Why break the swaddle habit if it is working?

Debra4869 · June 2012

I have been trying to break DD of her swaddle and it is going terrible! She barely sleeps for her naps....we have not even tried overnight yet. She sleeps like a dream with the swaddle. I am starting to wonder lately why I am doing this to her! What is the downside to having a baby swaddled into 5 or 6 months? Is there anything really bad about it? She is not rolling yet. Everyone says do what works .... And this works for us! But I can't help but feel like I am prolonging the inevitable and enabling her to not learn how to self sooth.

mylove2005 · June 2012

I was the same way. DS started to get ready to roll so I decided that it was time to break it slowly because he was addicted to it and line you would not nap without it. We did it super slow and now we are swaddle free. I did not want cold turkey because I knew it would be a disaster and we all need sleep since napping is difficult

Helenahhandbasket · June 2012

Long time lurker so I hope it's ok if I jump in.

DD is 5 months old, we stopped swaddling a little over a month ago. I think the concern is if your DD is rolling, but you said she so far is not yet so you are ok. I agree with doing whatever works.

We did stop the swaddle cold turkey, but we now have DD sleeping in a halo sleep sack. She was a good sleeper in the swaddle and has continued to be a good sleeper for us in the halo sack. Have you thought about trying one of those?

diana.filipi · June 2012

I have friends who swaddled up to 12 months. I believe unswaddling is a preference for the most part. I stopped with DD at 4 1/2 months and I think I'll be switching over to the Magic Sleep Suit with DS this week.

Jen0204 · June 2012

If they weren't rolling we would still be swaddling. My mom still swaddles them during the day, but they sleep in RNPs for naps over there. We tried leaving both arms out, one arm out, sleep sacks, just PJ's, nothing worked so I finally sucked it up and bought the Magic Sleep Suits. They're expensive, but they really do work (for us, at least).

sunnyday016 · June 2012

Swaddling was working wonderfully for us too, until he learned to roll over. He sleeps like crap now

lorahbora · June 2012

I think every LO is different and you should go with your gut. If it works, then continue! Your LO will let you know when she's done with the swaddle. My DD slept the same whether swaddled or not, plus she started to roll, so I quit cold turkey, and she sleeps great. She immediately knew to start sucking on her fists, her pajama sleeve, or her lovey to put herself to sleep, so it's not as though she had to slowly learn - what Imean is, your LO will likely immediately be able to figure out self soothing as soon as she's unswaddled, at whatever age that may be. GL!

cabee310 · June 2012

We just randomly tried last night, and he slept normal=getting up twice a night. I couldn't be happier. No my baby still doesn't STTN, but I'm happy to get rid of the swaddle after all these months... however, if it didn't work, I'd still be doing it... til he was at least 18, lol

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