If your LO is out of the "4th tri"...

Petunia844

What changes?  Do you get more free time or not so much?  I'm just curious what to expect over the next few months...  Is it harder to soothe LO once they are too big for swaddling?

D&D4Ever7

We had difficult first 3 months and everything gradually got easier. My DS did not enjoy laying around and being indoors all the time. When I went back to work and he got out a lot more, he was happy. He was happy when he started sitting and even happier when he started crawling and he loves to walk. Transitions are hard, but once you get past them, things get easier. Eventually you won't have to worry about swaddling at all. GL

KJsbabe

Right around 3m L suddenly got interested in the world around her. She started noticing things and get into her toys much more. She honestly became much more fun because she didn't just lay there any more, she wanted to stand and sit and look at things. As for calming, shushing still works, but the other S's don't seem to have much effect. You just figure it out as you go!

Junebug060609

I felt like the biggest change after '4th Tri' was sleep.  Namely that I felt like a new person after getting 5 consecutive(!) hours sleep.  It also was nice when he started looking around more.  It would allow me to set him down and do a little something while he took in the world around him (ahh, the days pre-mobile baby, lol).  Outgrowing the swaddle was a non-issue for us.  We ditched it once he was able to bust out of them.  He slept better with his hands out (aside from the occasional startle reflex wake up, of course). 

 

gilmoregirl105

Over the last few weeks, DD is able to have a bit more active alert time.  She spends time, usually only 5-15 minutes depending on her mood, watching her mobile.  She also is finally really interested in her activity mat, she spends about 10-20 minutes on it again depending on her mood.   She will kick the toys and there is a star that lights up and plays music which she talks/squeals at.  Definitely is easier to set her down and let her play and I can have some time to get stuff done around the house or just relax.  

I barely swaddled her because she really needs her arms free when she sleeps, she loves to stretch her arms out, which is so cute!  Sorry can't help with that.