when/how to stop swaddling?

[mommyof2boys]

My little guy is now almost 16 weeks, and seemingly addicted to swaddling.  How/when should this stop?

He's been waking up at night the last few nights--always having come out of his swaddle.  It really seems to upset him, and he's so strong now that even when I have it REALLY tight he can sometimes worm his way out of it.

Is this normal?  When will it end?  Is there anything I can do to help?

Any advice/experience would be much appreciated...

[Matthew's Mommy]

Hi there, sounds like his arms and limbs are starting to get stronger. Two things you can do, either wean him off the swaddle one arm at a time, or if he seems to really like it (if it ain't broke, theory) then make a larger swaddle blanket by cutting a twin sheet in half.  My spirited son, Brendan, needed the swaddling, and I swaddled him up until 6 months, and I made a larger blanket.

Hope this helps!

[tylersmommy]

I think it was around that time that I switched Tyler to the Aussie swaddle with a twin size bedsheet cut in half. We stuck with that until he was 8 mo or so. Directions for the Aussie swaddle are at the top of the General Sleep Issues forum. It takes a bit of practice, but it's much more difficult to wiggle out of. Good luck!

[alex and danny]

I was in the same situation. I weaned him off the swaddle, one arm at a time.  I now use a sleep bag. It tookabout a week for him to get used to it, many wake ups, but now he sleeps well.

[momtoelise]

We swaddled until Elise was 5 1/2 mos - when it got to the point that she was moving so much & out of the blanket before I left the room.  I already had been leaving one hand out (she sucks on her fingers) for a couple months.  We transitioned by letting her still sleep on the blanket we had been using & putting a thin one over the top of her for naps.  Then at night, we started putting her in a sleep sack still on top of the one we used for swaddling.  It went much better than I ever thought it would!!

Good Luck!