Deswaddling advice needed

emilyec1

We started to deswaddle our boys around 6 months. I knew we probably waited a little too long, but they weren't rolling yet and loved the snugness of it!

One twin has done fine but the other is having a hard time. We've been doing the one-arm swaddle for almost 2 weeks to transition him, and the past 2 nights we've done both arms out. It's been awful--he wakes every half hour for the first few hours of the night. I've been bringing him into the rock and play in our bedroom, but since they've been in the cribs for 3 months now I don't want to get him used to old ways.

Does anyone have any advice on how to help him feel secure without the swaddle but not take a step backwards? I know I can't one-arm swaddle him indefinitely!

DiveFrog

He may just not be ready. I know a lot of people say that swaddling is something that should end when they can roll over, but for us our DD NEEDED to be swaddled for 7.5-8months. It was the only way we could get her calm and able to fall asleep and stay asleep.

After she started to roll we stopped using swaddle blankets with velco and switched to using a recieving blanket. This way if she stretched and rolled she could get her arms free. Still she is not a big roller, and has never rolled over in her crib.

At around 8  months she just showed us that she didn't need the swaddle anymore. She started to fall asleep in my arms unswaddled and didn't wake up when we put her in her crib. It was just easy once she was ready.

I definitely regret listening to everyone saying that swaddling after such and such age is wrong, and all the nights and hours I attempted to wean her off swaddling before she was ready. Listen to your baby and trust your gut, if he isn't ready give him some more time.

LAD111707

Our LO had the hardest time not being swaddled. Then we found the Zipadee-Zip. He went from waking up all the time to sleeping through the night without any trouble! He also takes 2-3 hour naps now without the swaddle or the zipadee zip. He has also learned to sleep on his tummy with his head to the side. I highly recommend the zipadee-zip!

 https://zipadeezip.com/

smittendorff

We transitioned the same way you are trying.  At 4 months old, we did one night with one arm out, then a few night with both out, then switched from a Halo swaddle to a Halo sleepsack.  Naps we stopped cold turkey.  The sleepsack replaced the sleep signal that swaddling was, and provided some snugness and confinement while also being a safe way to sleep with a blanket. 

msrkilpatrick

DiveFrog:

He may just not be ready. I know a lot of people say that swaddling is something that should end when they can roll over, but for us our DD NEEDED to be swaddled for 7.5-8months. It was the only way we could get her calm and able to fall asleep and stay asleep.

After she started to roll we stopped using swaddle blankets with velco and switched to using a recieving blanket. This way if she stretched and rolled she could get her arms free. Still she is not a big roller, and has never rolled over in her crib.

At around 8  months she just showed us that she didn't need the swaddle anymore. She started to fall asleep in my arms unswaddled and didn't wake up when we put her in her crib. It was just easy once she was ready.

I definitely regret listening to everyone saying that swaddling after such and such age is wrong, and all the nights and hours I attempted to wean her off swaddling before she was ready. Listen to your baby and trust your gut, if he isn't ready give him some more time.

I agree with this 100 percent. We tried to ween my daughter off of her swaddle and that started the sleep wars which lasted from 5 months to 7 months. We went back to swaddling and she slept through the night and weened herself off the swaddle at 11 months. She is 2 years old now and still keeps the same sleep schedule (8pm to 8 am) she establish when we resumed swaddling. Trust yourself and listen to your baby.

 

We never had issues with rolling/entrapment/etc. Good luck with whatever you decide. You know what best for your lo.

Stuuuaaart

We used the sleep sack to transition out of the swaddle. We used it for a few weeks but then once our LO started rolling more we eliminated that as well. You can also try a sleep positioner. It makes them feel snug.