How Long Can You Swaddle?

until they can break out of the swaddle.

both my boys broke out / stopped swaddling at approx 7 months.

Additional Info:
1. Read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"
2. Use the Miracle Blanket to swaddle
3. Use a sleep positioner in crib.

I always just did it until they consistently wiggled out of it (less than a month for us... :( ). Once they can roll over, they usually will to sleep on their tummy, and USUALLY (not always, obviously) they sleep better that way because they can't flail or startle themselves since the mattress is in the way. :)

I swaddled until he would break free & I could tell he no longer wanted/needed or liked it.

It was at 5 1/2 months.

I even bought bigger, stretchy swaddle blankets when he started to grow
because he still liked them right up to 5 1/2 mos like I said.

You'll be able to read your babies cues. She'll let you know.
Btw, never a stupid question.

I would think until the baby can consistently break out or doesn't want to be swaddled anymore.

I had one that seemed to want to be free from the swaddle fairly early but all the movement would make it difficult for him to fall asleep at night. Naptimes seemed less of an issue for whatever reason.

We started doing a partial swaddle. So first, we'd swaddle all but one arm so one arm was free. Then we swaddled just his body and legs and let his arms free. That seemed to satisfy him while still giving him a bit of that secure feeling and a sense of freedom. It might be a way for you to start weaning her off the swaddle.

All of my kids loved to be swaddled and we even swaddled them at 2 years old---I know it sounds crazy, but they love it and it makes them feel much more secure. You don't have to keep them in the actual swaddle blanket, but you can do modified versions of it---keep arms out and just do legs or use a big blanket and swaddle everything-. Its up to you.

We just use a super big blanket and it works well.

I believe they recommend that you don't swaddle past 3/4 months. I did my daughter up til 4 months and my son at 3 because they were breaking out of the swaddle and I didn't want them rolling around in the unswaddled blanket. A friend swaddled her daughter until 9 months because she never broke out of it! As long as its safe, I say swaddle away BUT since I swaddled for naps as well, I started to unswaddle during the day and just swaddle at night to wean off the thing and that helped. Good luck!

You can swaddle them until they get themselves out - it's usually around 6 months or so. And you can change it to the one arm swaddle - google that for pictures and tips on wrapping that way.

I swaddled until they weren't interested in it anymore, somewhere aroud 5-7 months. If it is helping your baby sleep, why change it?

You swaddle until she doesn't want to be swaddled anymore and consistently breaks out of it.

I swaddled until my boys wouldn't put up with it anymore. That's about when they started rolling...and once they started rolling, they slept on their tummies. They didn't flail about anymore because they felt more secure on their tummies.

If it were me, I'd swaddle until she rolls consistently, and then put her to sleep on her tummy.

I figure do it as long as you want. If it helps her sleep, then just keep doing it. Sure, family members can give you advice, but it's your baby. Not theirs. And if swaddling helps her fall asleep and stay asleep, then keep doing it. It's a comfort thing. She needs the comfort and it helps. So, when its her nap time, swaddle. When its wake up time, set the swaddling blanket to the side. You decide. hope this helps!

I swaddled my kids for about 6 months. By that time, they would wiggle out of it. I was so sad when I couldn't do it anymore.

All babies are different.

My first baby was extremely active in my womb, and she HATED being swaddled. She simply did not like it at all. She wanted to move her arms and kick, even as a newborn. She nursed once during the night and was a great sleeper. If I tried to wrap her up, she freaked.

My son liked being swaddled, but only if his arms were out and his feet weren't tucked in. It certainly wasn't a "technical" swaddle.

If your daughter likes the swaddling, go with it for now. When she does get rolly polly, you may have to swaddle for sleep and then loosen her up gently a bit and get her arms out. At a certain age, you should have her laying on the floor and letting her get arm strength and and figuring out how to roll over herself. She needs to learn how to get from back to front and front to back on her own. She will get frustrated if she tries that with her arms and legs rolled up.

My son went through a funny stage when he was 3 years old. Suddenly, he loved being rolled up like a burrito in his favorite blanket for bed. He was also quite capable of getting his arms and legs out all by himself as he slept. Next thing you know, he just wanted his top sheet and his favorite blanket on top of that.

All kids and babies have their little weird ways. Just go with it. You'll know when she doesn't want to be swaddled or it's not safe for her to roll on her tummy with no way to roll herself back if she can't get her arms out.

Either way, it's a transition, and you will go through many, many more as your baby grows.

Best wishes.

I've been told by drs not to do it much past 4 months because they need to be able to move about at night because its another form of exercise and helps development. But with that said do what you feel right for your baby :) you know what she needs more then any dr would, and as long as she's getting plenty of floor time during the day:)