How to drop the swaddle for sleep
If you know me, then you know I love me a good swaddle! Swaddling can make such a difference for a newborn’s sleep. But, there’s also a time and place to stop swaddling. And that can feel big and scary. Perhaps you’ve just finally gotten to a place with your baby’s sleep where things are leveling out. If that’s the case, the idea of now dropping the swaddle and throwing sleep back into chaos can feel like the worst decision you could make. Or maybe sleep has really never gotten better for you and the thought of now making it potentially worse by dropping the swaddle almost seems like too much to bear.
Whether you and your baby are getting good sleep or not, transitioning away from the swaddle just never seems like a fun option. But I promise, it doesn’t have to be such a scary transition. Dropping the swaddle is simply an adjustment that your baby will make and within about a week, sleep will be back to normal!
Should I swaddle my baby for sleep?
But first, I do highly recommend swaddling as long as it is still appropriate for your newborn. Swaddling has so many great benefits for newborn sleep. Not only does swaddling trigger a calming and soothing reflex for your newborn, it also gives them a sense of security. These factors are key when it comes to sleep. Babies will sleep their best when they are calm, soothed, and feeling safe.
The second key purpose of swaddling is to muffle your newborn’s Moro reflex- also known as a startle reflex. They are born with this reflex and it is typically triggered when your newborn is placed on their back. It causes them to feel as though they are in free fall and this sensation leads to them jerking their arms out.
Obviously, this sensation can be very disruptive to their sleep! When swaddled, your newborn won’t be able to jerk their arms and may accidentally wake themselves up. Because of this, swaddling during sleep often helps keep your newborn from waking prematurely. This helps them (and you!) get better rest.
For more info on swaddling your newborn, check out this blog: Should I swaddle my baby for better sleep?
When to stop swaddling for sleep
However, there is a time and a place for swaddling and eventually your baby should no longer be swaddled for sleep. Here are the big signs that it’s time to stop swaddling your baby:
When they show the first signs of rolling. Note, it’s not once they actually start rolling as we don’t want to run the risk of them rolling while swaddled. It’s when they show those first signs of rolling that you need to get rid of the swaddle so they can have their arms free and the ability to push their face up from the crib mattress.
When they are active enough to kick out of the swaddle. Some babies are extremely active from the start and will hit this point sooner than others. But if the swaddle won’t stay on correctly, then it is a safety issue (and not working correctly anyways) so you should remove it.
When they are around 3-4 months of age. By this age, even if they aren’t rolling yet, they need to become more free during sleep time. Swaddling past this age can take away valuable rolling practice that many babies get in the crib. We don’t want to keep their movement restricted at bedtime and naptime once they hit 3-4 months.
When their startle reflex starts to go away. This one can feel like a catch 22 though. Oftentimes the startle reflex doesn’t seem to dissipate until you stop swaddling. So you should definitely use the above signs first and foremost. Your baby still having a startle reflex is not a reason to keep the swaddle if the other 3 signs above are being met.
How to stop swaddling for sleep
When it is time to stop swaddling your baby for sleep, this is a process that will take patience and consistency on your part. This won’t be something that takes a day or two- it will likely be a week or more process. Remember, your baby has been sleeping swaddled for a while now and it will take time for them to adjust to the freedom of movement that being unswaddled offers.
If you are using a traditional velcro swaddle (like the Ollie swaddle, Halo swaddle, or Swaddle Me), the best way to go about the process is as follows:
Step 1: Start by unswaddling one arm for a couple of nights. If a full night feels too long, then just aim for the first half of the night or the first couple hours of night sleep. Then you graduate to a full night unswaddled when you are ready.
Step 2: Leave both arms unswaddled for night sleep but still swaddle around the chest. This allows the arms to be completely free but still provides that extra sense of security because of the snugness around their torso. Stay here for a couple of nights too.
Step 3: Switch over to a sleep sack which means the arms will be free and the torso won’t be swaddled either. This is the final step for night sleep. Once you’ve made it here, give your baby time to adjust as you remain consistent while they struggle.
Step 4: Start steps 1-3 during the day for naps. You can choose to do all naps at once or you can gradually add naps in.
A couple key things I want to point out about the steps above:
Notice that I encourage you to tackle this process at night first rather than at naptime. A lot of parents are tempted to start at naptime but we typically see sleep changes are accepted more easily at bedtime when your baby’s body gets a surge of melatonin. Starting during the day will likely be a bit more frustrating for your baby so start at night instead.
The speed with which you transition out of the swaddle will be directly related to whether your baby is rolling or not. If your baby is rolling or very close, you can’t drag this process out because of the safety aspect. However, if your baby is not yet rolling and not showing signs of rolling, then you have more time to work with and gradually go through this transition.
In my experience, I do not find that spending longer on each step equates to an easier next step. Because the effects of the startle reflex often hang around until you stop swaddling, I don’t recommend dragging this process out unnecessarily. Instead, find a time to start and then see the process through. It will be over so much quicker than if you start and then stop repeatedly. You can do this!
Swaddle transition products to consider
If you haven’t been using a traditional swaddle that velcros OR if you would like to use a swaddle transition product to help, here are a couple recommendations:
Love2Dream has a transition swaddle that allows you to unzip the arms or “wings” as you’re ready so that your baby can get used to their arms being free.
Sleeping Baby Inc has what they call the Zipadee-Zip that is a great step right after you’re done swaddling. The “starfish shape” helps calm the startle reflex while also allowing your baby to have freedom of movement.
The great part about both of these transitional products is that they can be used as a sleep sack for as long as your baby still fits in them. So they aren’t a product that has a short lifespan.
Final thoughts
I know this transition from swaddle to sleep sack can feel very big but it doesn’t have to be. Like all other transitions your baby will go through in life, this is one that will feel hard but that they are capable of adjusting. While it will initially be challenging, your baby is more capable than you realize and soon they will be sleeping with their arms free and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that they are safe and able to adapt to change.
With the right amount of planning, follow through, and consistency, you’ll get your baby sleeping peacefully without the swaddle in no time! And if you need personalized assistance with this swaddle transition- or any other sleep issue, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help!
