Swaddle help needed

LaxMOM44

So recently LO has been falling asleep on her own if I just lie her down drowsy. Unfortunately she will sometimes startle awake. So I swaddled her to prevent this but she won't fall asleep on her own while swaddled. She just lies there and fights the swaddle.....soooo my question is do I continue to swaddle and hope I can teach her to fall asleep on her own swaddled or do I leave it the way it is and hope she stops startling awake? TIA

jayro10

My LO hated being swaddled after 1 week old, so we stopped then. She would do the same thing, just lie there and fight to get her arms out. She does startle awake at times, but not nearly as often anymore. After I lay her down, if she starts wiggling, I put my hand on her tummy with light pressure and she usually quiets down. Then I slowly lift my hand off her. I will stand there for a minute or two and repeat the hand thing if she starts to wiggle again. I've found that helps her get back into a deep sleep after the transition from my arms to her bed, and then she doesn't startle again.

DiFazette

I would forego the swaddle. My LO won't sleep for more than 5 minutes without it. I know it'll be a very hard habit to break when he starts rolling and we need to stop swaddling.

botanicalbliss

I guess it depends on how badly the startle is.  Does it fully wake up your LO?  Do they have trouble going back to sleep?  How well does she sleep?  

If we don't swaddle, G won't sleep.  He keeps himself up with his crazy arms.  He will fall asleep on his own, in his swaddle, if he's drowsy.  You could try swaddling and getting her drowsy or asleep and putting her down that way.  Sometimes, he'll fight the swaddle for a few minutes but then gets tired and conks out.

LaxMOM44

Thanks ladies.Also botanicalbliss, love the term crazy arms. I'm using that from now on.

HZ2012

9 times out of 10 I have to swaddle LO after he's fallen asleep b/c he falls asleep so quickly after eating. If I move super slow, and go very gentle, he'll stay asleep. Maybe try waiting till LO is either super drowsy or already asleep? 

LaxMOM44

I could definitely get her to start off in an unfastened swaddle. Great idea