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Swaddling dilemma

littlebean4littlebean4 member
in June 2015 Moms
LO is only 2 weeks old so I know I'm still in that trial and error stage but I feel like nothing is working. We started with the blanket, he broke his arms out in a week. Then I've tried the Velcro ones and he's also broken out and if he doesn't break out, he spends all night grunting and struggling (I think to get his arms out) and wakes up every hour and a half. I've tried no swaddle but I feel like his startle then wakes him up. Keep in mind I usually keep his arms bent up to his mouth bc he's a sucker but I've also laid them by his side. Ahhhhh what to do?!?! I'm just desperate for sleep. I know every baby is different but whT seems to be working for you ladies
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Re: Swaddling dilemma

  • aj1327aj1327 member
    We swaddled with arms out from the get go because LO hated his arms in. At 4 weeks we've been using gowns and sleep sacks. He sleeps fine, but we also either have had him in the napper of our pack and play or the rock and play so if he reached his hands out he felt something around him. That was the key for us.

    Last night I put him in the big part of the pack and play at 4 1/2 weeks because he's getting long for the napper. He's been a little restless when I put him in, but I've given him a paci and put my hand on his belly and he's settled down every time. Good luck!
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  • delujm0delujm0 member
    We use a blanket and leave her arms out bc she likes to suck on her hands. It works, but only because she sleeps like a rock (gets it from her daddy) and her startles don't phase her, even when her arms are all over the place.

    Our hospital did say to do arms up, not at the side. Apparently that's a new recommendation.
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  • Sammy KSammy K member
    Have you tried one arm out? They can suck on the free hand but the startle doesn't seem as bad. We did this for DS with good results.
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  • KaLikeAWindKaLikeAWind member
    We did one arm out for about a week, then I had to encourage DH to switch free arms (he kept leaving only the left arm out - I think he's trying to encourage LO to be a lefty, lol). When I swaddle I have both arms bent at the elbow so his hands are near his chin and I make the swaddle loose at the top so he can get both his arms out. My LO likes to throw up his arms above his head or use his hands / arms to cover his face so I prefer to let him have that freedom of movement. I don't think he startles too much from them being free.
    My LO is also 2 weeks old
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  • MJMum524MJMum524 member
    LO is almost 4 weeks old. We swaddle at night and maybe half of her daytime sleeps. She can sleep either way but is happier swaddled quicker. I use a blanket and swaddle so she can't get her arms out. Every time my husband swaddles, her arms come out because he just can't get it right. I find if she has that option and she's trying to get back to sleep, she gets too distracted to have her arms out. Also, if she's grunting/fussing after I've fed, changed diaper, swaddled her and then layed her in the bassinet I have to try something else. Usually she just needs a rocking and shhhing and she is calmed right down. I rock quickly and firmly and shhh loudly. I got that tip from the happiest baby on the block DVD.
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  • 47923ang47923ang member
    We swaddle with arms out. Have since we came home from the hospital.
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  • dancegurl1118dancegurl1118 member
    We swaddled arms in legs up until about 3 weeks when she started kicking and being angry about legs up (pedi said we could do legs up until 6 weeks or until LO lets us know she isn't having it). Now we just swaddle arms down in a sack, and I swaddle her arms in a blanket when she naps. She struggles a bit but if a rogue arm gets out she LOSES IT and screams (baby, you were fighting to get this arm out...wasn't this your endgame?) she still startles at 5.5 weeks so..until that ends.
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  • krystleshelkrystleshel member
    We try arms in, but she freaks & wriggles out her arms. Her startle isn't too bad & she seems happier with arms out. I did change from short sleeve onesie to long sleeve onesie once her arms were out though to keep her warmer.
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  • beckyk9109beckyk9109 member
    When we tried arms in, my girls would seriously get their arms out their sleeves and through the neck of their sleeper to have them out (premies with too big of clothing) so we just swaddle with arms out now. Seems like there's a smaller chance of breaking an arm this way, it was ridiculous.
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  • KarasTwinKarasTwin member
    Our LO gets his arms out and I was afraid to swaddle him at night because once his arms are out the blanket was too close to his face for my liking. We got one of the halo sleep sacks (zips up the front and sleeveless) and it worked like a charm over his footie pajamas. He pretty much sleeps until we wake him for a feeding and diaper change. During the day he pretty much sleeps in his swing sometimes with a blanket tucked around his legs, but usually just in his pajamas or onesie.


    My FFQ is how long are ya'll doing tummy time for? He'll be 3 weeks on Monday and the pediatrician told us to start it last Thursday. I've only done it 4 times for about 5 minutes because he cries so much. His belly button is still bleeding a little and I think it might hurt.
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  • beckyk9109beckyk9109 member
    KarasTwin said:


    My FFQ is how long are ya'll doing tummy time for? He'll be 3 weeks on Monday and the pediatrician told us to start it last Thursday. I've only done it 4 times for about 5 minutes because he cries so much. His belly button is still bleeding a little and I think it might hurt.

    my girls are 8 weeks and still hate tummy time so what we've been doing is tummy time on my chest. I lean back with baby facing me and then she can look up at me. It's been working great, they have so much control over their necks and are even pushing themselves up! This never would've been accomplished on their play mat seeing as they instantly scream when I put them on it. We still try every now and then, but what we've been doing works for us
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  • addingonaddingon member
    We swaddle with arms in using a Halo sleepsack swaddler. Her startle reflex wakes her up so arms in is the way to go for our LO. I think she likes it.

    One trick we do is that we don't put her arms through the arm holes and use the Velcro flaps to hold her arms in - she's tricky and will sneak her hands up every time! What we do is actually wiggle her arms directly by her side within the sack itself and ignore the arm holes and swaddle that way. Then she's all tucked in and content for the night (or for 3-5 hrs lol). Hope this helps.
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  • virginiaunicorn11virginiaunicorn11 member
    My LO sleeps sooo much better when he's swaddled, but he HATES it! I have to try to sneak him into it when he's too drowsy to protest. Otherwise he comes roaring out of his drowsy state. We use a zip up Woombie. The newborn size was too small (or LO thought so), so we are one size up. It's a little big but he seems comfy-er in it.

    I didn't know to swaddle him with his hands up, rather than arms at the side - thanks, ladies!
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  • enigmaticjjenigmaticjj member
    We've been using a Woombie. They also have a convertable Woombie so you can leave arms in or out (zips from the top and bottom). It's very easy to put on and take off. And makes diaper checks/changes easy.
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  • Kiki119Kiki119 member
    My LO hated her arms in when she was born but she ended up waking herself up and crying all night after startling herself

    So we finally tried the sleep routine and end up putting her in Velcro swaddle... I always make sure her arms are straight and Velcro as tight as possible... With the bed time routine she sleeps a lot better and only wake her up for feeding 1-2 times then she can go right back asleep

    I found this aritcle very helpful.... Also make sure to try to 5 S's which work great with our LO

    https://pinterest.com/pin/A4L6dwAQAE4AF8pKn-YAAAA/
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  • aliciaspinnetaliciaspinnet member
    I haven't tried it but something like this swaddle might work, it allows the baby to move their arms while remaining in the swaddle.

    https://www.lovetodream.com.au/?DocPath=online-shop/swaddleup-stage1/&
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  • OnWayto3OnWayto3 member
    @littlebean4 I tried so many different swaddling techniques with LO and the only one that clicked and I now LOVE is the Woombie. I def recommend checking it out! https://www.amazon.com/The-Woombie-Original-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B003OQTPE4

     
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  • virginiaunicorn11virginiaunicorn11 member
    enigmaticjj said:

    They also have a convertable Woombie so you can leave arms in or out (zips from the top and bottom). It's very easy to put on and take off. And makes diaper checks/changes easy.

    Ohhhhhhh!!!! A gently used one of these was gifted to us, and I didn't know that's what the bottom zipper was for. Thanks!!
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  • zxxiv2zxxiv2 member
    DD hates being swaddled. From day 1 she would fuss and wiggle like a fish out of water to get her arms free. Then she was happy. Plus it's been so hot (we don't have central air) I don't want her to be overheated so no swaddling for us! Just jammies at night time and she is content in her rock n play!
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