No More Swaddle & How to CIO?

Eitak82

DS is 3 months old (which I know is too young for CIO), but I am considering it once he reaches the 4-5 month mark. He sleeps GREAT when he is swaddled - going down around 8:30 pm, waking up for a small feeding at 5:30 am. At that point he sometimes goes down for another hour or so, sometimes is up for the day - which is fine by me.

Last night, we tried to put him to sleep in a sleep sack without the swaddle. He is such an active sleeper that he kept waking himself up - not the startle reflex so much as his arms and legs just constantly moving, which would then wake him. He woke up crying at 12:30 am (we went in, swaddled him, and comforted him till he was calm, then put him down) and 3:00 am (same deal).

When he is old enough to sleep train, would I just let him continue to cry when he wakes up in the MOTN? I want to get him off the swaddle so that its not a sudden struggle when he starts to roll, but it results in him being very upset multiple times a night (and I imagine it would have been more if we hadn't reswaddled him at 12:30). Advice? 

pamelamelanie924

I had the exact same fear with DD and everyone told me that when she was ready we'd know. She was around 4 months and one night I just put her in a sleep sack and she slept all night. In the weeks before, she'd been waking up every few hours and I honestly think it was because she was breaking out of the swaddle and it was waking her up. Unless he's rolling over, just keep swaddling him. I understand your fear of a completely sleepless night, but I promise, when he's ready you'll know! 

sschwege

Honestly I would hold off as long as possible in ditching the swaddle.  It's not a problem until they start to roll.  DD slept in a swaddle till 6 months!  Once they start rolling it's a lot easier to get rid of the swaddle because they roll to their tummies and will have better control over their limbs.  Just my two cents!  You  could also try just one arm out of the swaddle as a transition or the Magic Sleep Suit as we have done for DS because he can roll.

DublinMama

sschwege:

Honestly I would hold off as long as possible in ditching the swaddle.  It's not a problem until they start to roll.  DD slept in a swaddle till 6 months!  Once they start rolling it's a lot easier to get rid of the swaddle because they roll to their tummies and will have better control over their limbs.  Just my two cents!  You  could also try just one arm out of the swaddle as a transition or the Magic Sleep Suit as we have done for DS because he can roll.

We also had to transition out of the swaddle because DS was fighting it, but still startling himself awake and moving his limbs everywhere.  We got our sleep suit on Tuesday and DS loves it! It keeps him still, but not immobile and last night he slept the best he has ever had. It also allowed us to transition him to the crib easily. I pretty much think that sleep suit is the greatest invention of all time, haha! 

As far as the cry it out thing, if I understand it correctly you go into your baby's room at timed intervals that gradually get longer. You don't just let him cry until he falls asleep. I think it's first you let him CIO for 3 minutes, you go in, but you don't pick up or speak to the baby, then it's 5 minutes, and then I think maybe 10, and 20. I started reading Ferber's book, but am not that far into yet. We are looking into doing CIO when DS is 6 months (if it's necessary) because we need to get DS on a fairly consistent schedule when I go back to work in August.  Although right now, because of that sleep suit, we put him down drowsy and awake for bedtime and he puts himself right to sleep!

kleigh926

We are having the exact same struggle right now. Part of me thinks we should just keep swaddling because she doesn't seem ready to go without it yet. But it makes me nervous because she can roll from belly to back, and I've seen her trying to roll from back to belly although she hasn't succeeded. She also moves around all over the place in her crib while swaddled, and it just seems safer to me to try and break the habit.
Currently we are trying just one arm out. I think that might go better for you than stopping cold turkey. Also, maybe you can try swaddling looser and see if that helps. I think that's what we're going to do for nighttime since the one arm out thing didn't work very well last night.
ETA: I agree with PP about CIO. You don't just let them cry forever until they cry themselves to sleep. You gradually lengthen the amount of time that passes before you go in and soothe.

Eitak82

Thanks for the advice! I was looking into the Magic Merlin Sleep Suit, but honesttly DS is SWEATY and even though everyone says it's very breathable fabric, it felt really heavy to me!

We are trying naps with one arm out and will likely stick with swaddling at night based on your feedback... hopefully as PP said we will know when he's ready. (Just in case I did buy nook versions of Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child and the Ferber book today). 

this decaf life

We tried a couple times to get DD out of her swaddle because she was fighting it and it just kept not working until last week. suddenly it just wasnt an issue

annmarieki

It was a real struggle for us until we tried the Magic Sleepsuit.  I agree it looks heavy and hot, but its remarkable how my baby stays very comfortable.  From what i have read, its because the feet are not enclosed so the baby is able to ventilate.