How to wean from swaddling...

emilycl1983 · February 2013

I have been swaddling my daughter since day one and would really like to end it and have her learn to go to sleep on her own. I didnt swaddle my oldest, so I didnt have this problem. I'm thinking this is keeping her from being more mobile because she wont roll over now. Help!!!

ethynsegura · February 2013

My girl was getting to hate swaddling so much and was getting too big for the swaddles, she kept on escaping! We finally just took her out of the swaddle completely and put her down in her crib (she had been in a rocker previously). She cried for most of the night the first night as she had never slept in the crib and I normally held her until she was in a deep sleep. It was a rough week! But within three nights, she was sleeping 8-10 hour stretches, had learned to roll over, and was such a happier baby. We would go through our normal bedtime routine-bath, massage, etc- then I would nurse her in the rocker with the lights off and her sound machine on then when she started sucking really gently I would put her down in the crib whether she was awake or asleep and immediately leave the room and my husband and I would then huddle around the monitor and time her crying. We would let her cry for 40 minutes "hard core" and then I would go back in and nurse her again and start the process over. If she was "wave" crying-off and on crying-I would wait 50 minutes before going back in. The first night was the worst but after that she started sleeping! It has been almost two months now and she sleeps pretty much from 6-6 and takes 2 40-90 minute naps a day. Good luck!

SteffyWhite · February 2013

I just recently started weaning my daughter. I hold her til she's good & alseep. When her paci falls out! Then I go lay her in her bed & she'll sleep til she's hungry again. Then I have to do it all over again. I don't let her cry because her daddy gets up at 330 to go to work. I'm hoping soon she'll just fall asleep on her own. She is now 5 months almost 6 months.

LyndseylovesHugh · February 2013

We started with one arm out and that went great, we did that for about 2 weeks. Last night we did both arms out and it was fine, not perfect but better than I expected. I am sure it will take a few days to get used to it. We will just be using a sleep sack from here on out. She also has been napping in a magic sleep suit for about a month now, so that has probably helped with the transition.

arilevine · February 2013

I am also swaddling with one arm out- we had two good nights of sleep but then last night that ended. I'm hoping that it was a fluke & we can get back to at least sleeping until 5!

kateraid · February 2013

ethynsegura:
My girl was getting to hate swaddling so much and was getting too big for the swaddles, she kept on escaping! We finally just took her out of the swaddle completely and put her down in her crib (she had been in a rocker previously). She cried for most of the night the first night as she had never slept in the crib and I normally held her until she was in a deep sleep. It was a rough week! But within three nights, she was sleeping 8-10 hour stretches, had learned to roll over, and was such a happier baby. We would go through our normal bedtime routine-bath, massage, etc- then I would nurse her in the rocker with the lights off and her sound machine on then when she started sucking really gently I would put her down in the crib whether she was awake or asleep and immediately leave the room and my husband and I would then huddle around the monitor and time her crying. We would let her cry for 40 minutes "hard core" and then I would go back in and nurse her again and start the process over. If she was "wave" crying-off and on crying-I would wait 50 minutes before going back in. The first night was the worst but after that she started sleeping! It has been almost two months now and she sleeps pretty much from 6-6 and takes 2 40-90 minute naps a day. Good luck!

40 minutes of hard core crying sounds harsh. I would never recommend that.

kateshaw99 · February 2013

We are trying to wean too..... We actually got a Zipadee Zip, which allows them to roll over and have a little more freedom, but stills gives some resistance... I have also heard of the Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit, but I don't have one of those...

Zipadeezip.com

Might want to take a look!! GL!

dmhrn13 · February 2013

Merlins Magic Sleep Suit works for us. I swaddled tightly until about 3 months, then for 2 weeks I used a Halo sleep sack that was loose, then I started LO in the sleep suit & its been so far so good, although she looks like the kid brother from A Christmas Story.

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