I am interested to know member's experiences with swaddling babies older than 3-4 months. We started swaddling our now almost 6 month old girl Evie when she was colicky and it helped and we have continued to do since. A couple books I have read recommended 'weaning' her off around the 3-4 month mark (Dr Harvey Karp 5 S's, Robin Barker Baby Love) so that she doesn't get 'used to it' and it becomes a learnt way of getting to sleep. We tried unswaddling an arm at different times but her arm was jerky when tired and her sleep suffered and it didn't seem worth persisting with given that she was sleeping so well in the swaddle. Her legs have been free from the swaddle since about 8 weeks when she worked out how to get them out. I have tried a sleep bag but she just rolls over and starts to try and crawl in it which she manages very well with a bunny hopping action! I am aware that some cultures continue to swaddle for up to a year without any adverse effects on development (and often positive ones) but there is little information on it and the western push here is to get them sleeping without aids ASAP with the emphasis on encouraging sleeping through the night. At the moment she sleeps well overnight. She goes to bed around 7pm, wakes around 1 or 2 am for a feed and then again at 6 am and manages to get herself off to sleep easily (when swaddled) and finally wakes around 7.30-8.30 am to start the day. She is a very active and alert baby by day who catnaps for 45 minutes 3- 4 times a day (occasionally longer but not regularly). She wakes up happy and alert after sleeps and naps. The swaddling seems to help her to switch off much more easily and have good quality sleep. My gut instinct is to continue to swaddle her until she lets us know that she doesn't like it anymore as it is working for her and us however these 'expert' opinions make your question your instinct. Any experience/thoughts welcome.