When and How To Unswaddle Your Baby

When?

The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to stop swaddling your baby at first signs of rolling NOT when they are rolling. This can happen as early as 8 weeks of age.

Common first signs of rolling:

• Baby moving onto their side

• Flicking their legs or arching their back in an attempt to roll

• Holding up and moving their head for longer periods of time during tummy time

How to Unswaddle your baby:

You can do this gradually or go cold turkey. Read the tips below and choose whichever method you think will work best for you and your little one.

Gradual: 

• Remove one arm at night for a few nights, keeping both arms in for naps

• Remove the same arm for naps for a few days and at night

• Remove both arms for nights for a few days, keeping one arm in for nap

• Both arms out for nights and naps and they are now in a sleep sack

Cold Turkey:

• At times, cold turkey can be easier for the parents or maybe your baby is not adjusting well to the gradual approach. Instead of extending the transition period, it can sometimes be simpler just to remove the swaddle and go straight into a sleep sack.

Most babies do sleep better swaddled as it is cosy and familiar to them and it stops the Moro (startle) Reflex which can disrupt their sleep. So, I absolutely understand the hesitancy to remove the swaddle if it is working well, but the AAP recommendation is “If infants are swaddled, always place them on the back. Weighted swaddles, weighted clothing or weighted objects on or near the baby are not safe and not recommended. When an infant exhibits signs of attempting to roll (which usually occurs at 3 to 4 months but may occur earlier), swaddling is no longer appropriate, as it could increase the risk of suffocation if the swaddled infant rolls to the prone position.”