When Should I Stop Swaddling My Baby?
Swaddling is one of those great things that we learn when we are
still in the hospital with our babies and we'll continue doing
as long as it works. Swaddling helps both mom and baby get more
rest, it helps baby feel safe and secure, keeps baby warm, and
may even help when a baby is suffering from colic. Swaddling is
an art form, and it's been used for so long because it works
with more babies than not. So, when do you have to give it up?
Is there a time when you should stop swaddling your child?
During the first weeks of life your child will likely feel more
comfortable when they are swaddled because they'll stay warm, he
or she will feel secure, and they won't scare themselves with
startle reflexes. But, after about a month or so you should
consider cutting back on the amount of time that your child is
swaddled. Swaddling at night is still fine at this point, or any
time during sleep, but during the waking hours your baby should
be free to experience the world through touch. Babies at this
age often start to reach out toward things; they can feel the
skin of their parents, the softness of their blankets, and just
about everything else in their environment. Babies at this age
learn through touch, and it's important that they are able to do
so.
A baby that is swaddles can actually be kept from advancing
developmentally because of their immobility. While most children
will wiggle their way out of the swaddle at this age, they
should feel free to move about and start experiencing the world
around them. The more your child is able to move around, the
more he or she will develop, and the mobility process is already
beginning! At just one month of age your baby is learning how to
move and control his or her body so in just a few more months
crawling and then walking will be a possibility.
Babies over one month of age will usually tell their parents
through movements or crying that they do not like to be swaddled
anymore, so the swaddling usually stops naturally. But, if your
baby still likes to be swaddled you need to unwrap him or her
during their waking hours so they can begin to move about. The
baby that doesn't want out of the swaddling around this age is
few and far between, but it does happen. Some babies are just
very content to be wrapped and snuggly, but it's important for
them to begin to learn about the world around them. The only way
for this to happen is through movement, and that can't happen
when your baby is swaddled.