Sleeping FAQ: 4-6 Months – Settling/Sleep Associations

At 4 months my son is still swaddled for all his naps and sleeps. He recently has been getting out of his swaddle during the night. His Moro reflex is still quite strong. Once awake he cries, unable to go back to sleep. What is the best way to wean him from being swaddled so he learns how to resettle himself without help?

At 4 months my son is still swaddled for all his naps and sleeps. He recently has been getting out of his swaddle during the night. His Moro reflex is still quite strong. Once awake he cries, unable to go back to sleep. What is the best way to wean him from being swaddled so he learns how to resettle himself without help?

For the last three nights he has woken around 4.30am, having got himself out of his swaddle. I allowed him 45 minutes to see if he was able to settle alone but then re-swaddled him and he settled back to sleep quickly.

Feeding details

7.30am: 6ozs formula
11.30am: 6ozs formula
3.00pm: 6ozs formula
6.30pm: 7ozs formula
10.00pm: 6ozs formula

Daily milk total: 32 ozs

My son naps at 8.50-9.50am, 12.00-2.00pm and 4.30-5.00pm.

To get your baby used to sleeping without being swaddled is best dealt with in stages.

To help your son get used to having his arms out begin by “half swaddling” him so one arm is free and the other still wrapped.  At his morning nap swaddle him leaving one arm out. Continue to fully swaddle him for the rest of his naps and sleeps. For the next few days alternate the arm left out during his morning nap. Once he has got used to this begin to half swaddle him in the same way at his sleep from 7pm-10pm. Again, alternate the arms each night. Proceed in the same way at the lunchtime nap and finally throughout the night.

Once your baby is sleeping half swaddled move on to letting him sleep with both arms out. Start with the morning nap and then move through his naps and sleeps in the same order as before.

It may take several disturbed naps and sleeps as he gets used to sleeping without his swaddling blanket but, if you wean him off using this gradual method, he should adapt and be able to settle himself back to sleep if he startles himself awake.

Consider replacing your son’s swaddle blanket with a lightweight sleeping bag [0.5tog] which will still allow you to tuck him in well. Use a cotton sheet and cellular blanket if needed. Tuck this well in under the mattress and secure down the cot sides using rolled up towels. Although your baby’s arms will now be free he should still feel secure and not be too troubled by his Moro reflex.