Snugglier alternative to grobag

[breadandhoney]

Dd2's sleep is nightmarish. She wakes every 30-90 mins from 7pm - 6am. It is horrendous. She has well and truly outgrown her Moses basket now and so we are trying to get her to sleep in cot in her own room. The first 2 nights I put her Moses basket in the cot to try to acclimatise her to the new surroundings. Last night I tied to put her directly into the cot but after 90mins and 7 failed attempts I resorted to the Moses basket again and she settled immediately (for 30 mins, but that's par for the course unfortunately)

I have come to realise that she likes to be very snuggly in order to sleep. Whether that be in the outgrown Moses basket or in her car seat with the footmuff (which is the only place she naps through the day) Wheb she was tiny i used to put her in a pramsuit to nap as it sent her off instantly. We recently had a 2-day power cut and she slept in a thick fleecy pramsuit from gap and slept for 6 straight hours!!

So, on to my question. Is there any product out there that met help her to feel more snuggly and secure and perhaps help her to sleep better? The pramsuit is not suitable for longterm overnight use as it has a hood and is too warm for regular room temperature. I am trying her swaddled tonight, in a swaddling sleeping bag, but Im aware that this isn't recommended once they come close to being able to roll over (also have no idea whether it'll make a difference!)

Hope this makes sense and isn't too waffle as I had to retype twice!

[Thurlow]

Kiddicare sell [[http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_2904_10751_-1_52179_93344_10001_14736 this], which might help?

You can also get cot dividers too, and some sleeping bags with arms like this

[bonzo77]

Do you mean warm? In which case is second the sleeping bag with arms.

If you mean contained and cosy, 2 things that worked for us were lying the baby on a natural sheepskin (they are machine washable) and tucking him in very tight over the sleeping bag. I used a flat cot sheet turned 90degrees for this.

[breadandhoney]

Thurlow, your first like isn't working on my phone. The sleeping bag with sleeves would work for warmth but I thinks he needs to be cosy and contained too. Hadn't considered tucking her in. This probably wouldn't work just at the moment though as she can only be put down asleep due to our wider sleep issues. I would be afraid that either she would wake up immediately upon being out down, meaning I wouldn't have the chance to tuck her in, or I would wake her up while tucking her in.

I love the sheepskin suggestion. That is something I will definitely try. What to do about those flailing arms though and the sense if containment?

[bonzo77]

You could put her arms inside the sleeping bag. But only if her head is definitely not small enough to slip inside the neck hole IYSWIM.

DS2 slept so much better on the sheepskin. Then after a while I started putting it under the sheet. Then took it away.

[Thurlow]

Try this

I think we used to put DD's arms inside the sleeping bag occasionally, before she could roll.

[breadandhoney]

That's a good idea. Swaddling worked for an hour, do no better than not swaddling. I might have a go at putting her arms inside the grobag.

In my desperation I have considered cutting the hood off the fleecy pramsuit and putting her in it with just a nappy on. But then what happens when she outgrows it? Ill look into getting a sheepskin.

I am also considering a bumper for the cot to make it cosier. However it still won't surround her in the way the Moses basket does.

[batteryhen]

My DS sleeps in a 'walk in sleep suit' from mothercare. It's 2.5 tog, and is basically like a snowsuit for bed time. He has slept loads better (but is teething presently so not great at the moment!) , I think he feels quite snug in it. Am on my phone so can't link, but I wouldn't go back to a sleeping bag now x

[OneoftheseBoxes]

For tonight (before you can get to the shops) can you use rolled up towels to surround her to make the cot feel smaller? We used to put dd in her sleeping bag with her head touching the top of the cot so it felt smaller, and my v pillow wedged sideways (so she couldn't get herself stuck under it) at the side. Sorry to hear you're having trouble

[CarlyRose80]

I use my pregnant pillow, the angel one, its like a really long bumper down one side of the cot, I lay baby next to it and he turns his head to nuzzle into it as he likes comfort by his face. Also swaddle sometimes and tuck a blanket round him as he likes this also xx

[breadandhoney]

Thank you all for your replies.

I should've been clear. I had dd in the Moses basket last night while I sought your wisdom and advice.

So, I have just ordered a sheepskin for her to sleep on and tonight I will put my pregnancy pillow round the cot like a bumper to make it cosier. I might also out a cardigan on her under her grobag.

Any further advice will be gratefully received. I will try anything for a half decent nights sleep (for DD and me!)

[okthen]

We have that Gap fleecy pramsuit (the one with ears, right?)- it is a miracle worker! Ds sleeps like a dream in it outside in the day... And is awful at night. I've often wished I could put him in it overnight.

We have started putting a cardie on over his grobag. I always feel sorry for their little arms!

[breadandhoney]

Yes that's the one! It's amazing. Pity they don't make similar in the form of sleeping bag. Sorry to hear you're having bad nights too. It really is the pits.

[okthen]

It is the pits indeed! Have just reread thread and noted the point about flailing arms. We have this too. We have found that it is possible to settle him in his cot, if we actually hold his arms down! ie holding his hands to his tummy til he settles. It sounds cruel but is no different from swaddling I guess.

It doesn't stop him waking, mind you. But it feels like a step forward to be able to settle him in his cot of an evening instead of at the boob, and to settle without feeding for some night time wake-ups.

Ds is outgrowing the magical Gap pramsuit... I keep stuffing him into it but its days are numbered- sob!

[ThoughtsPlease]

As people have suggested putting cardigans on with grobags, another option to that is the grobag sleep suit with quilted arms, they are really cosy.

[breadandhoney]

Just to update: our sheepskin arrived yesterday. So last night I had dd in vest, sleep suit, grobag and cardigan over the grobag. I had the pregnancy pillow round the cot like a bumper and I lay her on the sheepskin. She slept 7.15-12.30, 1.30-4.15, 5-6.20! I can't believe it. Best nights sleep in weeks and weeks!

I am trying not to get my hopes up, as h know it could be a fluke. She had her vaccinations yesterday so he could've just been sleepy from those. Still, she is a different baby this morning. Bright and cheery and not clingy as tired like she usually is. I am like a new woman too.

We will see how tonight goes but for today I am just going to enjoy the fact that we has such a good one last night

[Tiredandhot]

Just on the furry pramsuits....My dd2 slept in one from 8 weeks until she was about 7 months...All naps and overnight... When it started getting warmer I cut a hole in the lining and pulled out all the wadding, and then when they were just too small/it was getting too hot we just put it in with her to cuddle and it's now her blankie (she has 3, and another at her grandparents). I know totally contrary to advice but it meant she slept! And we had a movement sensor alarm under her mattress.

[bonzo77]

That's great OP. long may it continue (and improve more). Once she's sleeping better consistently I'd try to get rid of all these things bit by bit till she's not dependent on them. I'm not sure how old your DD is, but I'd want to look at moving the pregnancy pillow ASAP got the same reason bumpers are not recommended.

Now, any solutions for a baby that is a tummy sleeper but can roll to his back but not the other way?!

[breadandhoney]

I think if we can avoid her sleeping in the pram suit then we will. But it's interesting that others have had a similar experience with them. Also a good idea for a comforter!

If she does start to settle down and sleep better more consistently we will definitely start to get rid of these things. Don't want to create more negative sleep associations!

Sorry no advice to offer wrt rolling over. Dd2 is only 18 weeks so not there yet. And dd1 wasn't much of a mover. He never actually rolled over. Ever. She didnt crawl til 15 months (even then she just bum shuffled) and didnt walk til 23 months! Hope you get it sorted. If its not one thing it's something else!

[TheYoniKeeper]

Expensive but works a TREAT, material is still nice nearly a year on (very very soft) & it washes well

Sounds like you found a solution anyway! Just thought I'd add this in case

2.5 Tog Sleep Suit