Suggestions for Weaning off Swaddling

hattrk10

Our daughter will be 15 weeks this Saturday and still needs to be swaddled.  We had her in a SwaddleMe until she started kicking out of it because she was too long for it.  Then we moved her into a Halo SleepSack and swaddled with her arms in for naps and overnight.  Then during naps we transitioned to 1 arm in and 1 arm out and then both arms out.  Once we mastered the naps we moved onto the overnight and she is now sleeping with both arms out overnight as well.

Our problem now is getting her out of the SleepSack completely.  She is a kicker and kicks her legs frantically which then gets her arms going.  I have been trying cold turkey for naps and she will sleep maybe 30-40 minutes and then wakes and never goes back to sleep.  Do I keep trying this and let her lay there awake or do I then go in and swaddle her with arms out so she gets a good nap in?  Maybe I should just keep swaddling her and she'll let me know when she is ready to be done with it?  She doesn't appear to be close to rolling over yet.  Or perhaps instead of doing all naps just try 1 or 2 naps a day?

Andie41

So you're just swaddling her under the arms? I don't think there is any reason you need to stop that any time soon. It certainly won't hinder her ability to move so if it works, keep doing it.

MrsG071809

We are still swaddling with arms out.  DD started rolling over and we quit the swaddle cold turkey and went to a sleep sack, but decided to go back to the swaddle with arms out, just because I think she sleeps better in it.  

hattrk10

Yeah, we swaddle with a SleepSack and have both of her arms out for naps and overnight.  Maybe I will keep it for a bit since she sleeps so well in it.  Sleep is so important for their growth and development right now.  If she starts rolling at least both her arms are out.  It is just hard in the warm summer months and I don't want her to get overheated.  It is a lighter weight one and we just put her to bed in a onesie and she seems fine.  It would just be nice to lay her in the crib though instead of having to get her in the thing for every nap.

hattrk10

Yeah, she is in the sleep sack with her arms out.  I would just like to get her out of everything completely.

ebp913

hattrk10 said:

Yeah, she is in the sleep sack with her arms out.  I would just like to get her out of everything completely.

Wait, so she is "swaddled" with the wrap part of the sleepsack but arms are out?  Or is she just in a plain sleepsack?   Why do you want her out of a sleepsack?  My 21 month old wears a sleepsack still because she can't keep blankets on.   

hattrk10

Maybe I am using the wrong term.  I thought it was called a Halo Sleepsack, but yes, it has the velcro arms.  We just velcro them around her chest so her arms are out. 

It is warm in the summer and her room is in the front part of the house.  We have to keep the air on at most times to keep her room cool and it would just be nice to not have to put her in it.  If we take if off though she will only nap for a half hr or so before waking up.  It isn't a huge deal - especially since her arms are out. 

ebp913

Ahh okay I got it. Do you have the fleece ones?  They make them in cotton so it's more like a light blanket.  As far as weaning off being wrapped... honestly if it was me and my kid was sleeping well I would just leave it alone.  In a month or 2 she may not need it anymore and will likely sleep just fine without it.  If her arms are out, she could feasibly sleep with her chest wrapped for as long as she wants even if she is rolling.  

If she's too hot, I would do just a onesie underneath or try the cotton ones.  

hattrk10

Thanks.  It is the lighter weight cotton one.  I suppose I will just let it be for now since I have a good sleeper!  Thanks!

illba2011

halo makes the wearable blankets, it's the next step after a sleep sack. We used that until dd was almost a year. It kept her snug and warm but still enough room to move around. This is what I'm talking about https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000069EXQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000069EX

hattrk10

Thanks!  I'm going to try one as she is too long for her current Halo sleepsack.  We'll see how this goes!