Breaking the swaddle advice?

Jessica&Brett · June 2010

Does anyone have advice on breaking the swaddle? My LO is about 4 1/2 months old. We still swaddle him because he still had the startle reflex, and also because he pulls his own binky out if his arms aren't swaddled. He fights the swaddle though if he isn't eshausted though, and I think that'd part of the reason that he is still waking up in the night, because he grunts and tries to get out of it. Any advice on breaking the swaddle, or is it easier to wait until the startle reflex goes away? Thanks!

Mrs.Cooley2bee · June 2010

We swaddled DD until she was almost 6 months old, but she didn't fight it much. When we finally broke her we started by leaving one arm out for a few nights, then the other until she gradually got used to it. Depending on what type of swaddle blanket you are using you may be able to free his legs first. Also, you could try the Woombie swaddle blanket https://www.doodledooz.com/images/woombie%20newborn.jpg, it zips up so they can't break out but it also allows for some stretching and moving within the blanket - may be worth a try.

Good luck, I was terrified to stop swaddling because she slept so well with it!

identicaltwins2be · June 2010

We just stopped swaddling the twins. They were starting to fight it and I think that was part of the reason they have been waking up at night. They are doing really well. We just went cold turkey. They need something by their faces to fall asleep now that they aren't being swaddled so we let them have blankets until they fall asleep and then I take them out of their crib. I do check on them every couple of minutes when they have blankets because I don't want them to suffocate. They are still waking up but I think it has more to do with the 4 month wakeful and not the swaddle, or lack there of.

Good luck!

sistrkate · June 2010

With my older DS, we gradually weaned him by leaving one arm out, then both arms, and then finally the feet. It took a few weeks for him to get used to but it went well.

With my youngest, we just went cold turkey when we Ferbered. I actually think that was easier than the weaning gradually.

I would definitely give him some kind of lovey to hold if you decide to go for it. One of my boys has a stuffed kitty that he cuddles up to, and the other has the glowing seahorse. We couldn't have broken the swaddle without the loveys.

Mrs.Babbsy · June 2010

we did one night with their arms out and just went cold turkey, no issues either.

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