All things Swaddling: When, Why and How to Wean [Ultimate Guide]

Disclaimer: Sarah Mitchell is no longer a licensed or practicing as a chiropractor in California or any other jurisdiction. This website does not offer, advertise, or promote chiropractic services, and nothing here should be interpreted as healthcare advice or the practice of chiropractic. No doctor-patient relationship is established through this website. None of this content should be taken as medical information. The information on this website is provided without warranty or guarantee, and users assume all responsibility for its use. The purpose of swaddling? Different types of swaddles? When to swaddle? When to stop swaddling? How to transition out of the swaddle ? When you need to stop swaddling due to safety 00:00 Intro 00:23 Why to Swaddle? 00:30 Moro Reflex 1:40 Why Swaddling is Important 3:29 Swaddling for Naps and Nigh Time Sleep 4:32 Check out Instagram (@helpingbabiessleep) 4:48 When Should You Stop Swaddling? 5:10 Some Transitional Products Some links to my favorite products (amazon affiliates): Swaddle up than transitions: https://amzn.to/3a1tGqy Merlin Suit: https://amzn.to/39hH1vN Halo Swaddle/sleep Sack: https://amzn.to/2MvbGws Woolino: https://amzn.to/3pnrEaz Struggling with Sleep? Take my simple 6 question sleep quiz to find out why and 1 simple thing you can work on tonight. www.helpingbabiessleep.com/sleep-quiz You’ve spent so much time getting your baby to sleep and swaddling, now you might be wondering how do I wean my baby from the swaddle? Keep reading and I”ll give you 6 simple steps. The purpose of swaddling: To restrain the arms close to the body and stop the Moro reflex from disturbing your baby, especially if she’s about to fall asleep and then gets startled. Swaddling is also used to keep the baby warm and feeling secure, simulating conditions seen in the womb. The Moro Reflex is an involuntary reflex of the arms in response to stimulation. It is sometimes described as the “startle response”. Does your baby hate the swaddle? Many new parents will tell me that their baby does not like to be swaddled. Here’s the truth: a newborn is really not that discriminating at this age. He has no opinion about being swaddled. The parents usually have an overtired baby on their hands who is fussy and inconsolable, yet the parents interpret these tears as a dislike to a swaddle. If you have tried the swaddle before and found your baby didn’t like it, I urge you to try it again when your baby is not exhausted. For example, the first nap of the day is the easiest to get baby down for so try swaddling for this nap. How to swaddle? There are some great youtube videos out there demonstrating a good swaddle. You can also buy helpful tools such as “The Miracle Blanket” which take the skill out of swaddling and make it easy, consistent and fuss free. When do you stop swaddling? 1. When she starts to roll. You want your baby to be swaddle free by the time she is rolling since you wouldn’t want her to roll over and not be able to roll back because of restrained arms. This could cause an injury. This information is from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding Safe Sleep. 2. You’ll also want to stop swaddling when you start sleep training your baby. She’ll need her hands available when she’s learning to self soothe. How can I wean baby off the swaddle? Start at night time when the drive to sleep is the strongest and there is less stimulation compared to the daytime. Be gradual.