When Should I Stop Swaddling My Baby?
Babies spend nine months tucked away in mommy’s tummy in warm amniotic fluid with an endless supply of nutrients. Until they’re born, your baby does not know the meaning of cold, tired, or hungry. They know nothing but your warmth and care!
This can make adjusting to the outside world difficult for your baby. They now have to get used to waiting for their needs to be met instead of constantly being content. The only way your baby can express how they feel is by crying, and even then, they need to wait until you figure out what they need.
Once all of your baby’s needs have been met, you can then swaddle your baby to provide them additional comfort and security. While this can be beneficial for your baby, they shouldn’t be swaddled after they hit a certain age or milestone. Continue reading to learn about when you should stop swaddling your baby.
What is Swaddling?
Swaddling is the perfect way to help your baby adjust to the world by wrapping them in a comfortable blanket or wrap. By swaddling your baby, it applies pressure to their body, making them feel warm, safe, and secure. When your baby is swaddled, the only part of their body you will be able to see is their head, as the rest of them is tucked into the blanket.
Learning how to swaddle your baby can be confusing when you first begin. Not only have you never done it before, but your baby is sure to be a little wiggle room! Here’s a step-by-step on how to get your little one nestled into a swaddle:
Grab a square blanket. Flatten the blanket and pull down one of the edges slightly.
Lay your baby on their back with their head on the side of the blanket with the edge pulled down.
Hold your baby’s left arm to their side, take the blanket, and wrap it over the left arm and in between the right side and right arm. Lift the bottom of the blanket up to tuck it in the top of the blanket just under your baby’s chin. Straighten their right arm and bring the right side of the blanket over to tuck it into the left side.
An important note to keep in mind is that your baby will need enough room to move their legs around. If their legs are too restricted, this can cause hip issues.
Benefits of Swaddling
Swaddling can be a great way to help calm your baby down and make them feel safe and secure. Wrapping them up in a blanket will not only make them feel more confident, but it will make them feel comfy and cozy, too!
Another positive of using a swaddle is that it can help stop their startle reflex. When babies are newborn to a few months old, they will occasionally startle with their entire body, which can cause them to wake up. When they are snuggled up in a swaddle, this can prevent their body from suddenly jerking, which could wake them up from a sound sleep.
When You Should Stop Swaddling Your Baby
Because of the effectiveness of the swaddle, I used it daily with both of my children. There were times when nothing seemed to calm them down, but swaddling usually did the trick! Although helpful for calming down a fussy baby, the use of a swaddle shouldn’t be prolonged.
Swaddling should cease completely at around two months old, but if your baby is starting to rock or roll in bed with their swaddle, you should stop sooner. If they are still swaddled and accidentally rock themselves on their stomach, they could obstruct their breathing.
What Else Can I Do To Soothe My Baby?
Your baby has reached the age where they probably shouldn’t be swaddled anymore, but they still need comforting and reassurance. How can you soothe your fussy baby without a swaddle? Here are a few ideas:
Offer them a pacifier
Keep a calm demeanor and create a quiet and comfortable bedtime routine
Maintain a regular schedule
Use a white noise machine during naptime and bedtime
Regulate their bedroom temperature to between 68-72 Fahrenheit
Keep Track of Your Baby’s Milestones with Baby Connect
Watching your baby hit milestones is one of the greatest joys a parent can experience. It’s unexplainably exciting to watch your newborn baby grow and learn new skills, such as rolling over. As sad as it might be to see your baby grow up, it’s important that they develop and hone new skills to help them become a healthy child and then adult.
Not every baby will hit milestones at the same time, but there are usually time frames in which your child should hit them. That’s why it’s important that you keep track of their progress!
With Baby Connect, you can document all of your baby’s achievements, such as lifting their head, rolling over, and even when they take their first steps! Not only is this helpful for when the pediatrician needs more information, but it’s a great way to look back and remember how old your baby was when they learned fun new skills!
