Swaddling at Four Months

We swaddled my son for like 4 months too and he started growing out of the swaddler so we had to quit he cried for a few nights but it got better. He just had to get use to it.

You can try to wean from the swaddle slowly by doing one arm out at first. But, if she likes the swaddle and doesn't seem to want to roll over, or doesn't roll over if swaddled, why not keep swaddling? My son started rolling over at 3 months from his back to his tummy. This in an of itself created milestone sleep interruption that lasted about 3-4 nights. He actually preferred to sleep on his stomach though, so the swaddle was done.

Do you use a swaddler, or just a blanket to swaddler her?

We swaddled DS for the first few weeks of his life using a blanket, but once he started kicking out of it, we stopped all together (around 6-8 weeks). If you're using a swaddler, try just using a blanket and see what she does. She can get to sleep that way, and you may find that she kicks out of it after she falls asleep.

As for the rolling over, let her go! She'll get used to being on her tummy in a week or so. Then she'll start rolling the other way shortly after and all bets are off for swaddling anyway! It's horrible to listen to them struggle and be mad during this process, but it's for the best to let them learn it themselves!

I would stop swaddling her, she will learn to get herself to sleep. She needs to be able to turn herself back over onto her back and with her arms wrapped she won't be able. Her ability to roll onto her back if she so chooses helps reduce the possibility od SIDS. Be patient nad take naps with her to help your sleepiness.

Rolling over is all part of the process and I personally would let her deal with this next step - you won't be able to swaddle forever. We swaddled our DD with a blanket until she started kicking out of it around 3 months. At about 4 months, where you are now, she cried every time she turned over the first week or so - we would do what we called the "flip and soothe" turn her back over and then leave the room. She got used to sleeping on her tummy quick and then started turning back over on her own. Right now at 14 months she is teething and waking up again on occasion. There will always be something, this is just one more milestone. Good luck. I don't think we truly get sleep until they're 10.

Keep swaddling. She likes it, she sleeps better, you sleep better. She still jerks herself awake at this age and swaddling prevents it and rolling over. Why change that? She'll eventually outgrow the swaddling, no need to rush it. She can get used to being on her tummy when she's awake and reaching for toys or looking around. From there, she'll get up on all fours, then crawl, and you'll be wondering what happened to your baby!

My first son we swaddled until he was 8 months old (he was crawling and pulling to stand during the day, but prefered to be swaddled at night). At 8 months he busted out of the swaddle at night. We stopped swaddling him and had no sleep issues. My 2nd son was swaddled until he was 6.5 months old. We had to stop swaddling him when I walked in at the end of nap and he had rolled over on to his stomach with his arms still in the swaddle. He looked like a worm with his head up. It took about a week for him to adjust to not being swaddled. He hated it at first. Not much sleep happened in our house. He also hated being on his stomach, however at the end of the first week not being swaddled he decided that he liked sleeping on his stomach better.
When he would wake up in the middle of the night on his tummy and start crying I would not go in and flip him over. I would go in and rub his back and stay "it's ok to be on your tummy". After a while he realized he was safe and it was ok to be on his tummy. I think that if you go in and flip your baby back to her back every time she gets on her tummy at night she will get upset and wait for you to flip her back. Better for them to learn that it is safe and comfortable to sleep on their tummy.

My suggestion is to swaddle her but do it loosley enough so she can break free and get her arms out. My son used to do that - he'd get his arms out after a while and he'd be fine after he slept. I'd also check on him A LOT once he started moving around to make sure he was comfortable, not tangled up, not suffocating by anything. She's still little, swaddle her. :)

My doctor told me that my daughters would let me know when they didn't want to be swaddled anymore. And they did, very early (3 weeks maybe)! Maybe you should try 1 or 2 things: swaddle her bottom half only keeping her arms free or a fitted/snug "nightgown" where there is no opnening at the bottom. That will allow her legs to stay together. Her own movements are startling her and that's why she keeps waking up - won't last forever. 9-10 hours a night - this baby likes her sleep! Good for her :) and you!

You may want to consider trying a sleep sack. It may help with the transition.

we swaddled our daughter until she was 9 months. She would break out of it when she was sleeping, and be fine, but it took a while before she would go to sleep without being swaddled. Eventually, we started swaddling with one arm loose, so she could get used to it, then both.

Try swaddling with arms bent at elbows so hands are up. She may wiggle out but this might wear her out enough and she will fall asleep. I swaddled with arms out till about a year. But, until about six months old they should have arms in because of the startle reflex is still present. Keep trying until to find different ways to swaddle. It will get better they all go through this~the endless trips to their bedroom. I think mine did it for about 2 weeks on and off. Just take turns with your hubby. D. ~My cousin lives in Brick :)

We swaddled our daughter in a Velcro-closed swaddle wrap till she was about 7 months old (when she started to roll). Then we only kept one arm in and one arm out for a few months. When she was around 9 months old we switched to a sleep sack which she still uses and she is now around 15 months old. I would check with your pediatrician; ours said it was fine to swaddle her if she slept best that way, even when she started rolling. Good luck!

Keep swaddling! I had the same question (I read it in a book somewhere), so I talked to my pediatrician. She said absolutely not! Your child will let you know when she is ready to stop being swaddled! She said at this age, let them sleep in peace, because they are just now learning to sleep through the night! Thank goodness I did! My son began to tell me he was done with being swaddled (by breaking out of the swaddle and continuing to sleep) when he was about five and a half months old.

Keep swaddling. I did the same thing you did with our first daughter and I wish I'd just kept swaddling her. With our second, I bought a bigger swaddle me and kept swaddling her til she was 5 mos old. She likes to be on her tummy, though, so I think that helps, too. It's a tough transition. Hang in there! It will pass. :)

She will kick out of the swaddle during the night when she is ready. keep swaddling we did until around 5 months

I just went thru this! We swaddled our daughter from the second she was born until she was 6.5 months old. She started breaking out of it several times a night, so I figured it was time to give it up. It took about 2-3 nights of her waking several times throughout the night, but then she got used to it and sleeps great again. Good luck! I thought we were going to have to swaddle her until she was 30....it was the only way she'd sleep!
Lynsey