Swaddle - Arms in or out?

amyjane_97 · March 2010

What technique do you use to swaddle? We've been doing arms out since that is what the hospital told us, but now I'm wondering if I try to do arms in if he'll sleep longer. He does flail around at night so maybe this is waking him up.

NELCORP · March 2010

I do arms in. He sleeps very solid like thus. If I leave his arms out, he doesn't sleep well at all.

Ciconrad · March 2010

When I had DS #1 we were always told arms in because keeping the arms from flailing was the whole point of swaddling. I was shocked to hear the "new rules" of swaddling while in the hospital with DS #2. I guess I don't understand the purpose of swaddling if you leave the hands out. DS #2 doesn't really like to be swaddled but if he did and it helped him sleep, his hands would be in.

swimrbride · March 2010

We do arms in, but we have a houdini baby who manages to get his arms out by the end of the night. He likes them out better but sleeps better with them in.

Erin0922 · March 2010

Our NICU and PICU both told us arms out - arms in is a SIDS risk apparently. Not like it matters, Drew likes his arms free.

stina-bear · March 2010

How's this for splitting the difference -- our hospital told us to swaddle with one arm in, one arm out.

We actually swaddle DS with both arms in (in a receiving blanket during daytime naps, in a SwaddleMe at night). He generally breaks his arms out of the swaddle during the day, but having them in at the beginning helps him fall asleep.

Temp785382312506150 · March 2010

We swaddle DD's arms in. She wacks herself in the face too much if we don't and sleeps so much longer with her arms in.

NCMichelle · March 2010

She's swaddled in a SwaddleMe with arms in. It's the only way she'll stay asleep.

sweetkakes419 · March 2010

We swaddle with arms in. That's the way our hospital did it and they never said anything about arms in being a SIDS risk.

JennLuvsMatt · March 2010

Arms out but it's because she likes to have access to her hands. She gets so fussy if you put her arms in but as soon as her arms are free she calms down.

mjcleve · March 2010

DS #1 - Had to do arms in to get any sleep.

DS #2 - Arms out because he likes having his hands by his face and sleeps great with them out.

NeverKnew · March 2010

Anybody swaddling with the arms tucked in, but up by LO's face? We do this and he looooooooves it. Totally negates the Moro reflex, it's harder (but not impossible) to get out of, and lets them sleep a little more like the womb.

mbgreenwalt · March 2010

We have done arms out since she was born. She got her arms out of the first swaddle the nurse did and we tried to swaddle them in after that and she hates it. She startles herself, but doesn't wake herself up. She likes to sleep with her arms above her head.

Lil'misslovie · March 2010

i put her arms in..its just enough to make her feel snug & secure

Peans · March 2010

We have been trying both ways...I think she likes arms out though. I switched to this after reading arms in as a SIDS risk in some baby product pamphlet. We did arms out the past few nights and she's done great sleeping.

azazela · March 2010

We swaddle with arms in and always have. I honestly don't understand what exactly is accomplished by swaddling with arms out, might as well just put the baby in a sleepsack. I also don't see why swaddling with arms in is suddenly a SIDS risk and can't find it listed anywhere. For example, here is the NICHD SIDS info updated March 1st: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/sudden_infant_death_syndrome.cfm

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