Signs your baby is ready to transition to a sleeping bag

It’s no secret that sleep is one of the biggest challenges new parents face and transitioning to a sleeping bag is just one factor. There is a lot of confusing advice out there, which can result in you navigating through each sleep challenge (somewhat) blind. Some parents are well-versed in milestones and sleep strategies, while others will simply want to ‘go with the flow’. It doesn’t matter which path you choose in your parenthood journey, as long as it works for your family.

There is one thing though that should never be compromised and that is safety. When it comes to understanding the SIDS guidelines, most will be very well aware of the do’s and don’ts, be sure to put them on their back for sleep, don’t have pillows or toys inside the bassinet, sleep them in the same room as you (ideally) for the first 6 months…the list goes on.

The ‘Rolling’ Milestone

As you move out of the newborn phase, you will start getting into a rhythm and your baby’s days will become more predictable. They will start understanding day versus night and (hopefully) sleep for longer stretches overnight. You may have finally mastered the art of wrapping or swaddling, when suddenly you reach the next milestone – rolling.

The scary thing is, a lot of new parents are hesitant to change anything when this occurs. Nobody wants to disrupt a baby’s sleep but it can be dangerous for them to remain wrapped or swaddled. They will need their arms to turn themselves for unobstructed breathing if they roll onto their front.

Experts will recommend that you start to make the transition, once you notice they have hit the rolling milestone. It’s therefore important to be aware of the steps and any sleeping aids before this change occurs.

Transition your baby to a sleeping bag slowly

Your baby will be born with something called the startle reflex. This is where they can ‘startle’ in response to a loud noise, sudden movement or a sensation of falling i.e when you put them down for sleep without enough support.

It is therefore best to make the transition slowly, as going straight from ‘arms in’ to ‘arms out’ may cause disruption to their sleep.

Release one arm at a time during the transition to a sleeping bag

By staging the process over a period of ten days, it will give your little one time to adjust. The idea is to keep them swaddled, release one arm first for a few nights before releasing the second arm.

The team at ergoPouch want to ensure that all babies sleep safely and comfortably throughout every milestone of their development. Knowing that new parents were hesitant to transition due to fear of ‘waking the baby’, they developed the ‘Butterfly Cardi’. This is the perfect solution to help you transition seamlessly and safely, while preventing sleep disruption.

By providing a contained environment, the folder pockets remove the initial shock of going directly to arms-out. This also helps parents feel confident as they navigate this next change in their baby’s sleep and development.