Happiest baby on the block an swadddling

mprtrdg

I started reading happiest baby on the block( based off all the references I read on here) and I have a question about the swaddling. My doctor told me not to swaddle for sleep as it could lead to SIDS but in the book that is one of the 5 s's. What do people do? I swaddled her the first few weeks I brought her home as she was swaddled in the hospital, but I have not been doing that lately. She sleeps well but the book says I can expect her to sleep even longer( good news for me!) , have people noticed that it makes a big differences in sleep time?

cnbean

As far as I know swaddling does not really factor in to SIDS. I know for both my boys swaddling, especially at this age, made a huge difference in the amount of sleep they get. DS1 would have hardly slept without the swaddle. His startle reflex was way too strong and it really freaked him out. DS2 will actually sleep without being swaddled, but its a difference of about an hour or more.

haylo33

I don't think it is swaddling that is a risk factor for SIDS but overheating is. I think people relate the two because they worry the baby will get too hot when swaddled. Just dress the baby comfortably and use a light blanket to swaddle if you are worried about overheating.

lrmrtn

I second the Swaddle me swaddlers. DS won't sleep if he's not swaddled. He wakes himself up from kicking or flailing his hands. We only swaddle him in a diaper and keep his room cool.

usernewname

Never heard of swaddling and sids.

You don't have to swaddle. It's a common practice but it's not mandatory. Some babies love it. Some hate it.

I never did it with ds. I didn't see a reason to and it hasn't been a problem. He would have hated it anyway.

cchousm

We use all the S's from Happiest Baby on the Block especially the swaddle. We do a half swaddle now just for his arms. He would startle himself with his hands and also put his hands by his mouth when it's time to nurse. If he's crying and I swaddle him he usually stops crying. We use the Hippo Tails Miracle Swaddle Blanket. You can get it on Amazon. I wouldn't take him outside in the summer in a swaddle. We live in CO and typically 90 degrees.

mprtrdg

Thank you all so much. I used the swaddling last night, didn't notice a difference in how long she slept, she was usually sleeping 4.5-5 hours before, but I will keep trying as she did seem to enjoy beig swaddled again!

bookishnerd

How do the Swaddle Me Swaddlers compare to the Halo ones? We have a newborn size Halo and it still seems too loose around the shoulders and neck for me to feel comfortable using it. We've been swaddling with the A&A blankets but she will work them up around her neck by the time she wakes. I would love to just not swaddle but she won't settle down if she's laying un-swaddled.

Arinias

At my Baby Basic class the teacher said their hospital no longer recommended swaddling because there was some evidence linking it to SIDS, but the American Pediatrics Association (i think that is the name of the org.) had not yet taken a stance one way or the other. However, they always swaddled my baby in the NICU. We started using Summer infant SwaddleMe swaddlers. He seemed to like them at first but once he got a bit bigger he got really angry having his arms confined. Lately we just have stopped swaddling. It also gets very warm in our room though so I have been using a lightweight sleeper or sleep sack. Even without the swaddle he usually goes one 5-6 hour stretch at 4 weeks.

Xath

We swaddled in the NICU, and I've swaddled both boys at home.  I was told ideal home temperature was 68-72 degrees, and I swaddle in a onesie and light muslin blanket.  The Happiest Baby was my life saver with DS1.   

caballo718

We sometimes swaddle our DS when he is very agitated. We find he doesn't really like the swaddle during the day. He likes to kick his arms and legs around and restricting him sends him into a fury. We found that shushing has helped him when he is upset.

Marcella05

DS loves being swaddled, but is particular about how it's done. He doesn't like the SwaddleMe sacks. He prefers A&A blankets and doesn't like the traditional swaddle. I use a variation of one that I found in a video online - it allows him to freely kick his legs. He likes the motion range for his legs cuz he is a pretty gassy baby and the kicking helps relieve his gas at night.

Bootsie327

We use the miracle blanket...it is light weight and also keeps the arms tucked in!

jpbling

LOVE the woombie swaddle!!! It unzips from the top AND bottom which makes for easy middle of the night diaper changes. Super simple, keeps him swaddled tight, material is light weight and it doesn't work it's way up over or near his face/head. Search Amazon for the woombie...it's a bit pricey at 25-30 bucks but SO worth it.