When To Stop Swaddling
Can you tell me when to stop swaddling my newborn? I heard this is a great way to comfort babies, but my son is 3 months old now and I don’t want him to become depended on swaddling to fall asleep. When is a good age to stop swaddling?
This is a concern many parents have and it can definitely pose a problem if your newborn comes to rely on swaddling as a means of comfort. However, swaddling does have a number of benefits and is very useful in the first month or two of a baby’s life.
Why Should I Swaddle My Baby?
It is important to keep in mind that not all babies will take to the idea of being swaddled. As an example, my daughter absolutely abhorred the idea. She would scream and kick until she was free of the blanket. It simply never offered her any means of comfort.
While my daughter hated swaddling, other newborns will love the warmth and comfort that it offers. Swaddling will help a newborn to fall asleep much more quickly and for sustained periods of time. It is also a great way to help prevent a newborn from scratching his or her face. As any parent will tell you, a newborn’s nails can be like little razors and they can do quite a number on their precious faces with their sharp and tiny nails.
When Should I Stop Swaddling My Baby
Most experts seem to agree that you should not be swaddling your baby beyond two months. By this time your baby will be much less likely to want to be confined in this manner and will more likely prefer to move freely.
There are instances where some babies do prefer to still be swaddled at this stage, but it really is a judgment call on your part. However, please be aware that once one your baby starts learning to roll over, swaddling can increase the risk for SIDS.
Also, in order for your baby to learn how to sleep through the night on his own, it is extremely important that he learns how to comfort himself independently. That is why you should consider trying to break the swaddling habit as early as possible after your baby turns two months old.
Trying to break your baby of this habit may require an ample amount of patience in the beginning, but just keep reminding yourself that it is for his own good.
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