Weaning a 4 Month Old from the Swaddle

Instead of swaddling her, try a sleep sack. It will keep her warm but can't smother her like a blanket.

Work through it. Start her off swaddled, and when she breaks out, go in there and rub her back or talk to her or something, but don't put her back in it. She'll eventually get used to it.

I too recommend the cozy cocoon. There is a convertible product that would make it easier to wean. http://www.cozycocoon.com/products/Sweet_Pea-100-2.html

Hey L.,

We swaddled until about 4-5months. We did not wean her from it she did it herself. She went to sleep swaddled and within 1-2 hours she would get herself out or rollover in it. By the end of her 5th month we just swaddled her chest down and soon after that she would be out of it quicker and quicker (we did have a few nights where she would cry soon after going to bed and we would rewrap her and go through the process a few times- after about the 3rd or 4th night the crying ended- just as quick as it had started). Good luck- I promise it will pass.

Hi L.
Maybe gradually rock her in a chair with a swaddle. Do that a little while. Talk to her and sing to her or hum. Let her hear your voice of love and just cuddle her. Then maybe she will feel no fear.
I hope i helped a little.
Have a good day Today
Vicki W.

Hi L.,

My son loved to be swaddled as well and couldn't sleep well without being swaddled until he was 6-7 months old. Around 4 months he also started busting out, which would cause him to wake. I wrote a response to a similar question about swaddling, and I described how I "reinforced" the swaddle. It sounds sort of crazy, but it worked like a charm. Check out this Mamsource Request...

http://www.mamasource.com/request/15864751063451041793

Swaddling isn't a bad thing. I think it makes them feel comfy and secure. Eventually they stop jerking themselves awake and you won't need the swaddle.

Good luck!

K.

My mom got me some swaddle blanket from a company called Kidopatamus.

At any rate, they have velcro tabs to hold down the arms and are much harder to break out of than a regular blanket. You might also try things like safety pins to keep the regular blanket swaddled.

.

my 10.5 month old daughter JUST this week started sleeping without her swaddle. you can wean her off of the swaddle, OR you can get a miracle blanket...or if you don't want to spend that much money on a swaddle, you can do what i did: i took a THIN receiving blanket and laid it under her, then i used the corners like a miracle blanket...one corner went over one arm and under her back, same with the other one...not tightly at all, though, or it's uncomfortable. we did that for several weeks. we finally took the swaddle away because she was kicking and getting her legs out of the swaddle. we actually went COLD TURKEY from the swaddle to a sleep sack. the only issue i have with the sleep sack is that her arms get cold, so i had to go ahead and dig out her long sleeved onesies for her to sleep in.

* i wanted to add that my daughter had been rolling onto her stomach in her swaddle for awhile, but we have a video baby monitor, so we could always see that her nose was clear and that she was breathing just fine.

Maybe try a larger blanket. The Swaddle designs Ultimate receiving blanket is 42"x42" That usually keeps them in. Also they should have the natural positionin the swaddle of knees bent, elbows bent and hands near the face.

Hey L., I had the same problem at the 4/5 month point. I could get the swaddle to stay pretty well but no one else could put my kids to sleep so I thought it was time to wean. Like may others who responded, I transitioned to a sleepsack. The only other trick I learned was to swaddle only one arm during the transition period. She might still fuss a little but she won't feel quite as out of control during the transition period. Each of my three kids only took a few days to transition to the sleepsack with this method. Good luck and enjoy these precious moments!

We had the same issue with our now 10 month old. I had to literally wean him off of it. I first started with his arms, then began to loosen the swaddle each night. After a few weeks he was over it. Also, if your baby can now flip herself over it maybe that she would sleep better on her tummy. Check with your ped., but most say that once they can roll over they can sleep on their belly. I know my little one wanted to be swaddled to feel squished, but once we started having him sleep on his belly he did much better (pressure on his belly and legs by sleeping on his belly). I remember it be so frustrating. Try to stay consistant and it will get better.

My daughter did the same thing - we moved her from the swaddle to a sleep sack when she was about 5 months old and havent had any problems.Hope this helps!

Hi, i completly understand your concern! I didnt think my son was ever going to be able to sleep without being swaddled. He to kept breaking out of it. Every morning I would get him up and his legs would be dangling out at the bottom and sure enough he got the arms out. The only thing I knew to do is quit COLD TURKEY! I figured that if he can manipulate the thing that well, he was to big for it. I think I ended up swadling him untill he was 5 1/2 months old!! After one or two nights of restless sleep he was fine.. Best Wishes and Goodluck!

Hi L., Have you tried a sleep sack? There are a billion brands out there- it might help her feel safe and warm while keeping her safe when she rolls over. It might be a tough transition from the swaddle but just remember that you are taking it away to keep her safe. Good luck and hang in there.

Have you tried the sleep sack? I was completely at that stage last week. I just gave up & put her in the sleep sack. She sucks her thumb, so by day #2 without the swaddle, she has done great.

Hi L.,
I also swaddled my son until he was 4 mos old. I bought a sleep sack after he outgrew his swaddle blanket and that seemed to make the transition a little easier. His arms were still free, but I think it helped him feel like he was still wrapped in something. Might be worth a try.

Hi L.

Look up an item called the cozy cocoon. I think it is cozycocoon.com My cousin's baby slept in one until she was more than 6 months old. (her baby was very long...so a typical baby could sleep in it longer)
Also a bed called an Amby bed is something you should research.

J.