Swaddling toddlers

[ColdFizz]

I tried this today as DD aged 2 had become that overtired due to dropping her nap today she was starting to become hysterical.

I spotted the fur throw on my bed and for some reason just decided to swaddle her likeI did when she was a newborn and by heck did it work! Straight away she stopped screaming and her eyes starting going and she was asleep in 5 minutes .

Anyone else still do this? I shall definitely remember that for the future

[Jaffakake]

We went through a phase where ds found it really hard to give up & go to sleep. What worked was picking him up & singing to him like we did at 6 months old, he was 2.6 at the time. Maybe they find comfort in being a baby when it all gets too much?

[ouryve]

No swaddling, but my 10yo likes a heavy blanket when he can't settle to sleep. Both boys used grobags until they were 5 or 6. They helped them to feel a lot more secure.

[hotcrosshunny]

Well seriously no I wouldn't but would give them a cuddle and a sing song.

[naty1]

No but mine is still in a sleeping bag. Im scared to stop using it and she moves a lot in sleep

[5madthings]

My dd was swaddled for sleep till over one, about 17mths? She loved it and still likes to be wrapped up now and gets upset if she wakes in the night and she isn't covered properly, her feet have to be all tucked in etc.

[TinyTheTortoise]

My just over two yo likes to be swaddled sometimes, she just gets to a point she is so tired she can't cope with life (hard work being 2 don't you know!) and she likes to be all bundled up and snuggly.

I've found that holding her so she can't move her arms, in a cuddle not restraint as such, helps her calm down when she is having a meltdown out of sheer frustration.

She just likes to be held tight when she feels out of control I think.

[Pabboo]

When my DS was like that - dropping his nap, but clearly still needing to sleep, tired, tearful.... I would pop him in a wrap sling, usually on my back.
Same result. Again, probably the feeling of security, swaddling and the rocking probably helped too - he was definitely quicker to calm if his arms were in the sling too.

[ColdFizz]

Yes I think it was the feeling tight and secure that helped, was rocking her and patting her bum too

We were up at 4am though! Think I may have to.persevere with the naps...

Will have a look for a sleeping bag, I stopped using one when she grew out of her old one but think it would help her sleep better as she also likes to be all tucked in.

Will also try the swaddling trick if she gets to the point of no return with a tantrum due to frustration, she sometimes gets like this when she wakes from a very deep sleep so handy to know

[Thurlow]

Do you use a duvet? If so, if you turn it sideways you can tuck it in tightly underneath the mattress and make it quite nice and tight. DD definitely prefers that a hell of a lot more than a loose blanket that she gets tangled up in.

[TinyTheTortoise]

Yes I think it was the feeling tight and secure that helped, was rocking her and patting her bum too

Oh yes, my DD loves her bum being patted too, she will actually tell me 'Pat bum mummy' when we are cuddling in general! She does it to her dollys too, "pretty baby, pat bum, sshhhh, pretty baby"