Transitioning Out Of The Swaddle

Swaddling is a common soothing method used by many families in the infant stage. This soothing method mimics the snug and cozy feeling that an infant feels while still in the womb. While swaddling is often very effective at soothing an infant it can only be safely done for the first two to four months of your baby’s life or until they start to show signs that they will soon rollover. Many families rely on the help of the swaddle to soothe their babies, and the thought of stopping swaddling can be daunting! Today we are here to talk about transitioning out of the swaddle.

When should we transition out of the swaddle?

Swaddling is a safe and effective soothing method for the first two to four months of your baby’s life. When your baby shows its first sign of rolling from front to back or back to front it is time to start transitioning out of the swaddle. This is because there is a risk of your baby not being able to roll back over if fully swaddled.

Beginning the transition

It is often easier to gradually transition your baby out of the swaddle rather than suddenly. To gradually transition your baby out of the swaddle you can try to cut the swaddle down to nighttime sleep only. This means practicing baby naps without a full swaddle. Another option is to try swaddling your baby with only one arm in the swaddle for a couple of nights and then transition the other arm out. You may also want to try swaddling every other night to see how they do. Some babies don’t have a problem with the transition at all, and therefore extra steps are not necessary while making the switch from a swaddle to a sleep sack or just a onesie.

Sleepsacks 101

Sleep sacks are typically suits where the baby’s legs are still wrapped, but their arms are free, making them safe for babies who are rolling. Sleepsacks can be a benefit during the transition out of the swaddle because they still provide a level of smugness. There are many different sleep sacks on the market. Listed below are popular sleep sacks:

Easy Transition sleep sack by Halo– This is a thicker sleep sack with long sleeves and is popular and loved by many families transitioning out of the swaddle.

Zipadee Zip sleep sack by Sleeping Baby – This is different because it keeps your baby’s arms up by their sides to help control their startle reflex.-

Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit by Magic Sleep Suit– The Magic sleepsuit might be my favorite sleep sack of all time. The Magic sleepsuit is thick yet breathable and allows for your baby to still get the snug feeling of a swaddle yet with the safety of both arms free.

This is a transition!

Transitioning out of the swaddle is a process, and while some babies adapt to the change very quickly it can take others a couple of weeks to adapt to the new change in their sleeping environment. We recommend ordering a couple of different transitioning sleep sacks and staying consistent! That means giving whichever option you try first a try for at least 4-7 days before switching things back up. If your baby hasn’t rolled yet but is beginning to show signs of rolling you may want to consider trying to transition them out of the swaddle during daytime sleeps first, or trying a one-armed swaddle for a week before making the full transition to a sleep sack! Each baby is different, and we promise you that transitioning out of the swaddle and any hardships that may bring will not last forever.

Thank you for reading this week’s blog, “Transitioning out of the swaddle” For more helpful tips on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood, tune into our weekly blog.