Babies don't have to be swaddled. If your baby is happy without swaddling, don't bother. Always put your baby to sleep on his back. This is true no matter what, but is especially true if he is swaddled.
to swaddle or not
The answer to “is it OK to not swaddle a newborn” is yes; it's more than OK to not swaddle a newborn, and there are plenty of alternatives to swaddling out there. What happens if you don't swaddle your baby isn't a make or break, and it doesn't mean that they won't sleep.
Swaddling protects your baby against their natural startle reflex, which means better sleep for both of you. It may help calm a colicky baby. It helps eliminate anxiety in your baby by imitating your touch, which helps your baby learn to self-sooth. It keeps her hands off her face and helps prevent scratching.
Once you have stopped swaddling, baby should sleep in any type of pajamas. Footed sleepers, two piece pajamas, or a even a onesie are perfect. Babies overheat easily, so always err on the side of baby being cooler rather than warmer. I recommend sleep sacks only when a parent feels they are needed for warmth.
Leave the arms free or the hands by the face: Some babies prefer to have their arms free, while others find it calming to have their hands near their faces. Make sure baby is not too warm: Swaddling should be done to help your infant feel secure, not to keep them warm.
Babies don't have to be swaddled. If your baby is happy without swaddling, don't bother. Always put your baby to sleep on his back. This is true no matter what, but is especially true if he is swaddled.
Squirming fuss bucket
Remember, crying and fussiness is the only way your baby can communicate to you that they are not happy about something. Watch for squirming as this is a sure sign that they are no longer happy being swaddled and they are trying to squirm their way out.
Babies don't need to be swaddled to be healthy and happy. If your baby is happy without swaddling, that's great news.
Experts suggest that it's okay to leave one or even both arms out of the swaddle, unless baby is so squirmy that having her arms out could be hazardous and the gets so loose that it covers your baby's nose and mouth.
In reality, it may take a week or two for your baby to become used to the change in swaddle and this is totally normal. The most important thing is to try to stay consistent in all of your sleep routines and before you know it, you'll all be sleeping soundly again!
The AAP recommends that your child's room should be kept at a temperature that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult. A simple onesie in the summer and footed one-piece pajamas or a sleep sack in the winter are safe options.
You should stop swaddling your baby when they start to roll over. That's typically between two and four months. During this time, your baby might be able to roll onto their tummy, but not be able to roll back over. This can raise their risk of SIDs.
Transitioning Your Baby Out of a Swaddle
If you do swaddle, experts recommend stopping when your baby starts trying to roll over, which may happen at about 2 months of age.
But if you want to stop sooner — maybe you're tired of the whole swaddle wrapping thing or your baby doesn't seem to sleep any better with a swaddle than without — it's perfectly fine to do so. Babies don't need to be swaddled, and some actually snooze more soundly without being wrapped up.
Sleep suits can be a great alternative or swaddling transition. The suits keep baby's arms in a T-shape, to prevent rolling, while still keeping them comfortable. Make sure to keep the room they are in cool, as suits can be warm. Remember, swaddling (or an alternative solution) should end when your baby begins to roll.
If it is warm outside, putting your baby in a diaper underneath the swaddle may just be enough. If however, the temperature is cold, it's a good idea to put baby in a short or long sleeved onesie or even footy pajamas to ensure that baby is kept warm.
Most babies will accept sleep without a swaddle within a couple of weeks. Products such as sleep sacks can help ease the swaddle transition.
Allow baby to be exposed to some noise while napping. If baby is able to tolerate some background noise, he or she will be less likely to startle at sudden changes in noise or position.
Newborns are born with a startle reflex, called the Moro Reflex. Most babies don't outgrow it until 4 or 5 months of age. So be careful about stopping the swaddle too early. If your baby's Moro Reflex is still strong, she may startle herself awake at night and during naps.
Dressing babies for bed: the basics
Dress your baby in layers of fitted clothing rather than just thick pyjamas. You can add or take away layers as the temperature changes. Babies cool themselves down by releasing heat from their heads and faces. Babies can quickly overheat if they fall asleep wearing hats or beanies.
You Can't Spoil a Baby Through Baby Wearing
It's just not possible to spoil an infant by holding them too much, says the AAP. 1 Since baby wearing can reduce crying, that means less stress for everyone.
While most parents won't need to consider wearing their babies in direct skin contact, or 24/7, this should offer some reassurance that wearing a baby can be safe and beneficial, even during a long daytime nap.