Hi Rachel, Your 7 month old should be …

Comment posted on When do I have to stop swaddling my baby? by Dr_Karp

Hi Rachel, Your 7 month old should be able to be weaned from the swaddling…do you use strong white noise for all naps and nights? Sleeping on teh stomch swaddled is not recommended for infants under 4-months…but by 7-months she should be able to lift her head and move her face to the side to make sure she can breath…there shouldn’t be any objects that might block her nose/mouth, like pillows/soft toys/etc in her crib. All best, Dr. Karp

Dr_Karp also commented

• You don’t have to…but most parents find that the best way to learn these counterintuitive methods is to watch the DVD a few times (to master the basic techniques)…and then the book is much more understandable. Good luck!
• Hi Anne, As I discuss in my new sleep book, infants who can escape the swaddling are not being swaddled properly (big enough blanket? arms snug?) or they may need to sleep swaddled in a fast moving swing all night…I recommend you double check your technique with your doctor or on The Happiest Baby DVD). Also, make sure the sound is as loud as a shower…and try a more rumbly, rough noise (I discuss this in other responses on this page). Best of luck! Dr. Karp
• Hi Talia, Make sure you are using a rumbly white noise CD (all night/naps…as loud as a shower)…this will improve his sleep…but if he is still trying to roll over, I recommend you ask your doctors permission to swaddle him (with the white noise playing) and then buckle him snugly into a fully reclined (flat) swing or infant seat.

  Take care, Dr. Karp

• Hi Barbara,

  Don;t worry…she won’t go to college needing to be swaddled! Some babies seem to need swaddling even to 8, 9, 10 months…but what helps to wean it faster is to use a rough, rumbly white noise CD for all naps and night sleep. (I usually recommend track 5 or 6 of our specially engineered CD…played about as loud as a shower.)
  Have fun! Dr. Karp

• Hi Kadie,

  I am so sorry to learn about your son’s hearing problems. You are right, that would make the white noise ineffective. But, kids with hearing loss often respond well to vibration…some parents have had success with pitting an electric toothbrush in with the baby for naps …or using a vibrating infant seat. You might also use white noise and crank up the base all the way…with a tweeter to emphasize the vibrating lower pitch sounds in our itunes tracks 6,7 or 8.
  You can also use a swing as demonstrated on the Happiest Baby CD.

  I hope that helps!
  Dr. Karp

Recent comments by Dr_Karp

• Crying Or Colic?
  Hi Lette, Sorry it has been a struggle for you. I don”t know how old your child is, but when parents tell me the 5 S’s are not working 90% of the time it is because they are not being done exactly right. Unfortunately, the techniques can be a little tricky (that’s why we made a DVD …it is easier to learn the 5 S’s by watching someone else do them). Swaddling is key to success…unwrapped babies tend to fuss longer and wake more often….and they then need strong white noise (when he is crying…play it as loud as a hair drier! then as he calms play it as loud as a shower)….and finally some need to sleep – fully wrapped – in the swing all night (as I describe in my new sleep book). And if you are sure you are doing everything right and they are STILL not working, you should have your child checked by his doctor.
• Toddlers are easier than you think…
  Hi Katja,

  Danke for writing! Actually, The Happiest Toddler techniques start at 8-9 months…they can work well with preverbal children. However, like the 5 S’s, toddler-ese and the other tips need to be done correctly to be effective. Most parents find they do best when they watch the Happiest TOddler DVD 2-3 times (it is only 30 minutes long…and hopefully entertaining) …and then the book makes a lot more sense.
  Good Luck! Dr. Karp

• Is Swaddling Bad for Babies?
  Hi Kelli, Thanks for that input! Many native american tribes use/d swaddling till 6 months and longer…and their kids grew up very agile and strong.
• Toddler Tantrums: Should We Rush to “Make It All Better”?
  Hi Samara, Thanks so much for using The Happiest Toddler…I’m glad it has helped!
  Please review the book again and read the section on helping your child get used to the car seat…also you can use the strong white noise CD in the car…Good luck!

  H

• how do I wean my baby from swaddling?
  yes it’s fine…as loud as a shower (about 65-70dB)..many kids (and adults) use it for years!

powered by SEO Super Comments