Hates the swaddle, won't sleep unswaddled...WWYD?

l_elizabeth

My LO is about a thousand times more complicated than my first son! We swaddle him every night, but he's always hated it (we didn't start until about week 2), but he falls asleep fairly easily once swaddled. The problem is about 2 or 3 am, he wakes up fighting to get out. Rolling, straining, crying-- he won't sleep. So if we give in and unswaddle him, then his arms flail around for an hour or more, and I'm up too. He won't sleep that way either. We've tried swaddling with a blanket, the miracle blanket and the SwaddleMe. What can we do, I feel like there's no other option! I got a total of 4-5 hours of sleep last night because of it, so I'm desperate

res932

I know how you feel! We have tried everything also and DS always seems to be able to either get out of it and wake himself up flailing or will grunt and strain to get out of it. I have enough problems with DS grunting and straining with his gas I don't need him to do it because of the swaddle too! I am looking forward to hearing what others suggest.

Qmommy

If he is waking up at 2 or 3 then I would change, feed, then wait until he's asleep and swaddle him back up again.  If he starts to stir again then pick him up and rock him until he's relaxed or asleep again.

Llbrjb

My girl was the same way. This week I started using a stretchier banker the she can move around in, and I swaddle her with just her hands out, because she likes them on her cheeks when she sleeps. It has been working well all week... Knock on wood!

aubreyalise

get a woombie! it's the perfect transition. they can scootch their hands up near their face (which is what DS was trying to do when he'd fight the swaddle), but still keeps them from startling. i miss the woombie.

Maggie3601

We use a Halo sleep sack and love it!

l_elizabeth

Maybe I'll try a woombie. I'd try a sleepsack (I guess I could, we have a few), but it's his arms that wake him up. Thanks for the suggestions, this is helpful.

Maggie3601

Sorry, should have mentioned the sleepsack we use has an extra piece that attaches in back w/ velcro and wraps around the front and closes with velcro. It allows you to swaddle how ever you want. He's only busted out of it once because hubby didn't wrap it tight enough.

LanaLoves

We had the same issue..What worked for us, I bought more of a swaddle blanket..Its not very tight at all, and my LO seems to love it, he can more so easilly wiggle his arms up a bit if he wants to.(.I actually got it at WalMart whereas the other ones were from BabiesRUs or designer !! )

noahchristopher

I may get eaten alive, but here goes.  Tummy sleeping. 

We were in the same boat with our son.  Hated swaddle, but slept better with it.  My aunt came to stay with us and suggested the old school method of tummy sleeping.  I called her crazy, behind her back to my husband, and went on swaddling for a few more days.  Came home one day and he was asleep on the boppy on his tummy on her lap and had been that way for 2 hours!  So we started trying tummy sleeping for naps only.  Oh my God did he sleep.  Like it was so natural.  So the night time tummy sleeping began with me being scared at first.

He's now 5 months old.  Has been sleeping on his tummy since 7 weeks.  He can now roll front to back, back to front like a pro, so there's no stopping him anyway at this point. 

He's always had a strong neck, tons of tummy time, and good head control.  We keep his room cool with a fan on.

I can only speak for myself and my own experience.  I'm not telling you to do this AT ALL, but just food for thought.