When to stop swaddling a baby.

The AAP’s rule is simple: stop swaddling the moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll. It says rolling attempts can start as early as 2 months.

Don’t wait for a full roll: any attempt, such as pushing onto a side, is reason enough to stop.

• Thin blanket only. The AAP says to avoid heavy or thick ones.
• Loose at the hips. The AAP warns that swaddling too tightly can lead to hip problems, so the legs need room to bend and move.
• Room to breathe. Leave space for two or three fingers between the chest and the wrap.
• On the back. Every sleep, in a clear cot with a firm, flat mattress.

See how to soothe a crying newborn for other calming ideas.

The AAP says swaddling can raise the chance of overheating. Signs include sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash and fast breathing. If you see them, unwrap your baby and cool the room. More on temperature in baby room temperature for sleep.

Some babies handle the change easily; others protest for a few nights. Some ideas, from general practice rather than a single source:

• Try one arm out for a few nights, then both.
• Move to a wearable blanket or sleep sack, which keeps the baby warm without anything loose in the cot.
• Keep the rest of the bedtime routine the same.

Expect some wakeful nights. If sleep stays hard for weeks, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

The US Safe to Sleep campaign says to dress a baby in a wearable blanket or an extra layer of clothing to keep them warm without adding items to the sleep area. A sleep sack is the same idea once the arms are free: warmth that can’t come loose or cover the face. The Lullaby Trust says to choose a lightweight, well-fitting sleep bag. A bag that’s too big can slide up, so check the neck and armholes fit.

• Wrapped too tight at the legs. The AAP links this to hip problems.
• A thick blanket. The AAP advises a thin one.
• Carrying on after a roll attempt. The AAP says to stop at the first sign.
• A warm room plus a swaddle. Check the chest, and see the room temperature guide.
• Loose ends. A blanket that comes undone can end up near your baby’s face. Re-wrap or switch to a sleep sack.

1. Baby is on their back, in a clear cot.
2. The wrap is snug on the chest but your fingers fit in (two or three).
3. Legs and hips can bend and move.
4. No signs of sweating or flushed cheeks.

Once a baby can roll, a swaddle that holds the arms in can leave them on their front without a way to push up. That’s the reasoning behind the AAP’s rule, and it’s why “wait and see” isn’t advised. A baby who has only managed a half-roll today may do the full one tomorrow, so stop at the first attempt, even if the night sleeps have only just got easier. If your baby settles worse without the wrap, try the steps above rather than going back.

A few unsettled nights are normal while your baby adjusts, and being able to hear them without walking in each time keeps them (and you) from waking fully. With the nursery phone by the cot, you can hear whether a fuss is settling. It doesn’t tell you whether your baby is safe, so keep the room set up for safe sleep and share your room: the NHS says for the first six months your baby should sleep in the same room as you.