My baby is 8 weeks old and we swaddle her using a Halo Sleep sack swaddler and have done so since she was born. She is now breaking out of her swaddle almost every time she goes down to sleep. We are unsure how to "wean" her off the swaddle. Any suggestions?
Have you tried just not doing it? Both my kids would break out of their swaddle and they didn't even last 8 weeks! I would just try not putting her in it, she'll probably be just fine, especially since she's trying to break free anyway!
If you can sew, get a 45" x 45" piece of soft flannel fabric at Joannes or Hobby Lobby. Sew the edges so it does not fray. That is the perfect size and you can swaddle her until she can turn over or sit up. This can also double as her "lovey blankie" that she can drag around. :P
here's how to do it with a square piece of fabric. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_pPtbguHUA&feature=re...
Good luck
My daughter fought the swaddle from day one, so one day I just stopped. She was happy as can be to stretch her arms and legs and got the best sleep to date. From then on, I just used the sleep sack. If you think she likes the tightness around her waist and not her arms, you can try leaving her arms out and swaddling the rest of her.
With my oldest I just swaddled with a blanket, my youngest broke out of every swaddle. They are all different. When she breaks out of the swaddle is she waking up and acting uncomfortable? Or will she just continue to sleep? You can try wrapping her up in a blanket instead.
My 6 month old didn't like to be swaddled and wouldn't sleep in his bassinet for the first 4 months, he would only sleep in his swing, thanks God we had a swing!!
We weaned our son from the swaddle around 6 weeks when he started breaking free during the night. We did it slowly, left one arm free from the swaddle for a couple nights, then both arms free, and just swaddle the lower half for a little while and finally switched him over to footie pajamas and went completely swaddle free! It was pretty easy, he never seemed to notice he had more freedom. We did have to get some gowns with the little mitts that flip over their hands because his hands would get so cold not being covered, but after 12 weeks or so he would stay warmer and could be in the jammies by themselves. Good luck!
None of mine cared to be swaddled, they basically couldn't stand it. My nephew on the other hand loved it, and as he started breaking free when he went to sleep my sister said they just stopped swaddling him, no weaning.
I used the kiddopotamus swaddleme swaddlers until my dd was 9 months, progressively getting bigger sizes as she got bigger, eventually weaning her by leaving one arm out, then the other, then nothing.
I swaddled my boy for months until I was sure he was ready.
I found stretchy blankets that fit his growing body.
I would get up in the middle of the night to re-swaddle him to make sure
he was warm & slept good.
Once he truly was ready (abt 4 mos?), I just put him in warmer sleep
attire to ensure he wasn't cold. I didn't give him blankets for awhile (if
I remember right) so he wouldn't get them stuck over his face where he
couldn't breathe.
Socks for cold weather.
Breathable infant, sleep clothes for warmer climates/times of year.
Does she need to be swaddled to fall asleep? If not, then I don't think you need to wean her. Just stop doing it.
My daughter was a big baby and broke out of the swaddle blanket from day one, but she wouldn't sleep unless she was rocking in a side-to-side swing or swaddled. I bought a Miracle Blanket which she used until about 6 months old. When she was too big for it (around 4 months), I tried removing it, but she wouldn't sleep, so I swaddled her arms and let her legs go free. That worked for her -- she fell asleep almost immediately. She's been a great sleeper ever since we stopped swaddling her. I didn't wean her off of it other than freeing her legs. She just stopped wanting it around 6 months.
Sounds like she's doing it on her own. Now just let her sleep in full-coverage pajamas and monitor her room temp at a comfortable level.
