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Transitioning out of swaddle.

carissa-5541wcarissa-5541w member
edited August 2022 in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
My baby is 9 weeks old and I have been slowly trying to transition him out if his swaddle.  Safe sleep indicates to stop swaddling at 8 weeks but his startle reflex is so bad he just wakes himself up all night.  I have been doing the one arm free method and he can sleep for an hour like that then he wakes up.  We have a sound machine on to drown out any noise.  Any tricks on helping my little guy sleep without his swaddle?  Thanks ☺️
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Re: Transitioning out of swaddle.

  • knottie63d0a4a8304c3ab5knottie63d0a4a8304c3ab5 member
    Following! My babe is the exact same way. 
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  • knottie95d8057ce56fb778knottie95d8057ce56fb778 member
    You can keep swaddling your baby until they start to roll on their own. No need to force it by a specific age IMO. Sleep is important and the startle will keep interrupting it until it is integrated (happens around the time babies learn to roll). 
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  • turtletaylor0522turtletaylor0522 member
    I swaddled my baby until he started getting mad about it. We moved to a sleep sack at about 8-9 weeks old and he was much happier. I recommend Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Keeper. They’re sooooo soft and the zipper is upside down so you can change them without taking it off at night. 
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  • carissa-5541wcarissa-5541w member
    After you moved to the sleep sack did your baby have a bad startle reflex?  Did it start out bad and get better over time?  I just want to know if I should keep going with one arm out.  If he is going to startle every 30 mins I might as well swaddle again so we get some sleep 😂!
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  • carissa-5541wcarissa-5541w member
    knottie95d8057ce56fb778 said:
    You can keep swaddling your baby until they start to roll on their own. No need to force it by a specific age IMO. Sleep is important and the startle will keep interrupting it until it is integrated (happens around the time babies learn to roll). 
    He has had a couple signs that he wants to roll, he was strong from day 1.  I was starting early hoping to have an easier transition!
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  • WishilivedinfloridaWishilivedinflorida member
    I swaddled both babies until just before 4 months. They had prolonged startles and didn’t roll until then. 
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  • turtletaylor0522turtletaylor0522 member
    @knottieaae78e9c2b19c1ef My son would startle awake a few times during active sleep but once he got into good, deep sleep he was okay. And he didn’t wake all the way up. He would make a few sounds then settle back down if he did startle himself awake. He’s honestly the easiest baby to get to sleep ever, so I don’t have much advice for one with a startle reflex that interferes severely with their sleep. 
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  • knottiea5a7666811bbf225knottiea5a7666811bbf225 member
    I would practice swaddling with in arm out during the day when your LO naps and fully swaddle at night if he’s not rolling yet. Then once he’s used to sleeping with on arm out during the day try it at night. My son loves sleeping with one arm out during the day. 
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  • carissa-5541wcarissa-5541w member
    knottiea5a7666811bbf225 said:
    I would practice swaddling with in arm out during the day when your LO naps and fully swaddle at night if he’s not rolling yet. Then once he’s used to sleeping with on arm out during the day try it at night. My son loves sleeping with one arm out during the day. 
    He mostly still naps in my arms but I will try this!!
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  • carissa-5541wcarissa-5541w member
    Great news!  It took lots of time and getting used to but we are officially in a sleep sack and out of the swaddle!  

    We did one arm out for 2 weeks, then just swaddled under his armpits for a week.  Eventually talking the swaddle away for naps first the night time as well.  His startle reflex has been a lot better and when it does happen he soothes himself.  I didn’t think it was possible, ha!
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