Babies come into the world craving security, warmth, rhythm and comfort. And, as one of the S’s in Dr. Harvey Karp’s ‘5-S’s to soothe a baby’, swaddling is proven to promote sleep and reduce crying. But, eventually your baby will need to transition out of it which can be a daunting thought to many Moms! With these tips below, you can make the transition seamless for everyone!
What age should you transition your baby out?
As your baby nears 8-12 weeks of age, you will notice the traditional swaddle will stop working for them. They will repeatedly bust out of it, or they become too big for it. They also want more freedom to move about! And, at this age, babies love to use their hands to suck as a self-settling mechanism.
Okay, but, now what?
I remember being petrified about this transition. It seemed their hands and movements woke my babies up MORE. How could I possibly drop the swaddle?
Not to mention that this age is full of hiccups and roadblocks when it comes to sleep. Swaddle transition, 4-month sleep regression, night-feedings, short naps.. you name it. Plus, many parents wonder if baby is too young to implement gentle sleep training methods to help improve their sleep.
My story: How it helped my twins!
Just when I was feeling helpless as a first time Mom to twins, a dear friend of mine saw my Facebook post about sleepless nights and immediately suggested I try the Magic Sleepsuit with my little girls. The only thing I had heard about it previously was when she said her baby slept in a “Moon Suit”. LOL!
So, naturally I was willing to try something that I knew worked for someone else. I checked my daughters’ weights to be sure the sleep suit would fit them and then made the purchase.
You guys, I’m here to tell you that they slept so much better the very next 1-3 nights. Each night just got better and better. They settled easier at bedtime and we were able to reduce the number of wakeups entirely. I was severely sleep deprived during those first few months, and any extra sleep I could get was crucial. An added bonus for us was that the Sleepsuit worked great for my daughter who was sleeping in corrective foot wear for her club foot. She had recently been taken out of her casts and was then wearing her brace, so having the suit for her gave me extra comfort that she was staying comfortable when trying to sleep. We would dress her in a diaper, short-sleeve onesie and socks; put the Sleepsuit on, then put on her Ponsetti/AFO shoes and Dobbs bar.
My twins wore the sleep suit for almost 3.5 months. They LOVED that suit. Putting them in it cued their brains for sleep, and it became part of our routine for night sleep and nap sleep. They even traveled with us to Florida! In the hotter climate, we just did diaper underneath and made sure to keep the ceiling fan on. They worked great and they sleep like angels on our vacation.
Even though there are quite a few transition products out there, I genuinely feel that the Sleepsuit option is great for those babies who have a very strong startle reflex, making the sleep suit the perfect solution for many babies. In addition, the Sleepsuit can be SO helpful for babies who are used to sleeping in someone’s arms and are hanging onto those 4th trimester snuggles a little longer. Also, preemie babies who have hit the weight requirement would be a great candidate to wear the suit as they may hold onto the reflex even longer than full-term babies.
Thinking about sleep training?
The Magic Sleepsuit can assist wonderfully when parents are implementing independent sleep routines. The suit helps with self-settling and can aid in the connection of sleep cycles during naps and night sleep.
Sizing
I don’t recommend sizing up as it’s intended to be a snug, secure fit to work properly. How you will know if it is a good fit:
- Scooped neckline will lay flat on baby’s chest away from face
- Baby should not be able to wiggle arms and legs out of the openings or pull their legs into the trunk area
- Follow the recommended sizing chart
How it helps real Moms.
I was working with a client once who had a 4-month old little boy. Mom was working all day reading complex contracts for her employer. She was stressed and exhausted because her son did not like to sleep. He struggled to get any type of consecutive sleep periods. He would literally jerk himself awake after 20 minutes. I almost didn’t believe this was possible as most babies can typically achieve the 30-minute sleep cycle, but my client took a video of him doing it, and low and behold his startle reflex was REALLY strong. Thankfully, my client was only 10-minutes away! I drove my daughter’s old suit straight over to her house. And, BAM, the very next day he took an hour + nap. He wore the suit for about 2 months, and then transitioned seamlessly into a standard sleep sack. So, if you are wondering if Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit works, here is proof it does!
Takeaways!
Signs your baby is ready to drop the swaddle
- Breaking out of it
- Rolling over
- Getting too big/long
- Showing signs of other self-soothing mechanisms. Example: finger/thumb sucking or face rubbing
When using the Magic Sleepsuit, always ensure it has a proper fit according to the guidelines above and the recommendations listed here.
AUTHOR: Lindsay Loring is a certified pediatric sleep consultant and owner of Tweet Dreamzz. Lindsay is certified through The Family Sleep Institute and has completed studies in baby and toddler sleep, as well as breastfeeding support and SIDS Awareness.
Sleep is a passion of Lindsay's, and she truly believes it makes up the groundwork of a family's dynamic. Through her personalized coaching, Lindsay designs plans that will ensure the success of the child according to the family's goals. To learn more about Lindsay, visit her at: www.tweetdreamzz.com.
