Weaning Off the Swaddle

Rocking her Magic Merlin Sleep Suit. Funny looking but effective.

Weaning off the swaddle can be an intimidating thought.

I admit I was nervous to make the switch, too! But Valentina is now 5 months old and although she still shows no interest in rolling onto her stomach, lately she's been waking up more at night in need of a pacifier reinsertion. I thought that moving towards sleeping in a sleep sack might help because she could access her hands for soothing without needing adult assistance. 

Using the Magic Merlin sleep suit really helped the transition for my middle child and someone gifted us a used one for Valentina so that made my decision easy. 

We started using the Merlin for her first nap on Sunday. Not surprisingly, she was very confused to be put in her crib without her swaddle for the first time, and needed some assistance falling asleep. I ended up rocking and singing for a bit but laid her down not fully asleep. She woke up every 30 minutes during that first nap but was able to fall back to sleep again multiple times with some chest patting and shushing.

For the second nap, I was able to lie her down with minimal rocking and she had fewer wakings. Yay!

And by bedtime, after napping in the Merlin for every nap that day, she was able to put herself to sleep independently. She woke up 4 times that night for pacifier reinsertions. 

But last night, night two, she didn't wake up once!!! 

And this morning, she (accidentally) fell asleep on my bed while I was pumping without any help or even a pacifier. So she's definitely getting the hang of unassisted sleep. 

I don't have a firm date in mind but plan to move her to a standard sleep sack soon. I ordered two Woolino merino wool sleep sacks that should help her stay warm because it can get very cold in our uninsulated, unheated house in December and January. They are pricey but fit up until age 2 so hopefully it was a wise investment. 

I thought I would share our experience in case you are feeling intimidated by the transition as well.

My tips, based on our experience:

1. Start with the first nap of the day, because that is typically the easiest nap for your baby to fall asleep. 

2. Start the transition on a day where you can be home to assist with naps. A quiet weekend day was ideal for us. 

3. Don't hesitate to assist with falling asleep if your baby is struggling. Just try to offer a little less assistance with each nap. 

***I didn't need to do this but it's fine to skip the Magic Merlin and do a nap in whatever fashion you like for the final nap of the day. 

4. After a full day of naps in the Magic Merlin, your baby should be ready to sleep in it at bedtime! 

***I didn't need to do this but if nighttime sleep is a struggle, it's fine to just use the Merlin for the first part of the night and then revert back to the swaddle. Just keep trying and your baby will soon adjust. 

****The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends stopping the use of the swaddle once your baby begins to try to roll, which typically occurs, they say, at ages 3-4 months but could be earlier. 

PS If you'd like help getting your own baby (or older child!) sleeping peacefully through the night, schedule a free consult and find out how your family can be beautifully well-rested in two weeks or less, guaranteed.