1. The one arm out method
With our bestselling Swaddle Up™ Transition Bags, you can unzip one arm at a time to ease your child into a new sleep routine. If your routine is to swaddle your baby before sleep or a nap, simply swap this step for putting your baby into a Transition Bag and unzip one arm to start to introduce arms-free sleep, maintaining a similar feeling of comfort.
2. Both arms out of the swaddle
Once your baby has settled into a new rhythm, you can unzip the second arm of the transition suit to enable even more freedom of movement. It may take a couple of nights for your child to adapt to this new way of sleeping.
3. Removing the swaddle
Once your child is used to sleeping with their arms and legs free, it’s time to adopt a swaddle-free sleep routine and move into using a sleep bag as an alternative.
4. Alternating swaddling and sleeping freely
You can choose to alternate between using an arms-free swaddle and sleeping freely. Once your child has reached stage three of their development, you can look to our On The Move range for support.
A safer way to keep your little one warm during the night, our Swaddle Up™ Transition Bags replace the need for blankets. Refer to our temperature guide to find the right style depending on the season.
How do you get your baby to sleep without being swaddled?
When you find something that works for your baby, like a swaddle, it can be hard to embrace change. Here are some expert tips on how to transition from a swaddle to a new way of sleeping:
1. Use Transition Bags
Our Transition Bags are designed to help your child learn to sleep more independently. The zipped wings allow you to remove one arm at a time, helping your child to adapt to more freedom of movement without losing the comfort of being swaddled.
Designed to be used all year round, our suits come in a range of fabric grades for the different seasons with four sizes to choose from: small (3.5-6kg), medium (6-8.5kg), large (8.5-11kg), and extra-large (11-14kg).
2. Establishing a routine
Regardless of whether your baby is being swaddled or not, creating a safe sleep routine can help in times of adjustment. This will look different to every household, from bedtime stories to using white noise.
- Try to reduce the amount of light in the room an hour before bedtime.
- If possible, carve out approximately an hour before bed to settle your little one. This might be a bath, reading a book, a baby massage, or singing a lullaby.
3. White noise
Some parents and caregivers like to use white noise to help settle their baby during transitions. If this is something you’d like to try, place the sound machine at least two metres away from your child’s cot or bassinet, don’t let the sound level exceed 50 decibels, and always keep out of reach.
