Breaking the Swaddle

riverbed

I know there have been posts, but I just need some advice.

We have been swaddling since day one.  We started using the escape proof swaddle at 3-4 weeks.  So he is used to being very snug, no arm movement.  I tried going cold turkey for naps a few days ago and it was a DISASTER!  He never did settle down, and I am not ready for CIO.

So any good ideas, or should I just wait till I am ready to do CIO for a bit?

For a nap today I did put him with the Escape proof in a sleep sack instead of the tight outer wrap, and he slept fine, so I think its still his arms flailing about that he doesn't like.

mellydawn84

We quit the nighttime swaddle a few weeks back and it was a bit hard at first but it does get better. That's really the only thing I have to say about it, is that it gets better.

I'm sure you tried all other ways to soothe him back to sleep, or to sleep for that matter. But that's just how we had to do it, shhh-ing, rubbing his face, rocking, nursing, etc so he's calm and gets sleepy. And, he eventually stopped with the arm flailing (not sure if it was age related or what). 

Anyway, I would suggest just to keep trying, be consistent and it won't take long, I promise. As for the CIO, I don't either and just had to re-soothe a few times and like I said, he got the picture.

pam1005

With DS we transitioned him with one arm out for a few days, then the other arm out, then just the body to no swaddle.  It took about 1 1/2 weeks, but he did it just fine.  We tried cold turkey and there was no way that was happening with him. 

samjpro

I just started this transition on Friday. We tried cold turkey and that was a mistake. We did 2 nights with the left arm out and that went ok. I did last night with the right arm out instead and she was up every 2 hours. Ick. We are going back to the left arm being out tonight and we'll do that for a while and then maybe I'll try right arm again. It's definitely something I'm going to discuss with her pedi. She is not swaddled for naps though. 

mrbear83

We've been working on it for a while - Beau would his himself in the face and wake up. So we swaddled dominant arm out only for about 3-4 weeks. He got used to it and slept about 9-10 hours a night for a week. Then we started both arms out and swaddle around booty and legs. He totally noticed it, and slept poorly for a few nights. Gradually, he got used to it. Now, we are starting to just wrap his legs for warmth until the sleeping bag comes in the mail.  

We took our sweet time - weeks at a time with one stage until he was totally used to it.  

UndecidedChange

swaddle him a bit more "loose" every night.  there will come one day when the swaddle is tangential to self soothe that way.