Weaning Your Baby off Swaddling

When to transition baby from swaddling to sleeping bag

As your baby grows and starts to show signs of rolling, you should transition your baby from swaddle to a baby sleeping bag. Swaddling will become unsafe if your baby rolls while swaddled and you don't know when this will be!  Another sign to look for is sleep deterioration or signs of frustration when you are trying to swaddle your baby.

There is no specific age at which you need to stop swaddling, but once your baby shows signs of rolling you need to stop swaddling. So it is a good idea to start working on this from two to three months old so you don't need to go cold turkey on the swaddle when you see rolling signs.

Safety issues

Sleeping on the tummy while swaddled can be dangerous, so if your baby starts to show signs of rolling, it's important to move to a baby sleeping bag with arms out.

What comes after swaddling?

Once you are ready to begin the process of weaning your baby off swaddling, think ahead and plan for your baby to sleep without swaddling.

What will she sleep in and how can you keep her the right temperature all night?

We recommend you replace the swaddle with a baby sleeping bag. This ensures your baby stays warm all night and there is no risk of suffocation with loose bedding.

The most gentle transition is to gradually introduce a sleeping bag by wrapping over the top for a while or you can use one of our transitional wraps that combine well with a sleeping bag or gradually allow more movement.

Watch how to transition baby from a Miracle Blanket to a Sleeping Bag

Transitional or Convertible Swaddles

The following wraps are ideal for making the transition from swaddling:

Miracle Blanket - Works well over a sleeping bag (see the video above) and is one size fits all.

The Sleep Store Organic Cotton 0.2 Tog Swaddle Bag - This great value swaddle/bag can be used with both arms in as a swaddle, with one arm out for transitioning and then as a sleeping bag.

ergoPouch Cocoon Swaddle Bag - Similar to The Sleep Store bag, you can use a Cocoon with one or both arms in or out! It allows a bit more movement for the arms.

50:50 Love to Dream - Similar shape to the Love to Dream but with zip-off arms! It is also wider in the legs, so wriggly babies have some additional movement.

Love To Dream - Provides some control of the startle reflex, but gets your baby used to sleeping arms up.

Shop All Swaddles

Watch Video - Use a Muslin Wrap to Transition from Swaddling

In the video below Louise from The Sleep Store shows just how easy it is to use a traditional muslin wrap to help baby transition from a swaddle to a sleeping bag by demonstrating how to wrap baby with one arm out.

Can I use a wrap inside a sleeping bag?

In most cases it is much safer to use your wrap over a sleeping bag, as your baby gets used to sleeping in a bag.

This is because sleeping bags need your baby's arms to be out the arm holes, rather than swaddled completely and reliant on the neck hole to stop baby slipping inside the sleeping bag.

Wrapping over a sleeping bag

We recommend combining the swaddling and sleeping bag to begin with, so your baby becomes used to a baby sleeping bag, while she still experiences the familiar security of her wrap.

A swaddle is a very strong sleep association for your baby and it takes time to replace this association with something else, such as a sleeping bag.

We find that this process works best with a fitted wrap, such as a Miracle Blanket. These are shaped to prevent the wrap coming up by baby's face, which is especially important when you are using a wrap with a sleeping bag (rather than wrapping baby's legs). Miracle Blanket in particular is perfect for this transition, as the arm flaps are so effective and safe when used over a sleeping bag.

The Halo sleeping bag/swaddle is specifically designed as a sleeping bag with detachable swaddle.

The Sleepy Wings are perfect for using over a sleeping bag. These are suitable for babies without a strong startle reflex, as they will have a reasonable degree of arm movement.

Miracle Blanket over sleeping bag

The Miracle Blanket is the best option for wrapping over a sleeping bag for babies who still have a strong startle reflex or need very firm swaddle. It can be used with one or both arms inside the wrap, and is also excellent for gradually weaning baby off being wrapped.

This combo also works well for babies who still need firm swaddling but are too long for the leg pouch on their Miracle Blanket.

The Miracle Blanket is one of the warmer fitted wraps so we recommend a slight change to the way you use your Miracle Blanket over a bag in the summer months:

• Put the shorter wing down by baby's side, rather than wrapping it over the chest
• Only wrap the long side round baby once rather than twice.

PLEASE NOTE
You will need to judge if this gives sufficient security for your baby and doesn't become unravelled while he is sleeping. If the wrap becomes loose, please ensure you revert to the usual Miracle Blanket instructions for safety reasons.

Watch Louise show you how to use the Miracle Blanket with a sleeping bag

Choose a sleeping bag in the right size for your baby and appropriate weight for the season.

Place your wrap open flat, then place sleeping bag on top of the wrap.

Place baby into the sleeping bag, doing up any domes and zippers. Most newborn size sleeping bags have domes under the arms for a snug fit.

If you are using a Miracle Blanket (which we recommend) secure your baby's arms into the wrap arm flaps.

Once you are wrapping with one arm out, just wrap one arm into the arm flap.

Wrap the first side of the wrap over your baby. If you keep this arm wrapped straight down by baby's side, it is much more likely to stay wrapped all night.

If you are using one-arm out swaddling, wrap this side of the swaddle under the baby's arm and across the chest.

Wrap the other side of the swaddle securely over and around your baby.

If you are wrapping with one arm out, the 2nd side will be wrapped across the baby, under the 1st arm and round the body.

Once your baby can settle easily and sleep well with one arm out, try a few sleeps with just the sleeping bag.

If she continues to sleep well, congratulations - your weaning is complete!

If your baby starts to catnap or wake more in the night, continue with your wrapping for a couple more weeks.

You may find that your baby still needs swaddling for some sleeps in the day - in particular babies often sleep all night in just a sleeping bag but need swaddling during the day to have a longer sleep. Just take your time and let your baby adjust to life without her swaddle gradually.