Swaddling...how Long?

Hi A.,

I was convinced my son would need to be swaddled until kindergarten! We started to wean him from it around 4 1/2 or 5 months. I got a little freaked out when he got upset in his crib and managed to roll himself over while swaddled. We used the kiddapotomus (sp?) swaddler and tranistioned by swaddling with one arm out. We did that for a week or so, then swaddled him with both arms out for another week before switching to the sleep sack. If I remember right, the first night with each transition was a little difficult, but he adjusted very well by the second night. As many other moms have said, every baby is different, and some just need it a little longer.

Good luck!

Jen

I used a Miracle Blanket and swaddled my daughter until she was able to wiggle her way out of it, which was around 5 months. I did loosen it as she got older. Then I put her in a sleep sack, which she loved.

My response is unconventional and contradictory to what all physicians tell you, but try putting your son to sleep on his tummy. My son never slept well on his back, but as soon as I started sleeping him on his tummy, he slept great. He absolutely HATED being swaddled; couldn't stand being confined and restricted. At 2, he's the same way :)

Many parents balk at allowing their babies to sleep on their tummies, but as long as your son is strong to move his head side to side, then he should be fine. Trends always go in cycles, and when I was a baby, all the doctors said to sleep babies on their bellies so they didn't choke if they spit up. Now it's that they have to sleep on their backs. Go with your instincts!!!!!

Here is a segment from a letter from the Director of Neurobehavioral Infant and Child Studies at Harvard Medical School (Heidelise Als, PhD):

"We feel very strongly that infants' hands and arms should never be swaddled downward. This is a very unnatural position. The preterm infant in the womb is in flexion much of the time and uses hands and arms to reach across midline, bring the hand and fingers to the mouth, suck on them, grasp and clasp hand to hand, and to the umblilical cord, grasp and holds onto the head, the shoulders, etc etc. This all sets up neurosensory feedback loops that the immature nervous system counts on in order to mature the flexor-extensor balance and mutual inhibition and activation. Hands should always be free to reach the face and mouth and to mutually grasp one another."

If you would like, I can email you the rest of the letter. I was unaware of this correlation until very recently, so I'm guessing this is pretty new, but it makes sense :) Have a great day!

Hi A.,

I swaddled my son until he was 5 and half or 6 months. I did try to not swaddle before then, but he would not sleep, so he did reach a definate time where suddenly he did not need it anymore. It was more important for me to make sure he was getting his sleep, because his brain needed it.

My advice, keep swaddling as long as he needs it!!

K.
Mom of Skyler soon to be 3!!!!!

My son liked to be swaddled too. If your little guy likes it and it helps him sleep, keep doing it. It won't hurt and it's not like he's going to call you from college to have you swaddle him each night! :o)
We swaddled Sal until he was about 5-6 months and then he was busting out every night. And it was getting warmer at nights. We started transitioning him by swaddling with arms out (wrap the blanket the same way, except under his armpits), then just tucked in tight and then took it away altogether when he got too sweaty for it. The blanket seemed to give him comfort though, so we still keep it in the crib with him.
And before everyone gets all bothered about that, it's a knitted blanket with lots of holes.

My first daughter hated being swaddled so when my second daughter wouldn't sleep until she was bundled up tightly it was all new for me. I had this same dilemma. I tried to "wean" her from swaddling but it just didn't work. She would also lose sleep because she just wasn't comfortable. Everyone else I knew also said they had stopped around 2 or 3 months. Well, I just ended up finding bigger blankets (the swaddling blankets didn't work for her-at that age they're too strong and wiggle out of them)and we swaddled her until she was 6 1/2 months old! She eventually just preffered not to be swaddled on her own. You'll know when your son is ready. My daughter would fuss after we swaddled her and once I loosened it up so she could get her arms out she would fall asleep. Hope this helps!

My son had to be swaddled to sleep until he was 5 months old. I thought he was never going to grow out of it! He eventually did grow out of it though. Literally. He got too big for the blanket I was using. If he's sleeping good and so are you, I wouldn't worry about it. If it aint broke, don't fix it.:)

I swaddled my son for about 6 months (or more!) Just do what works for both of you.

We swaddled our twins until they were about 4 and 1/2 months old. The only reason we stopped is that they were trying to roll over, and got frustrated by the swaddle. We started weaning them from the swaddle when it was actually preventing them from good sleep by leaving one arm out and alternating sides. I've heard of people who swaddle until a year old, so I wouldn't worry that you are swaddling too long. Just do what works for your baby.

Hi A.! I think it really depends on the child. With my daughter (15 month old), we swaddled her until she was about 8-9 months and she's a perfectly happy baby and is capable of falling/staying asleep on her own now. She was a preemie, so I think that might have had something to do with it. But I wouldn't worry too much. Some children need to be swaddled longer than others. I think it's more important that your child gets his sleep, regardless of what other kids are doing. If it becomes a problem, you can always ask your pediatrician for advice. I hope this helps!

D.

My oldest slept swaddled until he was one. We stopped when he was a few months old because we thought you were supposed to. He then had lots of trouble sleeping so I friend recommended I try swaddling him again and it worked great. Everyone called him burrito baby. Eventally we just started wrapping him looser and looser until we did not swaddle him at all anymore. If it works for you do it as long as it works.

Hi A.,

My kids slept better when swaddled. When they out grew their blankets I just tucked them in really tightly at night by tucking the blankets between the mattress and box spring.

They are now away attending college and miss the the "tuck ins": too afraid to ask the roommate to do it ;-) But when they're home on break they ask for me to come in and tuck the covers. They say they sleep better and feel more secure when the blankets are tight.

If you son sleeps better when swaddled it's probably because he too feels secure. I guess it's almost like being in the womb.

Good luck with your new baby. I hope you enjoy your child(ren) as much as I enjoy mine.

CM

I have a friend whose son still wanted to be swaddled at 9 months, I kid you not! She figured that since he had slept through the night starting at a month old, she'd do whatever he wanted if only he would continue being a good sleeper. Her biggest challenge was finding a blanket big enough. I guess he grew out of it eventually - he's 4 now!

I say if he likes to be swaddled and sleeps better when he is swaddled, then keep on swaddling him! I swaddled both of my boys until they started breaking out of it, which was only after 2-3 months. If they would have stayed in the swaddle I would have done it for longer. I'm not really sure if there is a hard fast rule as to when to stop swaddling. If it is working for you I would keep on doing it.

Hi A.,
I swaddled my little guy until he was about 7 months old. It was the only way he would sleep as well. To get him out of the swaddle habit I started by doing one arm out for a while (about a month) and then both arms out (for about a day) he didn't seem to care anymore once both arms were out. Goodluck!

Every child is different. If he needs the swaddling, likes it, then I would continue to do it. He will let you know when he no longer desires it.
I am the mother of four and the one thing that I have learned from all of my experiences is that children usually show you what they need. Good luck
K.

My daughter slept wrapped like a burrito for maybe seven months. She was born in the fall so when the weather warmed up in the spring it just became too warm for her to be comfortable with the blanket and she transitioned without any complaints.

Hi A.,

Our daughter slept best swaddled as well. We kept her swaddled until she was 6 or even 7 months old. www.miracleblanket.com This is the best swaddle we found and she stayed swaddled through the night. We went from the miracle blanket to a sleep sack, first at naps and then night time. I think it only took a few days of adjusting. Good luck!

As far as I know it is only a newborn thing because they are familiar with the cramped space of the womb. After that they should have their hands, arms and legs free to explore and learn to flip over and all that. You might want to put up with the cranky-ness for a while to begin that exploration. I feel like once the baby gets past what he is familiar with he will enjoy exploring his crib.

My daughter also liked to be swaddled, we stopped doing it when she could get her arms out because she liked to put 2 fingers in her mouth to self-sooth. If your son likes it, and he doesn't get out, then keep doing it!!

I like the idea of doing it looser and looser untile he grows out of it.

A.

I swaddled until she was 5 months. This is how I stopped: I stated with a kiddopotomus swaddle. (its velcrow)and had one arm out during naps only, starting with mastering the 1st nap. Then once she got used to that I had one arm out and night. Then I tried 2 arms out for naps only. Then I used a sleep sack for naps. Once she got used to having 1 arm out, it was a quick transition. She is 8 months and still uses the sleep sack. Its like a wearable blanket. I also have a little lovey in the crib for her that she looks for as a security blanket. I recommend soft little blanket with a animal head to chew on. Good luck

We swaddled our baby until he was 8 months old. He just couldn't sleep unswaddled prior to that. I don't see that as a problem. He'll let you know when he's ready!