Transitioning Out of the Swaddle

My grandson, Jordan, is nearly 4 years old and is still having trouble sleeping, he needs to be held close or have his hands held or he will wake himself up. He can't calm himself to sleep, he fidgets and looks for someone to hold him. I told my daughter, his mother, that he was a blanket baby and needs contact to sleep. We also get him to sleep with teddy bears, which he hugs all night. Why don't you want to swaddle you son any longer? Go back to swaddling and give him a teddy that he may want to hold soon. But get some sleep and let the baby sleep anyway he can.

He's only six months old. Keep swaddling. He won't be swaddled for the rest of his life. But, I would do it if that what it takes for him to sleep.

We went through this a few months ago, my son was about 5 months at the time. We stopped because he rolled over while he was swaddled and it freaked me out. We stopped cold turkey, it was hard at first, but he got used to it. He isn't going to stop sleeping forever. Good luck :)

do you think that the swaddling is bad? if it gets him to sleep what is the harm? you have 2 teenagers & this baby...I would think you would do whatever it takes to keep the baby happy to allow some sleep in the house. to tell you the truth the baby will let you know when he no longer wants to be swaddled. to me it's about the security a baby wants & needs :o)
signed a 44 year old mom with a 3 year old and 13 year old

C.,

I think you've already got some great advice. I'd keep swaddling him for now. Babies are always changing. Just when we think we've got their routine down their needs change.

I also DO NOT recommend letting him cry it out. Research has shown this can cause trust/mistrust issues. Taking care of his needs whether they are physical or emotional is important. Babies cry for a reason. What difference does it make if it's an emotional need. I wish moms would stop recommending the cry it out method! Sorry, off my soap box now.

If your son wants to be swaddled, there is nothing wrong with it. Just make sure you check on him and adjust his covering after he is alseep if he has moved around enough to have dislodged it.

Swaddling is to give the baby the feeling of being held close. If he is still looking for that, save yourself heartache and trouble and continue it...a well rested you and he are worth the extra effort.

When he is ready to stop, he will fight you when you try to do it...that's when the majority of people stop...

Good luck!!! ;-)

Let him swaddle as long as he wants. He'll quit swaddling when he's ready. They grow up so fast already that I wish I would have known to not fret the small stuff. Be happy that he likes to be a snuggle bug to me thats a good sign. I had one that grew to independent too fast.

I guess I do not quite understand why you are taking him out of the swaddle.

Unless he is turning over, I would leave him in his swaddle. I did not take my daughter out until she started rolling over.

My sister swaddled her oldest until he was a year old - it was just what worked for him. Go go buy some material from a fabric store and sew the edges to make a bigger blanket that will keep him swaddled as he grows. You can't find big enough blankets at any store!

For my kids, as soon as they rolled over back to stomach they wanted to be on their stomachs and that triggered the end of swaddeling. And when they couldn't roll over yet and were on their backs, if they weren't wrapped it was TERRIBLE - arms flaying, waking up every hour etc. No peaceful back sleepers in this family. Do what maximizes everyone's sleep!

Drop the pacifier as soon as you can too.

Good luck!

Hi C.,
It sounds like he's doing quite well for a wee 6 month old. My advice would be to go with what's working and what allows the whole family to get enough sleep. In his case, it sounds like swaddling is what he likes and he's trying to tell you that. I so wish my daughter had enjoyed swaddling at that age. At 6 months, I would nurse her before bed and/or daddy sometimes wears her in the Ergo Carrier and walk around a bit. I am a huge fan of Dr. Sears and believe very much in the idea that children need to be parented to sleep in the early years. It sounds like you've gotten some good advice already, and are reading the right books. Also, have you thought about putting him close to your bed so there's no need to get up in the night? Best of luck and congrats on your new little one!

I would wait till warmer weather to stop swaddeling. I am completely opposed to "crying it out" in any form and anyting that makes a baby feel warm and comforted is what they need (I also am a firm believer in baby wearing) Anyway, you should follow your gut. Good luck!

If he sleeps fine being swaddled, then I would go back to swaddling him. If he starts wanting out, he'll be able to push his way out himself. Let him tell you when he is ready for something, instead of just going by his age.
If he isn't sleeping well even when you do swaddle him, he could be starting to get teeth.
Just a side note, you may want to try to wean him off of the paci so you aren't having to go to him just to give it to him in the middle of the night. Technically babies are able to self sooth starting at 4 months of age.
Good Luck!

C.,
I am going to assume that you are trying to do away with swaddling because he is gettin old enough to roll over in his sleep and you don't want him to be stuck in the swaddle if he does....am I correct?
If that is the case, I am sure that if you do stop swaddling he will eventually roll over and find that sleeping on his belly is just as good as being swaddled.
When my son was between 5 and 6 months old he started rolling over onto his tummy as soon as I layed him in bed. His doctor said that as long as he was able to roll over it was fine (and that I didn't have blankets, stuffed animal, etc in his bed).
I'm not sure about the pacifier part. My son did use one up until he was 6 months old. He broke himself of it...seriously it was just one day he decided he didn't want it anymore. Maybe you will be so lucky!
I'm sure I wasn't much help but wanted to give you hope of nights where you don't have to go in anymore and you can get some sleep!
Good Luck!

I had this same issue with my little guy at 6 months. What helped me was to just leave one arm free at first and then after he gets used to that do both arms. It was definitely a process and his sleep (and mine) suffered for a bit. He was back to sleeping perfectly without swaddling in about 2 weeks. I hope that this helps because I understand the frustration. Good luck!

My first thought is why fix what isn't broken? He will eventually grow out of it, but will prob always want to be tucked in, literally.. it is his security, and I know my son's security, a blanky, is NEVER missing..or else he cannot function. I say let him have it his way.. he won't still be doing it in kindergarden. I don't see the harm, and you need sleep!
Good Luck!

My little guys were pretty clear when they were ready to stop being swaddled. So if he's happy and not rolling over and getting stuck, just let him tell you when he's ready.

Regarding the crying it out thing - not a fan. We used Brazelton's book on sleep and it's worked very well for us and our boys.

I really don't see the harm in continuing to swaddle him. Eventually he will figure out that he doesn't want to be swaddled, but for now if that is how he is most comfortable then do it! Most babies just become more active in their sleep and undo the swaddling themselves. I am sure that is what will happen with your baby!

Cry it out does work in some cases to correct bad habits or negative behavior, but in this case it would not be useful at all. After all this isn't hurting him or anyone else.

Good luck!