Why swaddle arms-out?

AnneEliz79

Maybe I'm missing something here, or swaddle "wrong", but what's the point of swaddling with arms out?  Are you actually keeping the legs swaddled?  Or is it for warmth?  We have DD in a sleep sack and just swaddle the arms.  We occasionally try swaddling with just one arm, once we go with both arms out we won't swaddle.

momofmanyinthemitten

Sometimes you leave the arms out so that LO can self soothe with her hands/fingers, but this can wake up LO if done too soon.

AimeeL85

I do it sometimes for warmth, if I think DS needs another layer when he's awake, just an alternative to a blanket. I will also sometimes put him in his swing to nap that way because he will stay asleep in the swing even if his arms aren't swaddled. I wouldn't put him down in his PNP or cosleeper like that because he'd wake up. He is still sleeping most of the day so I just try to give him some "arms out" time.

Mrslovebugs

DD hates having her arms covered. So I just swaddle her lower half just for warmth.

brymanda

I have never put DS's arms in when I've swaddled him. He has slept with .his arms up by his head from the time he was born.

KelleyBelly11

When LO is in the mood she likes her legs bundled up tight but her arms out so she can sooth herself by touching her hair and head or sucking on her hand.

dNoodle

To answer OP's question, I believe the reason to do it is to still give them the comfort and security of the tight blanket. If your LO doesn't dig on a swaddles bottom half, then yeah, you should probably go right to the sleep sack without the swaddle when the time comes. Also, I just read something that the latest SIDS research is recommending arms-out only from birth. I'm trying to find articles to back that up though.

ToledoDeux

dNoodle:

To answer OP's question, I believe the reason to do it is to still give them the comfort and security of the tight blanket. If your LO doesn't dig on a swaddles bottom half, then yeah, you should probably go right to the sleep sack without the swaddle when the time comes. Also, I just read something that the latest SIDS research is recommending arms-out only from birth. I'm trying to find articles to back that up though.

DD2 was in the NICU for 5 weeks after birth, and the nurses there told us that this is the new standard - arms out is safer.

KelleyBelly11

dNoodle:

To answer OP's question, I believe the reason to do it is to still give them the comfort and security of the tight blanket. If your LO doesn't dig on a swaddles bottom half, then yeah, you should probably go right to the sleep sack without the swaddle when the time comes.Also, I just read something that the latest SIDS research is recommending arms-out only from birth. I'm trying to find articles to back that up though.

My mom had 6 children and she warned me that doctors will always be "changing their minds". From kid to kid they said put them on their stomach, no the back, no the side, the stomach, the back, no the side.... swaddle yes, no, yes, no.

I'm not saying "they" are wrong... I'm just saying the information for us Moms will always be changing.  

FutureMrsFinnegan

My hospital told me to swaddle arms out when baby is sleeping as it can help prevent SIDS. Other than that you can swaddle arms in..our LO prefers his arms to be out so we just swaddle arms out all the time now.

anangelbug

Here is link to my earlier post and some things I was just told about swaddling with arms out at a Newborn Care class at a local hospital.  Basically they say swaddling is great but should be arms out during sleep/night time.

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/49064126.aspx

AlphaKat

As PP said, our hospital told us to swaddle arms out to lessen SIDS. DS is usually ok not swaddled at all if he is sleeping in his RnP. However, if he is in his crib he will only sleep if he is swaddled with arms down. His startle reflex is very dramatic...he jumps 10 feet all the time!