XP from 0-3 months: newborn SCREAMS when swaddled

giggler25 · June 2014

My 3.5 week old baby screams hysterically when her arms are swaddled. Tonight we waited until she was asleep before putting her in the swaddle sack. We got her in okay and she slept for a couple hours but when DH woke her up to change her diaper she started shrieking. She was crying hysterically. This usually happens when we try to swaddle her but in this case she already was swaddled. Any advice?

usernewname · June 2014

Don't swaddle her then. It's not a mandatory rule to swaddle your child. Some love it and some can't stand it.

Sleep sacks are great for nighttime. We use them after I found out he liked something on top of his body. We never swaddled.

gypsymystic · June 2014

You can opt for a wearable blanket instead. My DS1 hated being swaddled and he would fight and struggle until he Hulked out of them. DS2 seems to be the same. Swaddled him in the hospital no problem but by the time he was home and more aware, we tried again (due to him scratching his face), he would do the same as DS1. Scream and try to break free. lol

Edit: They both loved being in the wearable blanket, however.

dogsombrero · June 2014

J hates the swaddle and sack. He sleeps happily in just a sleeper do we let him be the guide. I'd try putting LO down in just a sleeper and see what happens.

gutsysneakers · June 2014

Dd hates her arms being swaddled too. We use the A&A easy swaddlers and swaddle so her arms are out but her middle is all tight still. I think they are around $15 on Amazon.

momo214 · June 2014

Ours also hates having her arms swaddled. She'd grunt all night trying to pull them out then start crying. We also use an easy swaddler. We use this one bc it's sooo cheap and works great. It's hot for summer but we keep our room super cold so it works for us. We now just swaddle her body and leave her arms free and she loves it!!

https://www.target.com/p/summer-infant-swaddleme-fleece-pink-small-medium/-/A-10199723?force-full-site=1

giggler25 · June 2014

Thanks everyone. We haven't been swaddling her since she hates it but the problem is she won't really sleep BC she wakes up when her arms move due to morro reflex. I read that swaddling helps babies sleep deeper and longer, which is why I wanted to try again.

THD7580 · June 2014

My LO hated swaddling. He would do the same thing. But I keep doing it when he's wailing his arms and out of control because as soon as I do it and hold his arms down he calms. Babies that are really fussy they say are supposed to be swaddled 12-20 hours a day. We have had a way calmer baby because of it.

usernewname · June 2014

Her reflex will.calm.dowm eventually and she will get used to it and hopefully it won't wake her as much. It used to wake up ds at the beginning and now it doesn't bother him

pistolpackinmomma · June 2014

Both of my boys like being swaddled with arms out. We use the halo swaddle sacks. I forget how long we did it with DS1 but I'm hoping to not need to do it for much longer. I find it to be annoying.

jenb_99 · June 2014

Azlebella said:
You can opt for a wearable blanket instead. My DS1 hated being swaddled and he would fight and struggle until he Hulked out of them. DS2 seems to be the same. Swaddled him in the hospital no problem but by the time he was home and more aware, we tried again (due to him scratching his face), he would do the same as DS1. Scream and try to break free. lol

Edit: They both loved being in the wearable blanket, however.

This is DD exactly. We use a wearable blanket too.

meli1025 · June 2014

See how your little one does without the swaddle at all, but I would also recommend the book Happiest Baby on the Block. They address swaddling at length and talk about other steps that need to be taken in order for the swaddle to truly calm the baby. It's normal that swaddling alone will not soothe her. They talk about the 5 "S's". Swaddling, side/stomach position (NOT for sleeping just soothing), swinging, shushing, and sucking. My little guy hated the swaddle at first but I wanted to keep trying since his Moro reflex would wake him up after five minutes every time. He's taken to the swaddle now and I'm finally getting three hour stretches of sleep. Good luck!

MissLadyTay · June 2014

My baby screams when first swaddled but settles eventually with rocking and a pacifier. Then sleeps MUCH better. I almost gave up on the swaddle due to his initial frustration but sticking with it yields better and longer sleep for everyone.

giggler25 · June 2014

meli1025 said:
See how your little one does without the swaddle at all, but I would also recommend the book Happiest Baby on the Block. They address swaddling at length and talk about other steps that need to be taken in order for the swaddle to truly calm the baby. It's normal that swaddling alone will not soothe her. They talk about the 5 "S's". Swaddling, side/stomach position (NOT for sleeping just soothing), swinging, shushing, and sucking. My little guy hated the swaddle at first but I wanted to keep trying since his Moro reflex would wake him up after five minutes every time. He's taken to the swaddle now and I'm finally getting three hour stretches of sleep. Good luck!

We did watch this Sunday night which is why I decided to try again - till bow we haven't been swaddling post-hospital since she seems to hate it. Putting her on her side makes her scream bloody murder when swaddled.... I don't get it. I guess we will keep trying if other people have had success. I guess I was just surprised that waking up from a totally peaceful sleep state in a swaddle would set her off so much.

Thanks for all the replies!

Lild09 · June 2014

Mine didn't like it either then I tried swaddling him just in his diaper and just at night and nursed him to sleep and it works so he doesn't flail around and he sleeps really well 98% of the time...there's only been a couple nights where he's up every 2 hours..otherwise he takes a long 4-6 h stretch then up, changed, swaddled, nursed and down for a couple more hours once or twice...once he's up for the day I don't use the swaddle bc I want him to relate swaddle with night sleep

ns1 · June 2014

If you're using a swaddle sack of some sort maybe try a different kind. My DS seems to hate the summer infant swaddle sacks (which of course I bought a ton of), but he is fine with the halo swaddle sleep sacks.

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XP from 0-3 months: newborn SCREAMS when swaddled

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