deswaddling and moro reflex

gillysk

DD has been escaping from  her swaddle pretty regularly lately.  So today at her nap when she broke out, I decided to let her try to fall asleep unswaddled.  She startled herself with the moro reflex a couple of times while trying to fall asleep. 

I was thinking of deswaddling this weekend, but wonder if I should wait a bit until the moro reflex is completely gone.  Or, do you think that after a few days of being unswaddled, she will get used to her arms being out, and not startle herself at much.  Anyone have experience with this when you deswaddled?

Stacy112699

We started with one arm out. She kept breaking free one arm. So we started with that one arm out. It has been 3 nights now and she is actually sleeping better. I think maybe when it reaches a week we can take the other arm out.

gillysk

Stacy112699:

We started with one arm out. She kept breaking free one arm. So we started with that one arm out. It has been 3 nights now and she is actually sleeping better. I think maybe when it reaches a week we can take the other arm out.

So, does the one arm out solve the moro reflex issue, then?

Stacy112699

So far so good. Usually she goes crazy with her arms when laying but she just places to the side and that's it. I was shocked!

rocksteady91@hotmail.com

just started yesterday one arm out. I usu lay down with her while she falls asleep and she likes to hold my hand for a few min b4 she falls asleep,i guess it helps calm the crazy hand lol! once she gets used to one arm out i will do both out. And believe it or not last night she slept fine too!

nattyncbride

We also did one arm for about 1.5 weeks (at 9 weeks of age).  He was sucking on his fingers on that one hand and figured the soothing from the sucking outweighed swaddling that arm.  He startled some at the beginning, but by the end of 1.5 weeks stopped.  However, going from 1 arm to no arms brought about more startles and for about a week, he would wake up more at night, which was no fun.  However, after that week, all has been good, and it's nice not to have to swaddle for him to sleep.  Hope this helps.

jennyandty

We have been deswaddling for 3 nights now.  He had to go cold turkey because he was escaping and rolling.  He does best on his side or tummy because he doesn't startle as much.  

smittendorff

My first LO kept breaking out at around 3 months, and at about the same time, I stopped nothing the startle reflex (or is that different then moro?).Try doing just one arm out first as she adjusts, then just her belly.  We then transitioned LO to a Halo SleepSack and that really helped with the transition.