How to Transition Your Baby Out of the Swaddle

If you already have a baby, you might have learned how to swaddle your baby from the nurses in the hospital.

If you don’t know, a swaddle is technically a thin blanket wrapped snuggly around your baby’s body that can resemble the womb and help soothe your newborn, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

However, once your baby gets older, it might be time for you to transition them out of it.

How to Transition Baby Out of a Swaddle

According to Flo Rosen, a retired paediatrician and grandmother, she said that some babies take transitioning out of the swaddle easier than others.

The first thing you want to do is make sure that you free up their arms.

You can try freeing up one arm and see how the baby reacts.

If your baby is still asleep, then you certainly can free up both arms.

She reminded that babies need to get out of their swaddle and be put to bed without one once they learn how to roll over.

Most babies will no longer use a swaddle somewhere between two and three months old.

Risks of Swaddling Babies

There’s a reason why it’s advised that you should try and stop using swaddles when babies turn two or three months old.

There are a few risks when it comes to swaddling babies and that includes:

1. It Might Affect Breastfeeding

According to National Childbirth Trust, early swaddling could affect breastfeeding if babies are prevented from having skin-to-skin contact during feeding.

But don’t worry as swaddling won’t have long-term negative effects on breastfeeding.

2. It Might Cause Hip Dysplasia

According to a research, swaddles, if it’s too tight could increase the chance for a baby to develop hip dysplasia.

When swaddling a baby, make sure that your baby’s legs have enough space to be able to bend up and out at the hips to allow for the natural development of the hip joints.

3. Possibly Causing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

If your baby has started to roll over onto their tummies, it’s best that you stop using the swaddle.

Always remember to put your baby to sleep on their backs, especially if they are swaddled.

Safe Sleep Recommendations

The AAP recommends these safe sleep recommendations:

• place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface and monitor them to be sure they don’t roll over while swaddled
• do not have any loose blankets in your baby’s crib
• do not use weighted swaddles or weighted blankets that can place too much pressure on your baby’s lungs and chest
• use caution when buying products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS
• your baby is safest in their own crib or bassinet, not on your own bed
• swaddling can increase the chance of overheating for your baby
• consider using a pacifier instead for naps and bedtime
• place the crib in an area that is always smoke-free

When to Swaddle Safely

According to Medical News Today, parents might find it beneficial to swaddle at night as it can help babies sleep better with few awakenings.

However, this would also be the time for the parents to also sleep, so no one would be able to monitor the baby to make sure they don’t roll over, that the blankets don’t become loose, that the baby does not overheat and that they can still feed on demand.

It is okay for you to swaddle your baby during the daytime, but only for short periods.

Be sure to remember to not swaddle your baby during feeding as this can cause the baby to overheat.

Benefits of Swaddling Your Baby

You can still swaddle your baby if you’re confident that you’ll be able to monitor your baby while in the swaddle.

Dock a Tot shared a few benefits of swaddles and that includes:

• helps your baby sleep longer and more soundly which also means better sleep for everyone
• swaddling prevents unnecessary wake-ups as it reduces their natural startle reflex
• the feeling of a swaddle imitates your touch and is a comfort to fussy babies
• reduces crying
• a swaddled baby can’t scratch their face
• helps your baby learn to self-soothe and get back to sleep on their own
• swaddled babies experience less anxiety

How to Swaddle Your Baby Properly

According to the AAP, these are the proper steps to swaddle a baby:

• use a thin blanket for swaddling
• to swaddle, spread the blanket out flat, with one corner folded down
• lay the baby face-up on the blanket, with their head above the folded corner
• straighten their left arm and wrap the left corner of the blanket over your baby’s body, tucking it between their right arm and the right side of their body
• tuck the right arm down and fold the right corner of the blanket over her body and under their left side
• fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of your baby
• make sure their hips can and that the blanket is not too tight. You want to be able to get at least two or three fingers between the baby’s chest and the swaddle

Get a Good Night Sleep Even Without a Swaddle

There are a bunch of ways to help your baby sleep.

You can try using pacifiers, feeding them, bathing them, reading to them or just a simple touch to make them fall asleep.

Just be sure to remember to practise safe sleep and to stop using a swaddle when they’ve started to roll over.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.

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