Key Points
- When babies move around more in their sleep, it’s important to stop swaddling them. When your baby moves around more, this loosens their swaddle blanket. Loose blankets increase the risk of sudden infant deaths (SIDS).
- You can use the “Arms Out”, “Legs Out”, and “Part-Time Swaddling” methods to help your baby sleep without a swaddle.
- You can use transition products like a transition bag, a swaddle strap, a sleepsuit, or a wearable blanket.
- People who prefer not to use a transition method can use the Cold Turkey Method.
- Most babies only take a few weeks to adapt to sleeping without a swaddle.
When your baby gets used to swaddling, your next challenge will likely be getting them to sleep without being swaddled. But how do you get your baby to fall asleep when they aren’t wrapped?
In this article, we’ll give you all the tips you need to know on how to upgrade your baby’s sleep routine when you need to ditch the swaddling blanket. But first, let’s look at the different methods to get your baby to sleep without a swaddle blanket successfully.
In This Article
- Why Does Your Baby Need To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
- What Are Some Common Signs It Is Time To Transition Away From The Swaddle?
- How Do You Get A Baby To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
- What Products Can Help A Baby Sleep Without A Swaddle?
- How Long Does It Take A Baby To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
- How To Ensure You Maintain A Safe Sleeping Environment During The Transition Out Of A Swaddle?
- What Can You Do With Old Swaddle Blankets?
Why Does Your Baby Need To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
Swaddling can be helpful for newborns to feel safe, but there comes an age when swaddling becomes more dangerous than helpful. According to Red Nose Australia, swaddling should be discontinued as soon as your baby shows signs of attempting to roll.
This is because once your child begins to roll, they’ll need their hands and legs to move them out of a dangerous position. Swaddled babies who roll onto their front might not be able to move themselves to keep their airways open, which can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Older babies can also often loosen their swaddle by moving in their sleep. Loose blankets increase the risk of SIDS exponentially as they can cover your baby’s face and create a suffocation hazard. So, to keep your baby’s sleep environment safe, it’s necessary to stop swaddling.
Sooner or later, your baby will also have to stop sleeping without a swaddle blanket when they move around more and can start rolling. The swaddle changes from a thing of comfort to a safety hazard. It’s advised that you stop swaddling when the Moro reflex (or the startle reflex) goes away, which is around 3 to 4 months of age.
What Are Some Common Signs It Is Time To Transition Away From The Swaddle?
We’ve detailed the common signs to stop swaddling your baby below:
- Your baby is continually breaking free of the swaddle blanket
- Your baby no longer experiences the startle reflex
- Your baby gets fussier when they’re swaddled than when they’re not
- Your baby is trying to roll from back to front
- Your baby is fighting the swaddle
- Your baby is ready for sleep training
Swaddling your baby can help them feel protected and secure during those newborn weeks. But there comes a time when babies want to feel free to move around and learn about their surroundings, and this is when swaddling can do more harm than good. Follow your baby’s lead – if they want to break out of the swaddle and move around, give the swaddle blanket the night off!
How Do You Get A Baby To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
It’s best to make the transition gradually when trying to get a baby to sleep without a swaddle. At first, it might seem impossible to get your baby to sleep without their beloved swaddle blanket, but with patience and some tried-and-tested techniques, you’ll have your little wriggler sleeping safely and soundly in no time. The transition can cause a lot of sleep disruption for both you and your baby, so ensure to take it slow.
As mentioned, it does take some research and tried-and-tested techniques to get your baby comfortable without a swaddle. Here are a few methods you can try:
Method 1: Arms Out
This is an excellent method to try when transitioning to swaddle-free sleep. You’ll wrap your baby with one arm out of the swaddle, and once they’re used to this sensation, you can move on to an arms-free swaddle technique.
Method 2: Legs Out
With this technique, you’ll keep your baby’s arms in the swaddle blanket, keeping them tight along their sides, but leave their legs free. This method works particularly well if your baby is an enthusiastic kicker.
This also regulates the Moro reflex because your baby’s arms are still fastened to their sides. So there’s no risk of them being woken up as their arms fling out randomly.
Method 3: Part-Time Swaddling
A method to help babies slowly transition into swaddle-free sleep is part-time swaddling. This doesn’t have to be during nighttime bedtimes but works exceptionally well when you let your baby nap without being swaddled.
This method is the most sleep-friendly for parents and caregivers, as it allows you to watch your baby’s reaction to sleeping without a swaddle and not disrupt your sleep schedule.
Another way to do this method is to only swaddle for a section of the night. It’s preferable to wrap them for the first part of their night. Then, after they wake up for a feed or nappy change, you can leave them out of the swaddle.
The Cold Turkey Method
For brave people, you could try and get your baby to stop swaddling cold turkey, but most babies don’t adapt well to not using a swaddle. This involves not using any transition methods of products to help your baby sleep without their swaddle.
While all parents have different styles, the Cold Turkey Method is viable, although it takes work. Parents and caregivers must watch how the baby reacts to sleeping without the swaddle and brace themselves for a major disturbance in their sleep routine if you choose to go this way. Also, this method isn’t recommended if your baby isn’t good at self-soothing.
What Products Can Help A Baby Sleep Without A Swaddle?
The transition between swaddling your baby and letting them sleep without it does not need to be complicated. Here are some products you can use to make the transition a bit easier:
A Transition Bag
Transition bags are great for naps and nighttime sleep to ease your baby into sleeping without a swaddle. In addition, the transition bag works well when you want to use the “Arms Out” method.
How To Use Transition Bag:
- Take off one of the patented zip-off wings and let your baby sleep with one arm out to get used to the feeling for a few nights.
- When they’ve adjusted well to sleeping with one arm out, remove the second wing and allow your baby to sleep with both arms out. This transforms the transition bag into a full-on baby sleep sack.
A Swaddle Strap
Swaddle straps are brilliant for babies who start to roll early but still experience the startle reflex. This product encourages the “Legs Out” method, as you’ll strap your baby’s arms down and leave their legs free to kick around happily. This is also a great alternative to a swaddle during the warmer months. It’ll give your baby the partial comfort of a swaddle while keeping them a lot cooler and getting them ready to transition to not being swaddled.
How To Use A Swaddle Strap:
- Lay out the swaddle strap where you would usually wrap your baby.
- Put your baby on its back in the middle of the swaddle strap.
- Wrap the first two straps under the baby’s arms, and ensure the small pillows go under the arms, too.
- Hold the baby’s arms down and strap down the baby’s arms with the remaining part of the swaddle strap.
A Magic Sleepsuit
Helpful if your baby needs to transition to swaddle-free sleep during the winter months, the magic sleepsuit is a wonderful transition. So why is this such a great product? It’s designed specifically for back sleeping, as it’s a thin comforter that restricts their movement, and it has an intuitive double zip design to keep nappy changes easy.
Even though it looks like a snowsuit, it is incredibly lightweight and ensures your baby will adapt well to not being swaddled without the risk of overheating.
How To Use A Swaddle Strap:
- Unzip both sides of the magic sleep suit.
- Place your baby into the sleep suit. It’ll keep your baby warm so that you can put them in just a nappy or anything lightweight.
A Wearable Blanket/Baby Sleep Sack
Wearable blankets, also known as baby sleep sacks, are excellent for keeping your baby comfortable, free, and warm without the risk of having any loose blankets in your baby’s sleeping environment.
How To Use A Wearable Blanket:
- Unzip your baby’s wearable blanket.
- Place your baby into the blanket.
How Long Does It Take A Baby To Sleep Without A Swaddle?
Most babies will adapt to sleeping without a swaddle in a few weeks. However, parents and caregivers should persevere for up to a month by gradually transitioning to a swaddle-free sleep routine, moving from each method once the baby has adapted to each stage.
When your baby learns to sleep without a swaddle, it takes grit and a willingness to try different methods and products. It’s best to stick to using a transition product for at least one week before trying something else.
All babies are different, and while some might adapt a lot quicker to sleeping without a swaddle than others, allow them to take their time. However, suppose your baby is taking considerably long and continues to fight sleep. In that case, you’ll need to ensure you’re taking every safe sleeping practice necessary to rule out if those could be preventing them from sleeping.
How To Ensure You Maintain A Safe Sleeping Environment During The Transition Out Of A Swaddle?
To maintain a safe sleeping environment as you transition your baby out of the swaddle, make sure that you keep the cot clear of any blankets, toys, and pillows. Use safe alternatives for sleep associations, such as a white noise machine and blackout curtains.
A sleep sack is an excellent alternative to the swaddle to make sure your little one doesn’t get too cold. Sleep sacks are safe for sleep as your baby’s arms are free to allow them movability should they roll onto their front. Just make sure that the sleep sack is not too big, as a wide neck hole can cover your baby’s nose and mouth.
Some parents like to use a small toy or lovey as a sleep association when transitioning out of the swaddle. According to Red Nose Australia, giving your child a toy for sleep before the age of seven months is not recommended, but if you choose to give them a toy, always supervise them and remove it once your baby is asleep.
The safest way to have your child sleep is by following the ABCs – Alone, on their Back, in their Cot.
What Can You Do With Old Swaddle Blankets?
When you’ve won the fight and finally got your baby to sleep without a swaddle! But what to do with all the unused swaddle blankets?
Just because the swaddle blankets aren’t being used for their original function doesn’t mean you can’t use them. Here are some options for what to do with your old swaddle blankets:
- A burp cloths
- A lovey or comforter (you should only use these in the cot after they’ve turned at least seven months old)
- A surface for tummy time
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve got all the tips on how to get your baby to sleep without a swaddle blanket, we wish you all the best with implementing these techniques. It’s best to transition your swaddled baby during daytime naps so that both you and your baby don’t lose out on too much sleep. So, here’s to getting your baby swaddle-free.