Swaddling

airsica

Hey Ladies, 

My Little Man is 5 weeks old, I swaddle him now but am wondering your thoughts on swaddling.  My older girls were preemies so we went through a whole other start to their lives.  I read some where between 1 month to 4 months for swaddling.  Anybody stop swaddling yet?  I don't know if I should try unswaddling him soon.  STMs when did you stop swaddling?

airsica

Yeah I was thinking that it was suppose to be at least 2-3 months.  My issue is my little man is already 13lbs... I don't know how long I can swaddle him.  

grannyweatherwax

You could use a bed sheet for your giant babies

serend

We just switched to the Halo sleep sack swaddler, the one where arm swaddling is optional. S hates having his arms constrained and would grunt and fight the wiggle off and on thought the night, so we leave them free. Pedi was totally ok with this and S has slept so much better at night.

synergy_gd

I only swaddle him if its cool which at the moment isn't very often. He's very happy sleeping with his hands above his head. If it is chilly I notice he prefers to be tucked up a bit more and goes to sleep better swaddled
Our pediatrician was very anti swaddling

GeauxM&V

My LO hates to be contained also. Our pediatrician recommended having her fall into a light sleep, or at least be very mellow before swaddling. Once she knew she was in a swaddle, she would fight it, but if she was drowsy and about to fall into a deep sleep it made a huge difference. Believe me, this is a baby that spent her whole time in the womb with her hands above her head or in front of her face, so the swaddle position is very unnatural for her. Regardless, he really does need the swaddle to stabilize his arms and legs because i would imagine with him moving around, it keeps him awake more than anything. I am a little surprised the dr is anti swaddle.

musicnmoon123

DS1 was swaddled until he was 6 months old! He just wouldn't sleep without it. They make swaddlemes in 2 different sizes. When he outgrew the larger ones, we switched to the miracle blanket which allowed us to bind his arms but leave his legs free.

There's no hard and fast rule for when you have to stop. It's about your baby's comfort.

Skylight21

FTM here but the only time I've ever used the swaddle is during her growth spurts because that was the only way that I could get her to sleep at night. During the day I didn't mind walking around with the carrier on but at night I swaddled her as tight as I could and she would fall asleep. But I figured I would stop when she outgrew the swaddle that I have.

airsica

Thanks all!

natleilynn

We stopped swaddling as soon as we came home from the hospital. LO hates being constrained - kicks and punches all night anyway, so she just sleeps better.

Lyzza350

synergy_gd said:

I only swaddle him if its cool which at the moment isn't very often. He's very happy sleeping with his hands above his head. If it is chilly I notice he prefers to be tucked up a bit more and goes to sleep better swaddled
Our pediatrician was very anti swaddling

What were the reasons for being anti-swaddle?

MommyEllenSue

We only swaddle at night. She likes to stretch out during the day and I'm using swaddling as cue it's night time. I figure when she's ready to not be swaddled at night she'll let me know.

synergy_gd

He was VERY against it, said it was rediculous to constrain a baby.
I said the nurses told me it was best to stop him knocking his hands on the sides of the cot and he said well what makes more sense, that we let a baby sleep as they are or we try to sleep a baby inside a narrow plastic box.
I think he feels that even though they are tucked up inside the womb they aren't born this way so it's more natural that they sleep unswaddled
My LO def likes his arms out but I noticed if its cold he likes to be more snugly wrapped up, which is like us really.

yty0205

MommyEllenSue said:

We only swaddle at night. She likes to stretch out during the day and I'm using swaddling as cue it's night time. I figure when she's ready to not be swaddled at night she'll let me know.

This!

Mac2588

natleilynn said:

We stopped swaddling as soon as we came home from the hospital. LO hates being constrained - kicks and punches all night anyway, so she just sleeps better.

Us too.

KateVA

We just switched to the Halo sleep sack swaddler, the one where arm swaddling is optional. S hates having his arms constrained and would grunt and fight the wiggle off and on thought the night, so we leave them free. Pedi was totally ok with this and S has slept so much better at night.

We use that too w arms out. He loves it

musicnmoon123

I actually just started swaddling during the day (in addition to nights). It seems to work as a good cue for "sleep time". For the first time in 5 weeks, I was able to put him down for naps.

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KelseyKetchum

Before I left work we were stil swaddling a 9 month old girl because she had a hard time sleeping without that comfort. I figure he will probably show when he doesn't need the swaddle anymore. Like not smacking himself in the face mid nap.

Kbrittonhart

I stopped swaddling with DD1 after the first week of being out of the hospital. DD2 was in NICU for a week so she is accustomed to swaddling and we are still doing it 3 weeks later. I anticipate her swaddling for at least 2 months.

swirl25

DD1 loved being swaddled so I confess we did it till she was 4-5 months, but did a modified swaddle around 3.5 mos...swaddling but keeping her arms free. This LO seems to love it too so we'll probably do something similar.

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thetheisens

Swaddling isn't mandatory, if your baby hates it, don't do it. There are non- swaddling sleep sacks. My second ds hated the swaddled and slept better not being swaddled. Dd sleeps so much better being swaddled. I plan on doing it as long as it works and she likes it. I don't see the need to have a definite cut off date for it. Why stress over it?