weaning a swaddle-dependent 7 month old.

homebird · January 2014

So Graham has been happily swaddled since birth. And I think he would continue to be happy being swaddled, except that last night he started rolling over in his crib. He would wake up, roll over and be stuck because his arms were pinned down, and start crying. Obivously I know the swaddle has to go (because it's dangerous now). But I have no idea what to do with him now.

I tried wrapping him up in a light muslin blanket (like a swaddle, but he could break out of it). Of course, he broke out of it in 5 minutes and started crying. We tried a little bit of CIO (which I hated) but he got so worked up, and nothing helped, so H ended up rocking him back to sleep. Which is another habit I don't feel like starting. Until now I would wrap him up, he would settle in and be out. It's like he doesn't know how to fall asleep without being snuggled in, you know?

Anyway, I ordered a zipadee zip (https://zipadeezip.com) to help him with the transition to no swaddle, but it won't be here for a few days. Any ideas to help him in the meantime?

natalie115 · January 2014

Maybe one arm out? DS loved the swaddle too. He's been sleeping unswaddled for a few months now and still doesn't sleep as well as he did when we still swaddled him. We gave DS a lovey to hold on to which seemed to help.

homebird · January 2014

You think it's alright to keep one arm in if he's rolling over?

natalie115 · January 2014

I'm not an expert, but I would think with one arm out he could press himself up if he needed to. You could try it and wait to see what happens when he rolls over. That way you would be right there and be able to grab him if needed. Otherwise I would keep doing the loose swaddle. It's probably going to take him at least a few nights to be comfortable without a swaddle so don't expect him to go from swaddle to no swaddle w/o waking up a lot for a few nights.

LisaLisa1980 · January 2014

that was me 3 months ago!!!!! We weaned him off the swaddle (we were using a woombie) and ordered a zipadeezip!! no issues! he took to it right away, at 9 months we're still using it and it's great

homebird · January 2014

Well we did one arm out last night and he did okay. He had a hard time going to sleep - I sort of had to hold his arm down by his side until he settled down. But after that he only woke up once!

natalie115 · January 2014

I still have to hold DS' arms down once in awhile if he gets really riled up. I would try the one arm for a couple nights then try the blanket just wrapped around him middle.

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