When to Stop Swaddling Your Baby—and What to Do Next

Swaddling can be a great way to calm a fussy baby and may even help your baby (and you) get a few extra hours of sleep. But how will you know when it’s time to stop? 

Knowing what to look for when it’s time to leave the swaddle behind and learning how to successfully transition out of swaddling—and how to figure out what comes next—can be really helpful as your baby grows. So, we spoke to two experts: Rachael Shepard-Ohta, a baby sleep expert, certified sleep consultant and founder of Hey Sleepy Baby and a mom of three; and Dr. Nilong Vyas, a pediatrician and medical review expert at SleepFoundation.org, about when parents should transition their baby out of the swaddle and how to make it as seamless as possible. 

What Is Swaddling?

If you’ve ever seen a baby wrapped up like a little burrito, then you’re more familiar with swaddling than you may think. Swaddling means wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket to help them feel secure—without any loose fabric that could cover their face. Lots of parents learn to swaddle right after their baby is born from the nurses in the hospital. When done properly, swaddling is a safe and effective way to soothe and comfort a newborn. 

There are a few reasons for swaddling your baby:

• Swaddling helps your baby feel safe and secure. A snug swaddle mimics the tight feeling your infant felt in the womb.

• Swaddling your baby helps prevent their startle reflex. The startle reflex, technically known as the Moro reflex, is a reflex your baby is born with. Shepard-Ohta explains that it’s a normal and healthy part of your baby’s development, and they’ll eventually grow out of it. You’ll know it’s happening when you see your newborn’s arms or legs jerk suddenly in their sleep. 

• Swaddles take the place of loose blankets, helping reduce the risk of suffocation. A swaddle keeps your baby warm without using a loose blanket in your little one’s sleep space.

What if your baby hates the swaddle?

“Swaddling is a polarizing topic, and many parents think it's necessary for good sleep. This isn't necessarily true!” Shepard-Ohta shared, so if you’re in the swaddle-hater boat, you’re not alone. 

• Swaddling works wonders for many babies—but not all. Some babies get more upset rather than soothed when wrapped up, or seem frustrated by the snug fit and spend more time trying to break free than settling down. If your baby is fighting the swaddle, it may be time to try something else—even earlier than the typical transition age.

• Before giving up on swaddling altogether, try adjusting the sleep environment: dim the lights, add white noise and experiment with swaddling earlier in your baby’s wake window to avoid overtired fussiness.

Still not working? You might want to try:

• A two-in-one swaddle-to-sleep sack (with removable wings or arms).

• A classic sleep sack that doesn’t restrict movement.

• A swaddle in a different fabric or weight—some babies are extra sensitive to texture or temperature.

According to Healthy Children, sleep sacks that allow free movement can be used as long as you and your baby like.

How Long Do You Swaddle A Baby?

One of the most common questions new parents have is how long they can continue to safely swaddle their baby. It’s important to know what signs to look for to let you know the swaddling days are over as well as what age most babies make the transition.

“As soon as the baby starts to roll, it’s time to stop swaddling,” says Dr. Nilong Vyas, a pediatrician and medical review expert at SleepFoundation.org. “Once infants start to roll, swaddle use can become unsafe, even if the infant is not rolling daily [so] it's best to cut out swaddle use cold turkey.” That’s because a swaddled baby won’t have their arms free and will end up in a very unsafe sleep position if they roll over while swaddled (which happens between two to four months old).

You can also look for these signs from your little one that it’s time to move on from the swaddle:

• Your baby is continuously breaking out of their swaddle during naps or overnight, including a free arm, leg or even entire body.

• Your baby wakes up having rolled onto their side or stomach.

• Your little one suddenly appears extra frustrated, uncomfortable, angry or unhappy in their swaddle.

Tips for Transitioning Out of a Swaddle

So you’ve said goodbye to the swaddle—but what now?

Transitioning can feel intimidating, especially if your baby is sleeping better than ever or is one of those rare unicorn sleepers. But it’s important to stop swaddling as soon as your baby starts to roll—for their safety.

Keep in mind that transitioning out of the swaddle can kick off a sleep regression, according to Shehperd-Ohta.

She recommends three approaches to make the transition smoother:

• Go cold turkey. Remove the swaddle all at once and either let your baby sleep in just jammies, or replace the swaddle with a snug but arms-free sleep sack. “This is the quickest way, but [it] can be really rough for a few nights,” Shepard-Ohta says.

• Try freeing one arm at a time. This is a slower, gentler method that can be helpful for babies who need more time to adjust. “By transitioning one arm at a time, you give their system time to get used to it,” she explains. This would look like swaddling baby with one arm out for a few nights, then when they’ve acclimated to that, free their other arm. Swaddles with zip-off or fold-down arm options, like Love to Dream or Embe, work well here. 

• Nix the swaddle for naps. “Removing the swaddle for nap times takes the pressure off learning to be without the swaddle during nighttime sleep,” Shepard-Ohta suggests. Start with daytime naps or early night stretches, then gradually go swaddle-free more often over a week or two. Practicing shorter stretches sans swaddle can also help to level-set parents’ expectations: “It allows you to mentally prepare for a shorter sleep and your baby to get used to the feeling without it being overnight when frustration can be higher.” Once you notice baby has adjusted to naps with no swaddle (i.e. they’re not waking up a bunch), you can try going swaddle-free for nighttime sleep.

Swaddle Alternatives to Try Next

Whether your baby never liked being swaddled or it’s time to stop for safety reasons, these sleep sacks and transitional options offer that snug, secure feel—without restricting movement. In fact, they’re cozy, safe and easy to use during and after the swaddle stage. A few of Shepard-Ohta’s favorites include sleep sacks from the brands Love to Dream, Halo and Woolino for their comfort, breathability and hip-friendly design.

Love to Dream 
Swaddle Up Transition Bag Original 1.0 TOG

This sleep sack has a snug swaddle feel with removable wings to free little hands and arms.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$42.95

Target$42.99

ergoPouch 
Cocoon Swaddle Bag 1.0 Tog

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$54.95

Amazon$54.95

Target$54.95

embé 
Starter Swaddle with Long Sleeves

Another option that lets you unzip one arm at a time so your baby can adjust gradually

Buy

Add to Babylist

embebabies.com$44.99

Tiny Kind 
Wearable Organic Blanket 1.0 TOG

Ultra-light and breathable, this sleep sack is perfect for sensitive skin and warmer sleep environments.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$26.00

Woolino 
4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Bag

Merino wool helps regulate body temperature so your baby stays comfortable all year round.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$109.00

Amazon$109.00

Burt's Bees Baby 
Organic Warmer Beekeeper Wearable Blanket

A cozy, budget-friendly pick made from soft organic cotton with a full-length zipper for easy changes.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Amazon$39.95