When should I stop swaddling my baby?

Question

She is 4 months old and wiggles out of it through the night, but it seems to be the only way to get her to go to sleep. When should I stop and isit dangerous at this age?

Answer 1

I stopped swaddling mine at around 2 months they just wouldn't stay in any more. Stop whenever she seems like she's not liking it anymore, it's up to you. No, not dangerous - unless you've duct taped her in the blanket! Most parents don't swaddle very tightly. I'm a postpartum nurse and you could bounce quarters off my baby swaddles, they're that good. They are tucked up packed in little burritos when I'm done with them.

Try a blanket sleeper or one of those zip in sleepers. Or you might try just swaddling her bottom half starting under the arms, leaving the arms free. Babies like swaddling in the first place because a) it reminds them of being in the womb, all tight and folded up and b) if tightly wrapped when they enter REM sleep they don't startle and twitch and wake themselves up. Because of this babies always sleep better on their tummies, HOWEVER because of SIDS it's always, always back to sleep which means babies are harder to get and keep asleep.

Answer 2

Once she starts to kick out of it you should stop. It isn't dangerous but because she is moving around more an extra blanket isn't the ideal thing to have in her crib.

Once a baby reaches the age of being able to roll over etc. you will only be frustrated trying to swaddle only to have her escape.

Developmentally your daughter has changed quite a bit so it may be the perfect time to try a new technique with sleeping.

Good luck!

Answer 3

For us, switching to a swaddle transition blanket called zipadee-zip worked great, since our baby didn't want to be swaddled anymore.

Answer 4

I stopped swaddling mine at around 3 months, he would also try to get out of the swaddle and that would wake him up. We found the zipadee-zip to be great for the transition. I used it up until my boy was able to fall asleep without it.

Answer 5

You can swaddle your baby until they don't want to be swaddled anymore, a lot of babies will self wean from it between 4 and 8 months. I don't think it is dangerous, both my girls have always had a thin blanket while they slept because they wouldn't sleep without them.

Answer 6

It isn't dangerous unless the baby is tightly bound. If she wiggles out of it during the night just make sure that she is covered. She will let you know when she doesn't want it anymore.

Amy's comment about a light blanket reminded me of the fact that I must have a blanket at least covering my upper body in order to fall asleep....and I'm 53.

Answer 7

It's fine up until 6 months or so. Below is a link on the benefits of swaddling. Good luck!!

Answer 8

I would stop once she starts rolling and trying to turn over. She might get wrapped up in the blanket and hurt herself. My daughter never liked being swaddled and we gave up on it when she was 2 weeks old. Each kid is different. If your daughter can loosen the blankets, then they may be a choking or suffocation hazard for her.

Answer 9

When my son started unwrapping himself, I had to switch to a larger blanket, but still light material, so it would keep him nice and snug, then he got to the point where he wouldn't even let me put his arms in. I would swaddle him with his arms free. I stopped completely at about 5 months when he started rolling around. I hear the swaddler blankets really work, but if your baby wants to be free she'll just get fussy. She'll let you know when she doesn't want to be swaddled anymore.

Answer 10

my daughter would never stay swaddled. the best thing to get is a blanket sleeper. actually two, one of fleece for the winter, and one of cotton (or any lighter material) for the summer. they are like sleep sacks that zip in the front and some don't even have sleeves