Why Your Baby or Toddler Doesn’t Need That Sleep Sack (or Swaddle)

It’s starting to warm up as spring winds down and summer approaches. If your baby is still in a swaddle or sleep sack, you may be wondering if they’ll be too toasty when the real heat is here.

The answer is probably YES, but even without the consideration of temperature, it’s actually better to get them out of those extra sleep layers. We promise, sooner than you think, babies don’t need anything more than simple PJ’s to sleep in. 

First of all, once babies show us signs that they’re moving on their own, we want to support that movement instead of hindering it. Movement is key to sleep–in fact finding their own comfy position is one of the most important “helpful sleep associations” that babies have. Once they start to scoot, turn in a circle, move to the corner of the crib, or whatever it is that signals voluntary movement (not just the kicking and wiggling of the newborn months), we want to support this so their independence and confidence in their crib can increase. Sleep sacks are okay, but they do not promote the same freedom of movement that pajamas do. 

Most importantly, when they attempt to roll, the AAP recommends unswaddling babies completely for safety reasons. Attempting to roll or rolling even to their side in tummy time would also be a reason to take babies out of automated bassinets that hold them in place. 

Another significant benefit to freedom of movement for babies is that this gives them loads more time to practice their gross motor skills (all those hours in their crib) and boost their strength, agility and overall development. Keeping babies swaddled longer than necessary (which is a fairly recent phenomenon, with the advent of swaddles designed to be impossible to break out of), robs them of all that valuable squirming, twisting, rolling and other wacky movements babies make.

Julie’s son (the original Happy Sleeper – now age 26!) broke out of a swaddle at 6 weeks and went on to sleep well with more freedom of movement. Over the years, swaddles have been getting stronger, which for some babies really helps, but it also makes it more likely that they will be overused. 

A lot of parents see their baby’s sleep sack or other sleep gear as a cue for sleep–believing that it either helps them sleep or at least signals to them that sleep is coming. Understandably, they worry about getting rid of something they’ve come to rely on as part of their sleep routine. But in the scheme of things, the cue of a certain piece of clothing is nowhere near as powerful as the ability to move, roll, scoot, put hands in mouth, and so forth that comes with independent movement. Babies need to move around to sleep well, just like we do.

So if your baby is showing you signs of wanting to roll, liking to put their hands in their mouth, or just generally traveling around the crib, don’t be nervous about it, it’s a good thing. Opt for footie PJs in the cooler months (with a onesie under or a layer of another PJ over if it’s really chilly) or footless PJs in the summer months. Babies don’t need anything other than themselves and their nice wide open crib space in order to sleep well. As we often reassure our parents, when it comes to good sleep, less is more.