Your baby has grown and it's time to transition out of the swaddle and into a sleep bag. In today's blog post I am going to give you some top tips on how to do this with ease and gently so as not to confuse your baby or start having sudden wake ups in the night due to more space and freedom as it were!
Ideally you have been using a swaddle that does enable a gentle transition. You can see my favorites HERE!
There are a few ways to do this and it's best to decide which you feel is going to be right for your child and also top prodigy - safety!
Cold Turkey. Just as the phases suggest one day its gone. And it is completely gone. You would choses this option for sure if you have seen your baby roll over. Swaddling a baby when they roll can and is a huge SIDS risk.
Another reason you may choose this option is its quick and there is no faffing around! For parents who just want to get on with it this would be a good option!
Arm release.
This is a great option if you want to take the transition slowly and gently. One week including naps and nights you would swaddle as normal but keep one arm out. Then after 7-10 days you can release the second arm. Then another week and move to a sleep bag.
The Love To Dream transitional swaddle is a great choice for this option.
Partial night.
A great option if your baby is struggling with the new found freedom. One of the many benefits a swaddle is recommended is to prevent the Moro reflex waking and disturbing your baby's sleep. By taking the first half of the night say to midnight partially or all swaddled then the rest of the night fully swaddled it gives a slow gradual transition out of the swaddle. Each 3-5 nights you can then push your clock forward to say 2am and repeat the process.
Don't be nervous about this transition, it is a great milestone to reach and your baby will, if able to settle to sleep unassisted, continue to do so once in a sleep bag.
If you are struggling with unsettled nights and would like to chat to a professional who will be able to guide you forward, book in your free sleep assessment call here and lets chat!
Want to know my favourite sleep bags? Check them out HERE!
As always
Peaceful nights to you all,
Rachael,
Your paediatric sleep consultant
xo
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