Mom’s Forum: When to unswaddle?

Posted in Mom Stuff
by besttech

McClatchy-Tribune

(MCT)

Moms Forum spotlights useful discussion taking place on the parenting forums of newspapers around the country.

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QUESTION: I have an almost 7-month-old son who we have been swaddling with the Miracle Blanket since 7 weeks old. He has started rolling over in his bed while swaddled which makes me uneasy about his safety. We decided to unswaddle him and it has been so hard; he just won’t sleep. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make this transition?

— Posted by courtney—newmom at mom2momdfw.com

RESPONSES:

— “My daughter also slept swaddled until 8+ months (she’s very petite), and then she eventually started pushing her way out. I would suggest loosening the swaddle blanket, a little at a time, and letting him get used to the freedom he has without it. I bet he just feels a little insecure without it, since he is so used to being swaddled. He’ll get used to it if you can ease him into it. Maybe after he is asleep, go in and unfasten it, so he can move his arms around. He’ll adjust soon.”

— “I have heard an easy way to transition is to try one arm at a time … swaddle him with one arm out for a couple of nights, then try both arms out for a few nights and get to the point where it’s not a tight swaddle. Then it finally becomes just a blanket!

— “My guess is that because something has changed, he just needs time to adjust. With him being more mobile than he previously was and with you removing the swaddling, he simply has something new to adjust to. Just like with any other change, go with the flow, listen to his needs and help him through it gently. If that means he needs you more often during the night right now, then offer it knowing that this too shall pass. All it usually takes is a little and a little understanding and he’ll be on to the next phase.”

— “What if you tried just a loose swaddle to transition him? I think that at 7 months old, a light blanket is perfectly safe, as he can roll around and has good head and neck control, so if he’s breaking out of his swaddle, it shouldn’t be a problem.”