Still Swaddling My 6 Month Old Now That She Is Rolling Over?

Once they are rolling over you shouldn't swaddle them anymore. That way they can move around when they are on their belly. This will help her build her strength as well as avoid her getting stuck in a position.

My son loved being swaddled and it was a hard transition to the sleep sack. But it didn't take too long, a week or two, before he got used to it and didn't wake himself up from moving around.

She's getting strong, now comes the fun part when they start crawling, walking...and running!

I stopped swaddling around 4 months. Even though the baby still likes it, if he/she is rolling over, he/she will probably need the use of his/her hands at some point. It may be dangerous if he/she gets into a position and can't get out.
There are other sleep training methods that you can start to work with.

C., I agree with the responses about switching to a sleep sack or leaving arms free - it's hard to roll over without your arms! You should check with your pediatrician too at the next appointment.

Also, it is *very important* never to put pillows and extra blankets in the crib with your child. Even though there have been sad cases of parents smothering their children on purpose, it is indisputable that SIDS has dropped by 50% since the "Back to Sleep" campaign was started. According to www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm, still put your little girl to sleep on her back until she's 1 year old, but once she can roll over consistently she may choose not to stay on her back all night long! At this point, still put her to sleep on her back, but it's fine if she rolls over on her own during the night.

Congratulations and have fun!

We swaddled our daughter until she was about 5 months...then she became quite the houdini and would have a leg sticking out or an arm...so we just ditched the blanket...it took some adjusting but she was good in about 2-3 days! almost relieved to be FREE!

C., if she likes being swaddled, and if she can hold her head up to get away from the blanket, it sounds like a great thing to continue. If it ain't broke, don't fix it is my advice.

There has been a fear in the past of children smothering from their blankets in the past, but most of what I have read is that if the child is normally progressing, they will get away from anything that covers their mouth and still breathe. There was a rash of SIDS cases in the past, and now many of them have been re-evaluated as murders rather than a result of the child smothering in their bedding. That's sad to say, but it is really the case. I was born in a day when babies were put in with their cribs with pillows, blankets, and all sorts of items, and I survived, as did most of the healthy babies of my time.

Our first son loved his swaddle too and 6 mo.out was about the time we stopped because of his rolling. Once we stopped the swaddle, he stopped waking overnight for a bottle! I just laid him on his belly to fall asleep and he did cry a little, but I think that was due more to the change than anything else.

Hi C.,

Check out this website on swaddling:

www.Parenting.com/article/Baby/Health/Ask-Dr.-Sears-Alter....

Hope this helps. D.

My son wanted to be swaddled until he was 10 months old, rolling and moving around, he didn't care. try to use some of the thinnest blankets you can and make sure there is nothing else in the crib, we finally broke my sone when he had a virus and had a fever and he as too hot for it or he would probably still be swaddled at 18 months old. We used a flat toddler bed sheet because it is thin and breathable.

My 2nd loved to be swaddled for the longest time. I would swaddle her if she seems to like it when going to sleep and then you can always loosen the blankets once she is asleep to alleviate some of your concern.

I sawddled my 3rd little guy until he was just over a year. I used those wonderful 3 martha's blankets. Towards the end I gave him a bit more freedom. I started that by first allowing one arm to stay out of the swaddle and eventually just the legs were swaddled. I think he went to sleep so much better swaddled. I never was afraid of the blanket smothering him. The blankets I used were nice and thin.

I am a very protective mom myself and was concerned about those same issues when mine were small. I would say follow your instincts. Watch her often. I had both of mine sleep with me when they were babies. I am a light sleeper so I would wake to any movement. I was so paranoid and scared that they would stop breathing so I kept them close as possible. If you feel that she will be ok on her stomach then let her just keep an eye on her and follow your instincts. Good Luck
S.

I swaddled for long after they turned over. They can't really turn over when swaddled. I wouldn't lay a swaddled kid on their tummy.

You can also swaddle while leaving hands free.