When should you stop swaddling?
Generally on my approach if it’s working for you all is well. And you don’t need to stop anything unless you want to!
However, swaddling is an exception to this rule due to the sleep safety implications.
Because, whilst I’m passionate about doing what works for you. I’m also very passionate about safer sleep.
And I’ll always adhere to the safer sleep guidelines set out by @lullabytrust.
AS Soon as your baby can roll onto their tummy it’s time to transition out of their swaddle. This is for sleep safety reasons and includes all types of swaddling.
There’s a couple of ways you can do this:
Go hung ho and ditch it in one go.
It’s completely natural if you feel a bit apprehensive. Change is strange for you too and not just your baby. But babies are very adaptable and can often surprise you!
If you decide to go with this approach it’s still likely to take time. Because transitions can be tricky and change is strange. Your baby has to learn to fall and stay asleep in a totally different way. And it’s all very new and exciting being able to move and play with your arms!
I do encourage you to let go of the expectation that you’ll ditch the swaddle and they’ll fall asleep and sleep in the same way.
It’s normal for them to take much longer to fall asleep
It’s natural that they may be a little (or a lot!) unsettled overnight.
But give them time and it’s usually only temporary!
Transition one arm out at a time
If the above feels too fast and you want to take a more gradual approach you can ditch the swaddle in steps. And free one arm at a time and give it time. I generally suggest 3 -5 days for each arm depending on how your baby is adapting to the change.
This can take a little longer and again ditto all of the above about giving it time.
Face fiddling
It’s completely normal for your baby to start fiddling with their face (or actually anything else!) once their arms are free. And it’s natural it’s going to drive you bonkers!
My suggestion would be to try and avoid the temptation to hold their hands down or away from their face if you can. It’s all part of the process of them learning to fall asleep with their arms out.
If they’re fiddling and are emotionally easy and not crying:
I’d suggest giving them the practice and patience to fall asleep.
If they’re fiddling and crying or emotionally uneasy:
I’d suggest reassuring them and gently holding their hands until they are calm again and then give them the practice again.
Sleeping bags
I am a big fan of sleeping bags! If you’re going gung ho you can swap the swaddle for a sleeping bag straight away.
If you’re transitioning slowly once the swaddle has been ditched completely you can start using a sleeping bag.
If you do decide on using a sleeping bag please make sure to use one suitable for your baby’s weight and room temperature. I always suggest checking individual labels because they do vary by brand.
You can find out more details about the sleep services I offer here.