Your Mini Cart

Weaning Your Baby Off Swaddling

testing 123

When to Wean

Once your baby becomes frustrated with being swaddled or her sleep deteriorates, it is time to think about weaning her off being wrapped.
 
Also as your baby starts to roll, she may be unsafe swaddled as tummy sleeping/swaddled babies have a x7 SIDS risk compared to back sleep/swaddled babies.
 
There is no specific age that you need to stop swaddling, but once your baby is over 4 months it can be good to start the weaning off swaddling process very gradually. Some babies may be ready earlier, while others still enjoying their swaddles for many more months!
 
If your baby is over 5 months, still swaddled and waking in the night, she may need at least one hand out. This would enable your baby to hold a blankie, suck her fingers or put a dummy back in herself. If you keep both arms in the swaddle past 5 months of age, you are likely to continue to need to help your baby back to sleep!

When to Wean 2

1111 Once your baby becomes frustrated with being swaddled or her sleep deteriorates, it is time to think about weaning her off being wrapped.
 
Also as your baby starts to roll, she may be unsafe swaddled as tummy sleeping/swaddled babies have a x7 SIDS risk compared to back sleep/swaddled babies.
 
There is no specific age that you need to stop swaddling, but once your baby is over 4 months it can be good to start the weaning off swaddling process very gradually. Some babies may be ready earlier, while others still enjoying their swaddles for many more months!
 
If your baby is over 5 months, still swaddled and waking in the night, she may need at least one hand out. This would enable your baby to hold a blankie, suck her fingers or put a dummy back in herself. If you keep both arms in the swaddle past 5 months of age, you are likely to continue to need to help your baby back to sleep!

Safety Issues

Sleeping on the tummy while swaddled can be dangerous, so if your baby still needs to be fully wrapped to settle once she can roll over, we strongly recommend you use a Safe T Sleep over the swaddling to keep her safely on her back. Click here for more info on the Safe T Sleep.
 
 

Watch Video - All About Swaddling

In the video below Louise from The Sleep Store will guide you through the different types of swaddles available with a focus on transitional & summer swaddles.

Watch Video - Use a Muslin Wrap to Transition from Swaddling

 
In the video below Louise from The Sleep Store shows just how easy it is to use a traditional muslin wrap to help baby transition from a swaddle to a sleeping bag by demonstrating how to wrap baby with one arm out.

What are baby tired signs?

These are the signs your baby shows that she is tired. This is your best indicator of when to put a newborn to bed, rather than sleeping at a set time.  

Tired signs include:

- Grizzling
- Jerky leg movements
- Wriggling
- Making fists
- A fixed stare
- Facial grimacing
- Looking away from you

More about baby tired signs >

Are you experiencing difficulties with settling your newborn, or your baby is not sleeping well? While new babies do mean less sleep than you are used to, there is no need to suffer stressful days and nights when there are many simple solutions to help you and your baby.

Most newborn sleep & settling problems are very common. These frequently asked questions & answers should give you a good idea of where to start.

 

In this article:

My baby hates being swaddled

My baby keeps escaping from his wrap - help!

My baby is very hard to settle

What are baby tired signs?

Should my baby have a routine?

Could my baby have colic?

My baby will only sleep when I hold her - what can I do?

My baby feeds to sleep, is this a bad habit?

My baby looks asleep, but wakes screaming 10 minutes later

My baby only sleeps for 20 minutes at a time

Where should my newborn sleep?

 

 

All about Swaddling - 'LIVE with Lou'

Louise invites two mums into The Sleep Store to go through swaddling options for the warmer nights and the when and how to transition out of the swaddle for your baby. Watch 'Live with Lou'.

https://i3.ytimg.com/vi/OLNr5a_AgvY/maxresdefault.jpg

2016-11-11

PT48M43S

The Sleep Store

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-ejs8jv4vgh/images/stencil/239x52/logo-small_1582001262__84777.original.jpg

https://youtu.be/OLNr5a_AgvY

https://youtu.be/OLNr5a_AgvY

Little Unicorn Muslin Swaddle One Arm Out

Need to transition your little one from swaddle to sleeping bag? Find out how to use a muslin swaddle with one arm out, so baby can get used to not being swaddled. Louise from The Sleep Store shows you how to use a traditional muslin wrap, so that baby has one arm out of the swaddle. This is a great way to wean baby of swaddling, when they're getting ready to transition to a sleeping bag. Louise uses a Little Unicorn muslin swaddle, a cool and breathable option for the summer months.

https://i3.ytimg.com/vi/4y1DFY46tNc/maxresdefault.jpg

2019-01-03

PT0M51S

The Sleep Store

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-ejs8jv4vgh/images/stencil/239x52/logo-small_1582001262__84777.original.jpg

https://youtu.be/4y1DFY46tNc

https://youtu.be/4y1DFY46tNc

All about BREASTFEEDING - with Libby - (Midwife and Lactation Consultant)

These are the signs your baby shows that she is tired. This is your best indicator of when to put a newborn to bed, rather than sleeping at a set time.

http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/1uYMg5QCN3M/hqdefault.jpg

2020-04-23

PT0M51S

The Sleep Store

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-ejs8jv4vgh/images/stencil/239x52/logo-small_1582001262__84777.original.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uYMg5QCN3M

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uYMg5QCN3M

BACK TO SLEEP ADVICE
×

Location Check

Please confirm your country or region to ensure you’re browsing the correct store.

Select Location

    Please note, if you are browsing on an IP address outside of Australia then prices will display excluding GST, however GST will apply at checkout.

    CONTINUE