how do I wean my baby from swaddling?
The chapter that discusses weaning from the swaddle is Chapter 15; titled “The Magical 6th “S” : Sweet Dreams!” which covers sleep patterns, weaning from the 5 S’s (swaddle), etc.
Your baby may not be ready to be weaned from the swaddle just yet. Many babies need swaddling up to 8, 9 or 10 months of age (but rarely longer). A great tool to be used when weaning from the swaddle & for sleep in general is our Super-Soothing Sleep Sounds CD of white noise. Babies find it much easier to wean from the swaddle when there is sound in the room. Make sure you are playing the CD of white noise continuously throughout the night at the sound level of a soft shower. Dr. Karp recommends using the CD for the first 12 months & many parents find it beneficial to use for years to come! It not only helps with weaning from the swaddle but also will help prevent night waking from teething, slight hunger, loud noises, etc.
When you begin to wean your daughter from swaddling, begin by leaving one arm out. If she is waking often, she still needs the full swaddle. Every few weeks try the one arm swaddle again and see how she fares. Eventually she will sleep just as well with the one arm out of the swaddle (continue to play white noise throughout this process) and once she is sleeping soundly with one arm out, you can try & stop the swaddling altogether.
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Hi Megan, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’d suggest two things to help a baby like yours:
1) use a strong, rumbly white noise – as loud as a shower – all night/naps (I prefer our specially engineered soothing sounds CD…the sounds are most like the womb of any white noise…and CDs are easier to use than machines in the car and on trips…and they don’t make radiation, like cell phones do). I’d use that at least for 12 months…
2) Swaddle him, but let him sleep belted securely into a full reclined swing or infant seat…that way you don’t have to worry about rolling over. Then try to wean the swaddling in 1-2 months (as shown in teh book)…to see if he’s ready.
Best of luck!
My baby is 3.5 months old. I still swaddle him at night to sleep becuase he spazes. His arms go out and he freaks. I’ve been told when babies do this they feel like they are falling. I don’t swaddle him during the day for his naps but I do tend to old him and rock him for his naps. ShouldI swaddle him for his naps as well as at night? I don’t know if I should still swaddle him at night? I don’t want him to spaz and wake himself up. How do I know when I can stop swaddling him?
Hi Rachel, Swaddling is for at least the first 4 months of life…but some babies need it for 5 , 6 or even 7 months. I recommend you swaddle for all sleep and also that you use white noise (like our CD of specially engineered womb sounds) for all sleep periods….use the sound until at least the first birthday. THe right type of white noise boosts a baby’s sleep, gets them ready to wean from the swaddling at an earlier age…and helps babies sleep through teething and growth spurts!
Have fun! Dr. Karp
Hi Christie,
No you didnt miss the boat…thumb sucking usually happens between 3-4 months of age…but I am wondering if you are doing some other things that might help you:1) using a rough womb sound all naps and nights, 2) swaddling snugly, 3) using the reverse psychology technique to teach yoru little boy how to keep the pacifier in his mouth?
Hi Jamie,
To avoid finger sucking you should try the binki again (offering it right at the end of a feeding…using the reverse psychology method mentioned in the book/DVD). TO prevent rolling over, you can swaddle her and buckler her into a fully reclined swing or infant seat (not car seat).
All best, Dr. Karp
Hi Jen, As I have previously commented…that is of no concern. The sound in the womb is louder than a vacuum cleaner 24/7….I recommend a sound only as loud as a shower (or soft shower) for sleep and crying periods…and no additional sound all the rest of the day. All best wishes, Dr. Karp