How to transition your newborn out of the swaddle
Becoming a new parent comes with a myriad of decisions and milestones, one of which is transitioning your baby out of the swaddle. Swaddling, the age-old practice of wrapping infants snugly in a blanket to mimic the coziness of the womb, is used to help babies sleep better in the early weeks. However, there comes a time when it’s necessary to transition away from swaddling to allow for healthy development and safety. I know all too well the exhaustion of caring for a newborn. Sleep becomes a precious commodity, and any disruption to your little one’s sleep routine can feel daunting. If you’re ready to tackle the transition from swaddle to sleep sack but feel overwhelmed about how to do the transition out of the swaddle and when to start the transition from the swaddle, take a deep breath and know that it’s going to be okay. This blog will guide you through strategies to try and support your newborn sleep journey.
What you will learn from this blog:
- Why a swaddle is effective
- When to transition your newborn out of their swaddle
- Signs to know it is time to transition
- How to transition out of the swaddle – 4 methods to consider
- Product to avoid during the transition
- Next steps
Why a swaddle is effective
The moro reflex is one of your newborns’ primitive reflexes they are born with and begins to appear in utero around 28 weeks gestation. The moro reflex is a protective response to support your newborn when startled to become highly alert, such as when loud sounds or sudden movement happens (such as when you lower them to their bed, it can feel like they are free falling).
This reflex looks like your newborn throwing out their arms and legs like a starfish and back in again and throwing their head back.
The swaddle is a strategy used to contain their arms close to their body which limits their ability to move their arms/hands and therefore inhibiting the reflex and the impact it can have on their sleep. If they can’t move their arms, they can’t startle themselves awake. A swaddle may be a thin baby blanket wrapped firmly and tightly around your baby, or a zipper or velcro swaddle that is designed to fit snugly around your baby and only undone when an adult removes the fasteners.
For some newborns, the startle response can be stronger than for other newborns and if sleep is already scarce, the thought of removing the swaddle prematurely for them to practice can be overwhelming to consider.
When does the moro reflex disappear?
At around 3-6 months of age, this reflex becomes integrated with their bodily system, aka it goes away and isn’t noticeable any more. The moro reflex becomes integrated by your newborn using their startle response and working through the startle or overcoming that response (cue my favourite phrase of “practice makes progress”).
When to make the transition out of the swaddle
The right time to transition out of the swaddle is unique to each baby but there are some general recommendations to consider. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest that you stop swaddling your baby when:
- they begin to show signs of rolling front to back and/or back to front
- This means it can be as early as eight weeks or later, around sixteen weeks.
- The recommendation is when they start to show any signs of rolling one or both ways.
An important part of newborn sleep is that not every newborn likes to be swaddled! I have seen many babies not enjoy their swaddle (they prefer to sleep with their arms up or stretched out) and so if you’re reading this as a soon-to-be parent or new parent, it’s ok if your baby doesn’t appear to calm in the swaddle – it may just not be a strategy they need!
From a personal perspective, my son didn’t enjoy the swaddle so we quickly stopped using it in the first few weeks of his life. We didn’t even try a swaddle with our daughter once home from the hospital!
Signs to watch for to make the swaddle transition
Your baby may begin to show some or all of these signs:
- Rolling onto their side or shoulders
- Pivoting or scooting around during tummy time
- Pushing up onto their hands and arms during tummy time
- Rolling hips side to side
- Breaking out of their swaddle during sleep time
It is important to note that sometimes skills are practiced during sleep, so it is important to watch them during floor time to see if they are starting to explore any of these movements. Our bodies and brains often prioritize practicing a new skill instead of sleeping during developmental progressions. You can read more about skill development and sleep in a guest blog with a pediatric physiotherapist here.
What happens if your baby startles themselves awake once out of the swaddle?
This reflex integration may take time to happen and the best way to get to the other side is practice. Offer your baby support to get back to sleep in a way that feels best for your family – bum pats, singing, rocking, bouncing, etc. Easier said than done – I know! But truly, after a few nights, your baby will learn to sleep without a swaddle when they have the practice opportunity to do so.
How to transition out of the swaddle
The transition out of the swaddle can be a tricky one for some babies… It’s new and different and the best way to get through it is practice.
- Cold turkey
You stop using the swaddle and move directly into a sleep sack without a transition period. If your baby is already rolling, I highly recommend this option.
- One arm out
Keep your baby in their swaddle, and at each sleep opportunity (e.g., nap 1, nap 2, etc.) you will take one arm out of the swaddle and leave one arm in the swaddle. At each nap/bedtime, you will alternate which arm you have out, and one arm remains in the swaddle.
After 3-5 days of alternating between one arm out of the swaddle, you can either keep them in the swaddle with both arms out or move to a sleep sack.
- A transition swaddle
These products are designed to give your baby some limb movement and some containment. They are designed as a short term solution to bridge between a swaddle and sleep sack. Some client favourites are the Zipadee-Zip and LoveToDream.
- Naps only and gradual increase
Start with nap 1 of the day and try no swaddle. This will allow them a short opportunity of practice before swaddling for subsequent naps and nights. After 2-3 days, add the next nap of the day unswaddled. Gradually increase the number of naps your baby has unswaddled in the day before adding in the night.
Product to avoid during the transition from swaddle to sleep sack
I know how desperate it can feel to try and squeeze every last minute of sleep into the night but using a weighted sleep sack is not the safest answer to the sleep struggle.
A weighted sleep sack has been advised by the AAP to be an unsafe product in the baby sleep market due to risk of breathing restrictions from weight. The products are not individualized which means some weights in the product may be too much for an infant chest cavity.
Next steps
Transitioning your baby out of the swaddle is an important milestone that supports their development and safety. Whether you choose a gradual approach or decide to go cold turkey, the key is to be patient, consistent, and attentive to your baby’s needs. By providing comfort, reassurance, and a sense of security with your hands-on support, you can help your baby adjust to their new freedom and feeling of movement and continue to guide their sleep journey.
Remember, every baby is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. If you’re looking for support and guidance on your newborn’s sleep journey, you can connect with me here to learn more about my newborn support package and how I can support you through this challenging phase.
Chelsea
Chelsea is Mom of 2 and a Baby, Toddler and Child Sleep Consultant. She has advanced certification in Infant and Early Mental Health and Pediatric Sleep Health and has a Master’s of Professional Education with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She supports families within Hamilton and beyond with hands-on, no cry-it-out, responsive methods towards longer naps and better nights. Chelsea works collaboratively with families to empower them with the confidence and tools they need to reach their unique sleep goals. Hear from rested families here and book a free call with Chelsea here to discuss how she can support your family’s journey to more sleep.
