Q about swaddling

AliKay+ · May 2011

We still swaddle DS, he is in the Halo swaddle sleep sack for naps and nightime sleep. He has always liked it, and almost STTN when he stays in it. But recently he is breaking out constantly to suck on his hands, which of course wakes him up and he cries. I have left him unswaddled a few times for naps and he starts out fine but then wakes up and freaks out even worse, he screams like he is in pain which of course makes me come running.

I have tried swaddling with one arm out to get him used to it and he doesn't sleep very well either. Not sure what to do now? I know our swaddling days are numbered, but I'm not sure how to get him to transition?

MiniMadness · May 2011

I am no help. We are still faithful swaddlers and that's the only way she sleeps 10-11 hours, which she needs because she barely naps during the day due to her not being swaddled. But, thanks for postung this...I'm interested to see the reponses.

amyk927 · May 2011

We did the 1 arm out thing for a few weeks because of the same thing. She didn't sleep as well for a while, but eventually she got better. She is rolling on her side and we got nervous so started unswaddling both arms, although her sleep times have diminished again. I want to keep swaddling, but am afraid she might roll over and not be able to move herself. I'm also interested to hear other solutions.

pomrom · May 2011

DS was preemie and he was in the smallest size of the Halo sleepsack with the wings. He never broke out of it until they started to get to small. We went up a size and he was back to staying put!

Maybe you need a bigger size too?

Lilleybug · May 2011

I could have written this post myself! We used the miracle blanket swaddler and he is starting to break out too. He somehow gets free to suck on his hands then starts crying as well. We tried not to swaddle last night and he was up all.night.long. so finally we swaddled him up. Tonight we just kept him swaddled. I may try the one arm out tomorrow and see how it goes. I figure if it is working then don't change it right? I am definitely interested in hearing other responses/solutions.

Mrs.Jocelyn2007 · May 2011

Oh my... it makes me feel so much better to hear that other people have babies that for some reason cannot function in life if their hands are free when they are asleep. It doesn't make any sense to me because my son loves gumming his hands/fingers/thumb, and he always fights the swaddle to keep his hands out, yet he can't seem to soothe himself with them if he has access to them.

I just saw a good post on 3-6 month board about gradual de-swaddling and am going to try eddy's methods. Graham has started to roll over, but I'm not worried about him getting trapped on his belly because he only rolls over when he's propped up on his arms during tummy time. Nevertheless I'd LOVE him to slowly get used to having his hands out. At the very least, so I could use his cute little sleepers before he grows out of them. (Right now it's just swaddling blankets during the day and then Halo sleepsack at night.)

Any tips, please share...!

magdalina.h · May 2011

I wish we could have swaddled for this long. One day he was done with swaddling and wouldn't let us try again.

btraeger · May 2011

I am definitely in the same swaddling boat! Graham wakes himself up when he gets out of a swaddle and is like a little Houdini breaking free with any of the swaddle wraps on the market. What we found works like a charm is this escape proof swaddle technique I found on youtube. I don't have the link (blocked at work!) but it is essentially a Dad folding a receiving blanket in thirds like a scarf, laying the baby ontop of it, and then looping the ends of the blanket over each arm and then under the baby's back so the weight of their own back pins the blanket arms down (hard to describe but easy to follow on youtube!). We do that and then put a swaddle me velcro wrap over him and he's set for the whole night (and he obviously likes it because he calms right down). I highly recommend trying it until you want to stop swaddling!

I will be swaddling him like this until 13 if that's what it takes!

RileyGrace · May 2011

Our breaks out of EVERYTHING but we recently started doing the escape proof swaddle (see youtube) because that's the best way to get him to STTN. He still breaks out but it takes longer so we do that at night. For naps we use the halo or nothing, depending on the day.

I also know my days are numbered but I want to get as many full nights of sleep as possible before we stop so hopefully he'll be used to the schedule and maybe sleep better when we leave his arms out.

AliKay+ · May 2011

Wow, a month to transition? I was thinking more like a few days, but I will try it. Thanks for finding that post.

The swaddle sleep sack size we have is correct for his weight and I make it tiiiiiiight, DH says too tight, but he still manages to get out!

Want a personalized experience?

Q about swaddling

Re: Q about swaddling

Choose Another Board

Search Boards