Swaddling a newborn baby can help them feel calmer and sleep better in their first few months. The art of swaddling mimics the same feeling of a baby snug inside the womb. However, as your baby grows, they will also outgrow the need to be swaddled. Read on to learn about when you can stop swaddling, signs to look for, and useful tips on how you can transition your bubs smoothly out of their swaddle. 

Your baby should stop being swaddled once they show signs of rolling. Depending on your baby, this can happen between 2 to 6 months. Some signs of rolling include:

• Being able to lift their heads and shoulders during tummy time
• Being able to roll their hops from side to side
• Moving in a circle while they’re on their backs and kicking their legs up
• Being able to lift their hips with their legs

They may not be able to roll completely yet but it is important to stop swaddling because it can put them at risk of strangulation and suffocation. Being wrapped up in a swaddle can also prevent them from practicing motor skills and prevent them from reaching age-appropriate milestones. That being said, if your baby is not showing any signs of rolling and is sleeping well, then there is no need to stop swaddling your baby. 

The answer to this is…well, it depends. Sometimes, a baby being able to break out of their swaddle isn’t a sign that they’re starting to roll. Some reasons your baby may be breaking out of their swaddle are: 

• You might be surprised that babies don’t sleep very soundly. That’s because newborns spend most of their sleep cycle in active sleep. While babies are in active sleep, they move around a lot, twitch, and cry out loud. These movements might make you think that your baby is awake but they’re not. They might even be able to break out of their swaddle! 
• As your little bubs grows, their movements will become stronger. This might make it easier for them to break free from their swaddle. Pro tip: check the size of your swaddle to make sure it’s the right size.
• Your bubs might be breaking free from their swaddle because your baby prefers a different type of swaddle. Nest Designs offers two types of newborn sleep bags - swaddle sleep bags and startle stop sleep bags. Our swaddle sleep bags allow you to swaddle bubs’ arms down while the startle stop sleep bags give you the option of swaddling with arms up and down. Both sleep bags have wings that can easily be detached, snap buttons to keep the swaddle in place, and silent velcro so you don’t wake your bubs up during changes. 

If your baby is showing signs of rolling, then you’re ready for the transition. We recommend transitioning your bubs for nighttime sleep first then naps. Here are three ways to transition out of a swaddle sleep bag: 

1. Cold turkey: This method involves taking away the swaddle wings completely and allowing your bubs arms to be completely free. 
2. One arm out, one arm in: This method is more gradual where you’ll leave one arm out while the other arm stays swaddled for a few days to two weeks. Then, as your baby gets used to having one arm out, you’ll allow both arms to be free and transition to a sleep bag. 
3. Partial nights: If you’re nervous about the transition, you can try leaving your baby’s arms free completely or having one arm out for the first part of the night. Once they wake or after a few hours, you can swaddle their arm(s) again. Do this for a few days then remove the swaddle wings completely. 

Transitioning your baby out of a swaddle sleep bag can be smooth but it requires patience. It is also an exciting time as it means your baby is growing. By following your baby’s cues, choosing a method that works for your family, and a consistent bedtime routine, your bubs will transition smoothly out of their swaddle sleep bag. 

Our swaddle sleep bags and startle stop sleep bags are designed so you can easily transition your newborn into a sleep bag. Browse our collection of newborn sleep bags and see which one may be the best for your baby.