![]() You’ll open the strap, lay your baby in the middle between the soft supports, and then wrap each end of the strap around your baby’s chest. This is also an effective product to gradually transition a baby from a full swaddle. A couple of options available online include the Baby Merlins Magic Cotton Sleep Suit or the Halo SleepSack. They’re also thicker and warmer than a onesie or pajamas, so don’t use a sleep suit if your baby has a fever. Some look like onesies but have slightly longer openings for the legs and arms. Sleep suits provide comfort and security and reduce a baby’s startle reflex. Some suits have a slightly weighted pad in the center which mimics the soft touch of a hand resting on a newborn’s chest. Putting your baby in a sleep suit, also known as a wearable blanket, is another effective method to transition out of a swaddle. Consider these two available online: Nested Bean Zen Swaddle or the embé 2-Way Transition Swaddle Sack. Or, purchase a swaddle that allows the arms to be in or out. You can use this method with a regular swaddle blanket. Start with one arm out for a couple of nights, and then both arms out for a couple of nights (or more) before completely removing the blanket. This approach gives your baby the security and comfort they’re used to, while getting them used to sleeping without the blanket. Swaddle with one arm in, and one arm outĪnother method for a gradual transition is to swaddle your baby with one arm in the swaddle and one arm out. Once you see them roll over, even if it seems to be a one-off done accidentally, a swaddle isn’t safe for any portion of the night. It’s important that you start this method before your baby can roll over. ![]() ![]() The ideal, though, is for your baby to sleep longer and longer without swaddling each night, until they’re able to go the entire night unswaddled. If your baby wakes up fussy, you can swaddle them for the remainder of the night. Your baby starts off sleeping without the swaddle, and sleeps this way for about half or a third of the night. ![]() Partial night swaddlingĪnother method is a partial night swaddle. If your newborn is still learning how to calm themselves, abruptly getting rid of the swaddle could disrupt their sleep (and yours). The cold turkey method might be better on babies who are good at self-soothing. Some babies instantly adjust, whereas it takes other babies a few nights - so mentally prepare for a little crying. They remove the blanket or swaddle entirely, and then see how their baby responds to the change. So some parents take a “cold turkey” approach. There’s no way to know how a baby will transition until the process begins. Here are some methods and tips to make the transition a little easier. Methods to transition a baby out of a swaddleĪlthough every baby eventually transitions - they won’t be wearing their swaddle when they go off to college, after all, though they might sport a Snuggie - getting them used to sleeping without the wrap can take a few days. Swaddling reduces this reflex, helping newborns feel more secure. This is an involuntary movement response that babies have after birth, usually in response to loud sounds. It’s also time to transition if there’s evidence that your baby no longer likes swaddling, in which case they fight the swaddle or wiggle themselves out of the blanket at night.Īnd you might stop swaddling once your baby’s startle reflex decreases. A swaddled baby shouldn’t sleep facedown, as this is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). One sign that it’s time to transition out of a swaddle is your baby starting to turn over on their side or stomach. In fact, swaddling can become dangerous as a baby becomes older and more mobile. But it’s important to remember that swaddling isn’t meant to be permanent - it’s a temporary method to help newborns adjust to life outside of womb. If your baby is comfortable, content, and sleeping well in their swaddle, why transition them at all? When should you start transitioning from a swaddle?
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