when do you stop swaddling?

marybeth1699 · June 2011

at what age do you stop swaddling your baby? And how do you keep them warm when they sleep? Do you use those sleeping bag things? Or a blanket?

srs5624 · June 2011

We never did the swaddle. Even in the hospital. DS would pitch a fit if he couldn't move.

He slept in long sleeved footie pjs for the 6 weeks. At that point he had his body temperature pretty much under control, so we switched to a long sleeved onesie and socks for 2 weeks.

At 8 weeks we switched to having him sleep in a diaper and a short sleeved onesie. He started sleeping at least 8 hours through night on the very same day. He runs warm so he gets cranky if he's all covered up.

I should mention... we have central air so we keep his room around 71*F. We've had our a/c on since mid-April because he was fussy from being too warm.

monkeyqueen · June 2011

Dominic was 9 months old when we stopped. But....he's always been swaddled from with arms out. We've never swaddled arms in.

2dogmom · June 2011

We swaddled DD for about 3 to 4 months (until she busted out), she loved it and STTN at eight weeks as long as she was swaddled. Then we did the sleep sacks...zip up the front, one piece, things. GL!

schenkertobe · June 2011

We are still swaddling (DS is almost 4 months), but recently we went to arms out swaddle and he is much more comfortable. He doesn't like the full swaddle anymore.

mommy452011 · June 2011

I just asked this same question yesterday!

My 2month old "needs" to be swaddled or she keeps herself awake with her constant movement. With her arms out, she's constantly rubbing her face and hitting the pacifier out of her mouth - in turn waking up.

It's also becoming a cue for sleep time. Sometimes she protests at first, but then quickly settles.

I do have those sleep sacks too. They make long sleeve and tank top type. That's what I'll move to next.

Be careful about the blankets, you don't want them to kick it up over their face.

sweetpea2802 · June 2011

mine is almost 2 months. we still swaddle, but we have always done it with the arms out, if not she would kick it off and bust her arms out. She will sleep a good 6-7 hours at night swaddled, during the day we try to lay her down in pack and play without being swaddled and she wakes right up. she is outgrowing her blanket so ki think i am going to try the sleep sac thing.

LawLove08 · June 2011

We swaddled DS (in Miracle Blanket) until he was 8 months old. He loved it, would STTN with it, etc). Around 6 months he started sleeping at night without the swaddle and quickly became a belly sleeper, which pedi ok'd because he was putting himself on his belly. But we still swaddled for naps until he was 8 months. I took it away when I went in one day and he had flipped himself onto his belly while still fully swaddled.

DD sleeps swaddled (arms in) at night, and usually one nap a day.

LynsiBHM · June 2011

we stopped swaddling the day we got home from the hospital. I use breathable blankets and just keep them away from his face.

blessedandhopeful · June 2011

The "new parent" booklet I received from the hospital said to stop swaddling at one month old. It said at that point it starts restricting the baby at a time when he/she needs to be able to stretch out, or something. Oddly enough, my DS suddenly hated being swaddled right around one month old. It wasn't until a few days after we stopped swaddling him that I found that passage in the booklet.

HenHen25 · June 2011

We stopped swaddling at 6 weeks when DS started fighting it. DS was no longer comforted by the swaddle and he would arch his back, and scream anytime we tried. We use sleep sack to keep him warm at night.

spokenfor1583 · June 2011

We just stopped swaddling DS last week. We were because he was sleeping so well. But it was so hot the one night that I knew I couldn't do that to him. So I put him in the sleepsack and he actually slept like 7 hours. But since last week he hasn't needed to be and he now doesn't mind being put down awake and actually puts himself to sleep which is good.

But honestly I would swaddle as long as your LO will allow you too. Do what works for you and if that is it then I wouldn't change anything.