how and when do you stop swaddling? When do you know your LO is ready??

[kgoldschmidt]

My LO is 5 months old. She has started moving around a lot in the crib and the other night i found her swaddled still flat on her face in the crib. It scared me so bad i went out and bought a video monitor. I tried not swaddling her and she wouldn't go to sleep on her own (which she normally does). Then she woke more frequently during the night.  When do you stop swaddling and HOW do you do it? 

[jasmynesmum]

how scary!  I have no advice as my first didn't really like to be swaddled so it was not an issue for us.  My ds however... he LOVES his swaddle!

[keh]

I have no experience (new mum of 10 week old), but I'm just wondering if you do the swaddle a little looser, or leave one or both arms out... and then progressively go looser and looser until it's just like a sheet/blanket laid across her?  Good luck!

[kgoldschmidt]

Thanks for the suggestions! I need to be more patient.  I tried the loose swaddle and she just jumps all over the crib, rolling over, turning sideways, etc. Today I put her down with a loose swaddle and same thing.  I went in after the third time and (frustrated) swaddled her tightly, and immediately she was OUT like a light.  I was just curious if some people still swaddled after 5 months??

[Hanneli]

From what I know there are many. We still swaddle at 6 months.

[PaulsMom]

Hi,

I stopped swaddling my ds when he was around 5 months old because he was moving around too much and fighting the swaddle.  At first I tried to get him to sleep in a sleep sack but that didn't work out very well (too much movement).  Then I started to swaddle him with just one arm out (I was using a SwaddleMe swaddle).  If he was OT, I would swaddle with both arms in to get him to sleep.  I let him get use to the one arm out swaddle for about 10 days and then transitioned him into the sleep sack.  Good luck!

[kgoldschmidt]

thanks! I will try that.

[sanaya]

hi my son is almost shy of 7 months and i still swaddle him, though i have found that for the last couple of days he wriggles out of it at night (i re swaddle). and i do put him to bed on his tummy (face down) and hes fine....i want to wean him off it completely since summer is around the corner, but i guess he will wean when hes good and ready. both his hands are swaddles in.
keh at 10 weeks i used to swaddle good and tight...(they like it that way) but it depends on your lo s temprement.

hth.