Knowing when and how to transition from the swaddle to a sleep sack is very important. Swaddling serves many purposes in the first weeks of a baby’s life. A nice tight-fitting swaddle helps your baby feel like they are back in the womb which provides a lot of comfort and security to your newborn baby. It helps regulate their body temperature since newborns are not able to regulate their own temperature. It can help calm a colicky baby by relaxing them especially when used with Dr. Karp’s 5S’s. Most importantly, swaddling your newborn baby prevents them from waking due to their Moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex).
When to transition?
Most parents wait too long to transition from the swaddle to a sleep sack due to the fear of how the transition will go and worry about how their baby’s sleep will be affected. For most babies the transition goes extremely well. For others there is a little more of an adjustment period. You should transition you baby from the swaddle to a sleep sack if:
- Your baby is consistently breaking out of the swaddle on their own
- Your baby is showing signs of rolling or has started to roll
- Your baby is 2 months or older
How to transition?
If you have a baby that is constantly fighting the swaddle and breaking out of it, then you can transition straight from the swaddle to a sleep sack in one shot.
For most babies however, I suggest using a gradual approach. I also suggest starting with the first nap of the day. Swaddle one arm in and one arm out. Do this for 2 days. On day 3 take both arms out and swaddle only the body. Do this for another day or two and by day 5 you can transition fully to a regular sleep sack.
It is normal to have a few off naps or night wakings during the transition period, however, most babies adjust fairly quickly. You will be pleasantly surprised how well it goes. If you are having trouble with this transition or are dealing with other sleep issues and want to work 1-on-1 with me, check out my sleep programs or book a free call.
