How to Wean from Swaddling

Parents who have relied on swaddling to calm their newborns, help them sleep longer and keep them sleeping on their backs may fear the day when they have to give up swaddling -- and possibly face a fussy, unhappy baby who refuses to sleep at night. The good news is that no baby needs to be swaddled forever. Eventually, as babies become more mobile and their startle reflex goes away, they find it easier to fall asleep without being tightly wrapped. Once your baby is ready, you can help her make a smooth transition to sleeping without being swaddled.

Instructions

    • 1

      Follow your baby's cues. By 4 months of age, many -- but not all -- babies are ready to give up swaddling. When your baby learns how to roll over, regularly squirms out of his blanket, fights being swaddled and seems unhappy while swaddled, he may be ready to start weaning.

    • 2

      Play white noise -- a steady, peaceful mixture of pitches and sounds that mimics what your baby heard in the womb -- in her room while weaning her from the swaddle. Babies sleep better with white noise playing, and it can ease their transition to sleeping unwrapped.

    • 3

      Swaddle your baby with one arm free and see how he sleeps for a few days. If he starts waking frequently, he may not be ready to wean from swaddling yet. But if he continues to sleep well, this is a good sign that he doesn't need swaddling any longer.

    • 4

      Leave both arms out of your baby's swaddle for a few days. If she continues sleeping well, without fussing or waking more in the night, she is ready to be put into bed without being swaddled.

    • 5

      Transition to a sleep sack if your baby doesn't sleep as well unswaddled as you would like. A sleep sack allows your baby more freedom of movement, while still providing the comfort of being wrapped.

    • 6

      Wait and try again later if you have tried weaning, and the only result has been less sleep for you and your baby. Some babies need to be swaddled until 8 months -- or even longer in rare circumstances. Wait a few days or weeks, and your baby may have an easier time weaning from his swaddle.

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