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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Swaddling Bad for Development? :(
I've swaddled DS for every nap and for nighttime sleeping, without fail, since he was born. He doesn't fuss - He will sometimes try to break out and sometimes he's successful. If he's napping during the day, this will pretty much wake him up immediately.
If he's sleeping at night, he'll usually sleep another hour or so before waking and needing to be taken care of and reswaddled.
I read earlier today that someone's pedi said they needed to try to break their LO of swaddling as the movement at night is important for their development.
DS is right on track or ahead with his milestones but this definitely concerns me. At his 2 month appointment, I asked my pedi how long I could swaddle and he said I could swaddle as long as it worked and as long as DS was happy with it.
I'm confused now and want to make sure I am doing the right thing. Honestly, it panics me to think about not swaddling him because it will mean some sleepless nights until he gets used to it. Of course, though, I want to do what is best and try to implement changes before he gets into habits.
Can someone shed some light on this subject for me? 
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Re: Swaddling Bad for Development? :(
Of course, I am not an expert, but everything I have read says that swaddling is good (if your baby likes it) because they are less likely to startle themselves awake.
Plus, there is the 4th trimester theory that says that babies like to feel like they are still in utero so swaddling is good.
I have to swaddle my LO
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Do you know why four months is the magic cut-off? Because that's when habits develop and become difficult to break or some other reason? I'm wondering when I should start to wean him and how to wean him...
I tried tonight but it was a big, fat fail and he kept waking himself up.
Yeah - Swaddling has always been imperative for DS too.
I want to say it has to do with their ability to roll over. DS HAS to be swaddled so I am dreading the day we stop.
I think it has to do with the rolling over as well. I've heard that til at least 3 months that it's okay.
I think it was me that mentioned that night movement without a swaddle is good for development. Sorry if I panicked you. Our Pediatrician said to swaddle as long as necessary for LO and they are happy with it, but if we notice that she no longer needs it then to let her go without the swaddle. I think 4 months is the usual time to stop if you haven't already because by then they should be rolling over or at least almost rolled over. LO hasn't smacked herself awake in about 2 weeks and I have only swaddled her at night since she was about 2 weeks old. So she is pretty used to going without. Now I can only peacefully get her swaddled when she has passed out for the night so I think she is ready to go without it.
As for the night time movement, doctor said that once you stop swaddling it allows them freedom to practice muscle movements while they sleep. But I wouldn't worry about this until you reach that 4 month mark. Some babies need the extra security of the swaddle and it's not going to do them (or you) any good if they can't get a good night's sleep. Honestly if my LO still needed the swaddle I would stick with it until the doctor says otherwise. It just so happens that my LO doesn't need it anymore so why bother if it may wake her up when I do swaddle her?
Hope this helps and I'm sorry for causing you to panic!
There was a study done once that followed the development of babies that were swaddled for over a year and it found that their gross motor skill development lagged behind about 1 month compared to other babies.
I wouldn't worry so much about the swaddling, but moreso about developing health sleep habits (swaddling can help with the that).
Beside, I think the thing that affects development is extreme swaddling (ie - all the time, not just at sleep time and all day), not moderate swaddling. Maybe even try not swaddling at nap time and see how baby does - it may even make a transition later on easier:) With our girls, we only swaddled during the night and for naps no swaddle - they also hated their arms strapped down, so they were only ever swaddled from the armpits down. Actually, Natalie is still swaddled for bedtime.