I need a swaddle weaning miracle

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

I expected swaddle weaning to be difficult but this seems damn near impossible. LO wakes himself up after 30 min of going down every time. It is not the startle reflex he just grabs at his face and put his hand in his mouth which wakes him up. I try to see if he will self soothe but he wakes up very upset because he is not swaddled. The moment we swaddle him he's at peace. I've tried the swaddleme one arm out and the halo sleep sack. He will be 5 months next week and our pedi said to swaddle wean. Is anyone else having this hard of a time? I always give up after waking up every 30 min by midnight ughhh!!!!

KellenHi21 · October 2013

Not sure if this would help but we started weaning my making the swaddle looser and looser every night. We used the swaddle me and just kept adjusting every night. Once we had it super loose for about a week I just took both arms out and he was fine! I swaddled with both arms out for 1.5 weeks and now we just use a sleep sack.

kmkaull2 · October 2013

Why did your doctor want you to wean off the swaddle? Why mess with what's working? DD started breaking out of the Miracle Blanket a few weeks ago so I tried a Merlin Sleep Suit. Big fail. I went back to using the MB with one arm out and we're back to good sleep. I like the MB because there's plenty of room for her to move her legs.

Just sounds like he's not ready. I remember trying to wean off the swaddle a few times with my son. Eventually, he just made the transition.

GalLaura · October 2013

We have had one arm out of the swaddle for awhile now. Both arms equals face scratches, hands in the mouth and waking up as you described ! If you find a solution, please share

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

@carolynL8 he's not scratching himself, I know I just need to suck it up. @kellen&estevan I will try that but on the rare occasion he gets out of his swaddle he wakes himself up. And we use two swaddlemes because he can get out of one in no time!

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

@kmkaull2 my LO has a really flat head and our pedi said once he's not being swaddled he will be able to roll to his side and sleep for some of the night. We also use and love the miracle blanket or swaddlemes. Hoping LO will be more ready to make the transition soon!

kmkaull2 · October 2013

DaniJake617 said:

@kmkaull2 my LO has a really flat head and our pedi said once he's not being swaddled he will be able to roll to his side and sleep for some of the night. We also use and love the miracle blanket or swaddlemes. Hoping LO will be more ready to make the transition soon!

Gotcha. I agree maybe try to do naps first? Good luck.

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

@kdc2007, I wish we would have done it around 6 weeks when LO started breaking out of his swaddle too. But instead we just got more swaddle aggressive I bought the miracle blanket aka straight jacket. We've never swaddled for naps but now LO just associates being swaddled for bedtime and its going to be a hard habit to break.

mysticial · October 2013

Have you looked into the Zippadee Zip. It worked like a charm for us right away!!! Then she went into a sleep regression but it has nothing to do with her not being swaddled!!!

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

@mysticial I looked at it but saw the hands were free and didn't think it would work. But hearing your success stories is helpful. I'm going to order one tomorrow. How big is your LO and in what size? Thanks!

momofcatan · October 2013

I'm dealing with almost the exact same thing right now. We double swaddle with a receiving blanket + SwaddleMe and I've started doing one arm out. I've taken a second swadleMe and put in on backwards, but didn't do up the flaps, so just her legs are tucked in. I then try to encouraged her to grab onto the loose flap with her free hand. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Have you tried giving a lovie to occupy his hands? I thought I've seen someone on here mention aden and anais makes one from a breathable blanket.

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

@araziza good idea ill try a lovey for naps and if he likes it ill order a A&A one. He never showed interest but I haven't tried it again in a while.

Beaslejl · October 2013

This is awful. I'm so sorry. I guess I never realized this was a thing. Luckily my LO would want her arms out like a week after coming home from the hospital. Actually she would wake up if we swaddled her arms in and she'd grunt and grunt and strain to get them out. Wish I had good advice for you, but you definitely taught me something new.

briannanoel26 · October 2013

My guy was breaking out of double swaddle so I switched to the Woombie. He has freedom to move arms inside swaddle but can't get out. I bought the convertible one so down the road I can take one or both arms out.

BunnyLove416 · October 2013

You're not alone. L used to sleep wonderfully swaddled, now he's breaking out in the night and waking himself up. I can't decide if it's better to just give up on the swaddle or find a better swaddle. Just wanted to let you know it's not just you!

HeartLikeMine3 · October 2013

Thanks for the support I might have to try the woombie!
Edited to add the Woombie is another swaddle blanket so that won't work to get him unswaddled

whitney2302 · November 2013

This is us too. He breaks out of the swadddlemes multiple times a night and wake himself up. I tried two naps last weekend with one arm out and he was awake within 15 minutes both times. I'm too chicken to try at night. I'm considering the Merlin Miracle Suit.

No longer the best · November 2013

We swaddle weaned with one arm free and the first few nights were rough but it got better. Then I went to get him from a nap in his crib and found him face down against the side and it freaked me out so we went arm free right then. I got a bit sick and exhausted from getting up so frequently so we started bedsharing and I was able to soothe him back to sleep by laying my arm over his arms without having to get out. We went from getting up every hour to getting 6 hour stretches.

HeartLikeMine3 · November 2013

I'm thinking of the Merlin sleep suit too just don't know if he'd still grab at his face with his hands being out. I wish it had the hands covered like the feet lol. I'm going to make my own

whitney2302 · November 2013

I know, we have a face grabber/eye rubber too. I really want to try it but then I think it's just something else we'll have to wean him from later on. I can't decide what to do! If you make one and it works, I'll pay you to make me one too..I'm useless at sewing.

HeartLikeMine3 · November 2013

I just ordered the Merlin's sleep suit on amazon if it doesn't work I will seriously try making something. I will let you know how it goes it will be here Monday.

whitney2302 · November 2013

I'm anxious to hear how it goes! I hope it works!!

kmkaull2 · November 2013

DaniJake617 said:

I'm thinking of the Merlin sleep suit too just don't know if he'd still grab at his face with his hands being out. I wish it had the hands covered like the feet lol. I'm going to make my own

You know little Ralphie in the snowsuit from Christmas Story? Magic Merlin is kind of like that. DD couldn't get her hands to her face if she tried. It was actually quite hilarious when we tried it. I have a feeling she was a little too small or something as it seems like she should have been able to move a little more, lol.

HeartLikeMine3 · November 2013

kmkaull2 said:

DaniJake617 said:

I'm thinking of the Merlin sleep suit too just don't know if he'd still grab at his face with his hands being out. I wish it had the hands covered like the feet lol. I'm going to make my own

You know little Ralphie in the snowsuit from Christmas Story? Magic Merlin is kind of like that. DD couldn't get her hands to her face if she tried. It was actually quite hilarious when we tried it. I have a feeling she was a little too small or something as it seems like she should have been able to move a little more, lol.

LMAO that's perfect I hope he can't get to his face either!

kmkaull2 · November 2013

Put Merlin in the dryer for a few minutes before you put your DS in it. OMG, you will want to sleep in one of those suckers, too! So cozy, yet they do not get too warm. It is crazy.

whitney2302 · November 2013

So DS rolled over on his belly while swaddled last night. Weaning is going to come sooner than I thought! He's never done it while awake but I woke up at 5, looked a the monitor and there he was on his belly. I freaked out, jumped up and ran to his room. He was sleeping peacefully but I rolled him back anyway. I decided to order the Merlin today and cross my fingers that it works!

HeartLikeMine3 · November 2013

@whitney2302 oh no! I just saw this I'm always on mobile so it's kinda hard to check. Sorry your forces to swaddle wean but at least it will get done. I always give up Merlin will be here Monday and he better be a damn magician!!!!!!

notquiteblushing · November 2013

Doctors really don't get to decide how I parent. We still swaddle. He breaks out of the Miracle Blanket so I just wrap him back up. Otherwise he doesn't sleep. I need sleep.

whitney2302 · November 2013

@DaniJake617 I hope Merlin works for you! You'll have to let us know!

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