Seeking Advice on How to Stop Swaddling My 4 Month Old

Sounds like he may not be ready to not be swaddled. I swaddled my son until he was 8.5 months old...a long time I know, but he liked it and slept most comfortable when swaddled. at about 4 months, he started to kick his feet out, so i stopped swaddling his feet, but kept arms in, then he started to pull out his arms at about 8.5 months that is when we switched to sleep sack (wearable blanket). he is now 18 months and still in sleep sack. good luck

Hi M.,
He just needs to learn to put himself to sleep. They can't be swaddled forever. He's a great age to start sleep training. Usually, if you let babies learn to fall asleep on their own at a young age, you should have a baby who sleeps through the night. They usually cry for a little bit, but it doesn't last long. I wish I would have let my little girl fall asleep without any soothers. Anyway, I had all kinds of problems with my 2 1/2 year olds sleep habits. It took reading this great book to realize that the problems she was having were just created by me. I can forward this on-line book to you if you want (and any other mother who might need it). It really gave me the tools to change my families bad habits. My email address is ____@____.com. I hope to hear from you soon!

Why do you want to unswaddle him? My son(born 5/22/09) was swaddled until he didn't like it anymore which was around 5 months or so. I should say I did the same thing with my daughter.
Your son is going to shake up his sleep routine in the next couple of months anyway so why not make it easier on yourself at this point and keep him swaddled????

I also recommend you read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth.

Just curious why you want to stop swaddling him? I would use that strategy for as long as you can! good luck with your efforts.

Hi M.-
Like the other moms, Im not sure why you are trying to stop?? I swaddled my little guy until he was 7 months old... and it was during the start of summer, so it wasnt cold like now. Some babies just like to be nice and snug... if he sleeps well than take advantage!
Good Luck!

I agree with previous posters...we were using the Miracle Blanket on our 4-month-old twins and on their web site, it says for use up to 4 months old or so. When they were always managing to get out of their swaddle (one or both legs/arms out), then we knew it was time to stop swaddling. We chose a time when we were okay with losing some sleep since we weren't sure how the babies would adjust to sleeping without being swaddled. In place of their swaddle, we use sleep sacks. The first night without being swaddled, we were surprised at how well they slept! One baby was able to "self-soothe" to sleep. I think that's why at that age it's good to not have them swaddled so they can explore their hands and learn to self-soothe themselves to sleep. I think what your baby does is normal (looks like what one of our babies does) and eventually he should fall asleep. Good luck to you!

If you want to stop swaddling him, then you just don't swaddle him.

Next, ALL babies, WILL play with their hands or chew/suck on them, or have a 'startle reflex.' It is a normal and natural developmental thing that babies do & grow out of as they get older. They also need to explore their hands and move them around because it is all a part of natural development, and part of their reflexes etc.

Not all babies "have to" be swaddled.

It is also NORMAL that a baby "play" before falling asleep.... it is their way of "winding-down" before actually passing out. Much like how some adults have to read before going to bed, in order to relax. I doubt if any adult actually closes their eyes and passes out to sleep as soon as their head hits their pillow. Same thing with a baby.

In fact, I think its GOOD that your baby seems to be able to amuse himself before falling asleep. This shows he can "self-soothe." Which is good. Some babies dont' know how to do that. Yours does. That's good.

BOTH my kids, before they actually fell asleep, would "play" and babble to themselves in the crib too and amuse themselves. I was PROUD of them. It is good. Then eventually, they would fall asleep all on their own. Which is good. Each baby, falls asleep in their own way. THey do not have to all be swaddled in order to fall asleep... unless you want a baby that completely does not move around. But eventually, all babies, NEED to be out of the swaddle.... and their motor skills and reflexes will occur. You can't stop them from moving or playing with their hands. Its a good thing he is doing that... because it shows he is developing normally.
He is a young baby... and to me, he has his own way of falling asleep... and self-soothing. It does not mean that he has a "hard time" falling asleep just because he is playing with his hand. It means he is good at self-soothing and is self-reliant and CAN. Which not all babies can do.

Your baby is doing great, to me. He does not have to be in a swaddle.

All the best,
Susan

We swaddled our son until he was six months or so, using a Swaddle Me blanket with the velcro strips. I'd say do whatever helps him sleep. Read the Weissbluth book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" to get an idea of just how important sleep is. It sounds like you know your baby really well and know when he is showing signs of becoming over-tired (as well as what the consequences are of that! No fun for him OR you.) He'll grow out of the swaddle in his own time.

Why stop? I think I swaddled mine until he was getting out of it on his own, more like five or six months. I figured if he was struggling to get out, then HE was ready to sleep without it.

I am still working on this with my 5 month old. Some days I have better luck than others. I have recently had success with having him fall back asleep un-swaddled after nursing at night and in the early morning - I'll sit him up to burp him (or forgo the burp altogether) and then place him down on the bed while he's still groggy. The groggier he is, the less likely he will be to wake himself up with his arms. I have noticed that this has gotten easier for him over the past month.

I asked a swaddling question about a month ago and got some real helpful answers. You can check them out at:

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/11348339874685059073

Hi M., I say to just keep on swaddling him...he must like the security of the cozyness of the blanket. Once he starts kicking the blanket off...or squirming out of it, he's probably ready to quit swaddling. :)

M.,

We swaddled our little girl tightly for a long time! I do have to say it was a pain because we'd have to go in and re-swaddle her so she would sleep. Eventually at about 5.5 months, we did a modified CIO, and then she soothed herself with her hands or paci, and then she didn't need to be swaddled to fall asleep, especially by about 6 months when she started rolling and sitting. BUT, her swaddle blanket became her "lovie" and so we still wrap it around her loosely (not technically a swaddle...but laying down on it is her sleep cue I think). She is 22 months old and is a great sleeper...but she definitely wants to snuggle with her Nigh-night, as she calls it. :) Swaddle or don't, but don't stress about it...do what works for you and your baby. :) If you decide you want to stop, then be prepared for a little fussing, but he'll eventually fall asleep.

Take care!
R.