The AAP recommends that parents stop swaddling their baby (arms in) after they turn two months old. This is because swaddling becomes unsafe if: Baby starts getting strong enough to break out of the swaddle, causing there to be loose fabric in the crib.
You should stop swaddling your baby when he starts attempting to roll over. Many babies start working on this move at about 2 months old. Swaddling once your baby can roll over may increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and suffocation.
If your baby can roll over at 2 months, be sure to stop swaddling entirely. Unfortunately, there aren't any swaddle transition products that are safe for a rolling 2-month old baby. A 2-month old baby is too young for the Zipadee Zip. (Baby should be at least 3 months old and weigh at least 12 lbs).
Typically by the age of 6-7 months old, your little one is rolling over on his own, meaning that it is time to stop swaddling. However, as long as safe sleep guidelines are followed, swaddling your little one is still an option.
Allow baby to be exposed to some noise while napping. If baby is able to tolerate some background noise, he or she will be less likely to startle at sudden changes in noise or position.
Many Parents Swaddle Incorrectly!
Well, the most common swaddling mistake is not swaddling tight enough. Many parents are afraid of swaddling too snugly. When your baby is loosely swaddled, she will most likely bust her arms out and startle herself awake.
Some studies have shown an increased risk of SIDS and unintentional suffocation when babies are swaddled if they are placed on their stomach to sleep, or if they roll onto their stomach. If babies are swaddled, they should be placed only on their back and monitored so they don't roll over.
Of course, the baby has a say—some will sleep well when safely swaddled, and others won't. For parents who do swaddle, doing so safely, and knowing when to wean from a traditional blanket, are an important part of the process.
You should stop swaddling your baby when they start to roll over. That's typically between two and four months. During this time, your baby might be able to roll onto their tummy, but not be able to roll back over. This can raise their risk of SIDs.
You can gradually remove the swaddle blanket. Popular methods include swaddling with arms out, legs out, or using part-time swaddling. Most babies will accept sleep without a swaddle within a couple of weeks. Products such as sleep sacks can help ease the swaddle transition.
Swaddling a newborn in blanket has been thought to be a tool to help calm babies and get them to sleep longer. But according to the Contemporary Pediatrics guide, Swaddling 101, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), many babies can stay calm with no swaddling at all.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
Goodstein said, when babies sleep in the same room as their parents, the background sounds or stirrings prevent very deep sleep and that helps keeps the babies safe. Room sharing also makes breast-feeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.
Newborns are born with a startle reflex, called the Moro Reflex. Most babies don't outgrow it until 4 or 5 months of age. So be careful about stopping the swaddle too early. If your baby's Moro Reflex is still strong, she may startle herself awake at night and during naps.
If your baby is swaddled, keep them swaddled throughout their night feeds. Or if your baby is older, keep them in their sleeping bag. If you need to do a diaper change before or during their feed, re-swaddle them again or put them back in their sleeping bag as soon as they are changed.
Some child care centers ban swaddling
Swaddling has become the subject of controversy. In 2011, the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education recommended against swaddling, saying it could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
While there is no set rule for the exact time to move through the transition from swaddle to arms-out sleeping, it typically starts between 3-6 months old. However, some babies may start earlier and some may take longer. You may be unsure of when exactly to make the transition, however you know your baby best.
Swaddling can help your baby sleep more soundly during the day and at night. If tucking her into a little burrito blanket for hours overnight makes you nervous, know that as long as you stick with safe swaddling and sleep guidelines, swaddling at bedtime isn't any riskier than swaddling during naps.
Your baby's startle reflexes will begin to disappear as they grow. By the time your baby is 3 to 6 months old, they probably won't demonstrate the Moro reflex any longer. They'll have more control over their movements, and their reflexes will become less jerky.
This is what's called the Moro (startle) Reflex. It's a protective automatic reflex that all babies are born with, and it's completely normal!
The Moro reflex is the cause of your newborn baby to sleep with his arms above his head. This reflex, commonly referred to as the “startle reflex”, disappears by 6 months of age. It occurs when light or noise startles your baby, even if the noise is not enough to fully wake the baby.
The baby displays involuntary and repetitive muscle jerks, termed myoclonus, in the trunk, the arms and legs, or the whole body. These movements happen when the baby is very young, usually between birth and 6 months old. Myoclonus occurs uniquely during sleep, and it always stops immediately once the infant wakes up.