How long do you swaddle?

Natalie - posted on 02/20/2010

I only swaddled my kids for maybe 2 months at the most. They kept fighting with me when i tried to swaddle them then so i gave up and they were much happier having their freedom... lol.
It all depends on your child. She will let you know when she doesn't enjoy it anymore.

Jessica - posted on 02/20/2010

my son is 5 months and i still swaddler him, but sometimes he wiggles out before the morning but if i dont swaddle him he wont go to sleep at all

Charmaine - posted on 02/20/2010

My son was about 1 month old when I stopped, he constantly kicked his way out of the wrap and it's summer here in Australia so I just found that it was too hot to be wrapping him up, he would have beads of sweat on his little head. But I'm sure that if I had a winter baby I reckon I would have kept with it for as long as possible.

Kate - posted on 02/20/2010

Hi,
I have recently had the same dilemma. I stopped swaddling my son at 4 months because I thought it was time and sleeping became an issue after we stopped. We have been to sleep clinic recently and they suggested I wrap him again, but will need to ween him slowly in the next few weeks (his now 5 months and 3 weeks). Apparently it's not uncommon for a baby to be swaddled until they are 8 months old. Now that his swaddled he is sleeping better again.
I was told the main reason you would stop swaddling is when you child can roll onto their tummy, as they need their arms to push up and protect their air way.
Hope this helps

MarQuita - posted on 02/19/2010

I did it until it stopped working. When My children no longer wanted to be swaddled in order to sleep well. I believe that was around 5-6 months.
- 18 yr Mother of Twin Boys 16mo old

Jennifer - posted on 02/19/2010

I really don't know the answer to that question because my daughter is too young yet to see where this is going to go with the whole swaddling thing, she is a week and a half. my daughter can nap without being swaddled but when it comes to a good night sleep she has to be swaddled otherwise she will wake up, we keep her in our bedroom which is kinda chilly at night so we think it has to do with her being cold too and wanting to be kept warm at night. And she won't nap at his grandmas house unless being swaddled and its kinda chilly there too so we think its a comfort thing and just wanting to be nice and warm.

Elissa - posted on 02/19/2010

after a few weeks my girl just ended up kicking her blankets off if she was swaddled and would then wake up from being cold :( sleep sacks solved that problem though.

Amanda - posted on 02/12/2010

I swaddled until he was almost 7 months because he wouldn't sleep with out it every nap and at night. Then he was just to strong for it and started breaking free and wouldn't wake up. Then I just stopped and now he doesn't need it to sleep. In my opinion, if your baby likes to be swaddled, then swaddle as long as your baby wants because they will be strong enough soon enough and wont need you.....have you ever heard of a 14yr old having to be swaddled???lol....



Hope that helps....

Tori - posted on 02/11/2010

I stopped swaddling my daughter when she was around four-five months. But I did not swaddler her while she slept. Because I was always told not to have anything in the crib with her. So I was to afraid to even put her down with a receiving blanket. She is almost ten months now and I have just started to cover her with a small receiving blanket but I still get up in the night and check on her as a precaution.

Heather - posted on 02/11/2010

I'm still swaddling my little one at 4 months as well, she just doesn't sleep right without it. I'll keep swaddling her til I can't figure out how or until she doesnt need it anymore

Angelique - posted on 02/11/2010

if you think about it this way they are basically swaddled in the womb for 40 wks. Thats a really hard thing to give up when thats all you've known during your entire existance! all baby's have different temperments so some can def. out grow swaddling before others! My eldest didn't like it after 6 wks! my 4 mnth old now is the same way as yours she wakes herself up by moving to much. Bbut if she's not sleeping she likes to be moving and free!

Joelle - posted on 02/11/2010

As long as you can. My daughter is 17 months, I wish I could still swaddle her up. :) They stay so nice and still and happy. I think My daughter was around 6 months when she decided swaddling wasn't her thing anymore.

Randi - posted on 02/11/2010

My son is 4 months old- he never enjoyed being fully swaddles- he would always pull his arms out. I used to rock him and cuddle hm to fall asleep. But I read an magazine article and decided to try toand let him fall asleep on his own. When I can tell he's sleepy or drowsy I put him in his crib. I have a little stuffed dog that plays lullabies, I put that on and give him a pacifier, they reccommend to go in every few minutes to comfort him if he's crying or upset and eventually make the trips longer between. But I've been doing it now for about 2 weeks and he's been falling sleep pretty well on his own and sleeping through the night! Good Luck!

Susan - posted on 02/10/2010

Thank you everyone for being so helpful. It's good to know that every child is different and goes at their own pace when starting or ending certain things !

Heather - posted on 02/10/2010

my son is 4.5 months old and i don't swaddle him until the middle of the night. he sleeps well without being swaddled, but when he wakes up to eat around 4 am he wont go back to sleep unless he is swaddled because he isnt fully tired. so i still swadddle him if he needs help falling asleep

Rochelle - posted on 02/10/2010

I swalldled until my son could break free on his own which was about 6 months

Amy - posted on 02/10/2010

Depends on the child, from what I read about 3 months is average. My son only made it a year until he broke out of the swaddling.

Tammy - posted on 02/10/2010

It's totally up to you and your baby. My daugther swaddler her daughter till she was 8 months old. Sometimes she will still swaddler her if she is not able to clam down and she just turned a year old. I'm a Early Childhood Specialist and my advice is if your daughter likes it do it. It won't hurt her. Swaddle is like the tightiness of the womb, and that is a familiar place for babies they where there for 9 months so it's what they are use to. When she no longer like to be swaddle she will let you now. After you swaddle her if she doesn't clam down within a few minutes then it's time to stop she is not liking it anymore. Some babies need that extra comfront from being swaddled. its ok.

Jamie - posted on 02/09/2010

Until she doesn't want to be swaddled anymore. My daughter is 2 months and hates being swaddled. She freaks out and grunts if I swaddle her. She does love cuddling though.

Nikki - posted on 02/09/2010

We stopped when we got home from the hospital, my son hated it he would kick and punch and kick to get out of it and then we'd find it over his head , so enough was enough. I don't think there is a specific time in which you need to stop, Im sure your child will let you know when they are ready.

Katie - posted on 02/09/2010

I started trying to put my son to bed without being wrapped around 4 months. He wasn't ready so I kept trying once a week until sometime into his 5th month, he didn't need it anymore. Swaddle your little one for as long as she needs it to feel comfortable, safe, and secure. I don't believe it's something you need to try to stop. She'll be ready when she's ready.

Amanda - posted on 02/09/2010

My babies were in the NICU for two months so they had a NICU follow up apt when they were six months old. We were told at that apt that they recommended that we stop swaddling the babies and remove any wedges that we had as well. I was also told to stop rocking them to sleep. (The latter I am not truly happy with.) But anyway, I was concerned about the no swaddling because they always woke themselves up when they weren't swaddled. They are now nine months old and I feel are sleeping much better with out the swaddling and the wedges. But I really think it all depends on the babies and the parents.

Sherri Nes - posted on 02/09/2010

i think its up to the baby if they like being swaddled..my little girl is only a month and 3 weeks and she hates it she cries but there are also times when she actually likes it..if she cant get a full night sleep without being swaddled just keep doing it until she doesnt want to anymore..

Megan - posted on 02/09/2010

I stopped swaddling my daughter shortly after coming home from the hospital with her... She would take her arms out anyways so there was no point and she liked to move around.

Kirsty - posted on 02/09/2010

I wrapped my babies until they no longer wanted to be wrapped or the bunny rug was no longer large enough I think they were both around 7-8 months before I stopped. It was great they always slept so well wrapped.

Lauren - posted on 02/09/2010

my baby girl is 7 months and I still swaddle her.