for her and you, no need to push it. She will let you know when she doesn't want to be swaddled anymore.
I say if she is happy and sleeping through the night, keep doing it. She will wiggle loose when she is ready, but for now I say get your sleep. :)
I don't remember our 4 kids even 'being' swaddled (or caring one way or the other, but with any 'weaning' issue, take baby steps. Maybe leave the outer corner loose each night for a week, then another and another until she's sleeping under a loose cover. However if she's sleeping all night and not wiggling out of the swaddle, why fix it if it ain't broke? LOL Swaddle her and put her to bed!
P.S. I just (after writing my response) read your other responses, and it looks as if we all 'argued the same', doesn't it? LOL
if it aint broke dont fix it! shes happy and its not hurting anyone keep yourself happy by letting her sleep all night!
Hey, if it is not broke, don't fix it. If she likes it and it is working and she is sleeping well without disturbing your sleep, then allow her, her swaddling. Nothing wrong with that.!
Babies around this age do start to use muscles for development during sleeptime, so we tried to wean our little swaddler too around this age. What we did was first one arm, then a week or more later the other arm, then swadddling lower down and looser gradually over time. If you notice it is starting to affect sleep then back off, listen to what your baby is ready for. Good luck!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it ;)
