To swaddle or not to swaddle

Hildi18

our pedi told us that we shouldn't/don't need to swaddle our newborn (14 days old).  she stays asleep ?and doesnt wake herself up but she def is a squirmy sleeper.  she likes to sleep on her side and today we found her laying sideways in her cradle with her feet through the rail.  

 she did not like to be swaddled but what else can we do to prevent her from moving around so much and possiby getting hurt?

 tia

 

lizzmiller8

I think it's interesting that your ped. was against swaddling..we didnt swaddle our newbrn until she was over a month because we thought she didn't like it...but i got a book called "happiest baby on the block" and it encouraged me to try it again..Our baby didnt wake herself up while she slept either, but i can tell you that by swaddling her at night it calmed her body down, she squirmed less, and she slept an hour or two longer. She also resisted swaddling at first...i think its anyones natural reaction to fight being restricted, but once she was in there and I rocked her for a moment she really settled down and liked it. I say, do what works for you guys...but my advice is give it another shot.

juliane2004

lizzmiller8:

I think it's interesting that your ped. was against swaddling I say, do what works for you guys...but my advice is give it another shot.

This! We swaddled DD from 3 to 5.5 months, and we swaddled DS from 0 to 5.5 months.

Although, if she's really truly starting to roll (though I'd be surprised since she's so little!) then don't swaddle.

Helix07

lizzmiller8:

I think it's interesting that your ped. was against swaddling..we didnt swaddle our newbrn until she was over a month because we thought she didn't like it...but i got a book called "happiest baby on the block" and it encouraged me to try it again..Our baby didnt wake herself up while she slept either, but i can tell you that by swaddling her at night it calmed her body down, she squirmed less, and she slept an hour or two longer. She also resisted swaddling at first...i think its anyones natural reaction to fight being restricted, but once she was in there and I rocked her for a moment she really settled down and liked it. I say, do what works for you guys...but my advice is give it another shot.

 

Hospitals around here no longer swaddle. Almost all pedi's recommend against it as well now due to increased risk for SIDS. 

elisbu

lizzmiller8:

I think it's interesting that your ped. was against swaddling..we didnt swaddle our newbrn until she was over a month because we thought she didn't like it...but i got a book called "happiest baby on the block" and it encouraged me to try it again..Our baby didnt wake herself up while she slept either, but i can tell you that by swaddling her at night it calmed her body down, she squirmed less, and she slept an hour or two longer. She also resisted swaddling at first...i think its anyones natural reaction to fight being restricted, but once she was in there and I rocked her for a moment she really settled down and liked it. I say, do what works for you guys...but my advice is give it another shot.

all of this.

NB's are sleepy heads so I'm not surprised that she doesnt wake herself up. But soon she will. My DD fights the swaddle too, but in the run she  falls asleep faster and sleeps longer  swaddled.

PS- I was holding a sleeping DD while typing this. She woke up, swung her arms all over the place, fussed....I swaddled her- she went right back to sleep.

Hildi18

juliane2004:

lizzmiller8:

I think it's interesting that your ped. was against swaddling I say, do what works for you guys...but my advice is give it another shot.

This! We swaddled DD from 3 to 5.5 months, and we swaddled DS from 0 to 5.5 months.

Although, if she's really truly starting to roll (though I'd be surprised since she's so little!) then don't swaddle.

idk if she's starting to roll but she def prefers laying and sleeping on her side.  we lay her on her back and within minutes shes on her side.  its scary that she squirmed all the way sideways this morning though. 

Hildi18

thanks ladies! i think we'll try again and see how it goes.  it was scary seeing her laying like tha when she's so little.  now to perfect the swaddle technique and hope she doesnt sqirm out and is comfy.

monkeyqueen

If you baby doesn't care about being swaddled, then don't bother with it.    Your baby will find a way to move either way.

MrsDink

Our LO was always swaddled in the NICU.  After we brought him home, we were more relaxed with the swaddling.  But now that he's a little holder, and has more control over his limbs, we notice that towards the end of the day and for naps, he wants to be swaddled.  He feels more secure and he doesn't wake himself up when startling. 

Search You Tube for swaddle techniques! There's so many on there, that if one doesn't work for you, there's others to try. 

mari_gold

Swaddling won't keep your LO from rolling onto her side. DD does it almost every night and she's always swaddled for sleep.

biblionerd

Helix07:

Hospitals around here no longer swaddle. Almost all pedi's recommend against it as well now due to increased risk for SIDS. 

Same here. Ours provides a Halo swaddle sack and swaddles the tummy with arms out. DS has been a roly poly from day 1 though so I don't think I would have ever felt comfy with his arms in anyway. The first night home from the hospital I walked into the nursery to find him on his side in the crib! Terrified me. Anyhow, we still swaddle his stomach. He seems to still like the cozy feeling and settles down.

thecatsfancy

I use a Woombie...escape proof and no need to perfect a swaddling technique.

Sharon21

Helix07:

Hospitals around here no longer swaddle. Almost all pedi's recommend against it as well now due to increased risk for SIDS. 

I heard about this the other day. I guess when they are swaddled their startle reflex doesn't wake them when it should. Which is ironic that that is what makes it dangerous since that is why a lot of parents swaddle. I didn't have a choice I can't swaddle LO because of her hip dysplasia.