Swaddle Houdini

[ChocOrange05]

My DS is 11 weeks old and since birth has been swaddled which works really well - however he is getting quite strong and keeps managing to get his arms out of it which is waking him up. We have been using a Swaddle Me blanket which just does up with velcro. I was thinking of buying a different type to prevent this and have seen a couple which look good (thanks to another thread). Does anyone have any experiences with the Woombie or the Halo Innovations Swaddle SleepSack (see them here) or can you recommend another good one to prevent this?

Thanks

[ChocOrange05]

Just realised the link doesn't take you to the Swaddles so you need to click on Baby Swaddles and then 100% cotton Swaddles.

[Oblomov]

Choc, it is about this time that some babies like to be 1/2 swaddled. arms free. so having been fully swaddled, you carry on, but under the arms, allowing the arms to be free.
This maybe could work for M ?
There ar elots of threads about moving from full swaddle to half swaddle.
See you tomorrow.

[juuule]

Are you swaddling him tightly enough?
I found that none of mine could get out of a tight swaddle (I don't think they were particularly weak ).
I used a cotton moses basket sheet?

[ChocOrange05]

I swaddle him tightly but he manages to get his hands out at the waist part where there is a gap. I want to try to stop swaddling him Obs but I am scared it might make his sleep worse.

[juuule]

I think you are swaddling differently to how I swaddle. There was never a gap at the waist. I'm not sure how you would get one.

[ToAMountainDAISYcal]

Choco, maybe if he starts his sleep with his arms free he'll be fine? Perhaps it's the being swaddled and warm and then being out in the cold that's the problem?

Have you got a sleeping bag? DD did really well in a sleeping bag from being swaddled.

[juuule]

Found this

and some good swaddles on Youtube.

One here but would agree the pin isn't needed

[ChocOrange05]

Thanks all - I have just put him down to sleep with one arm out of the swaddle and in a grobag (with no vest on so he doesn't get too hot) - once he's down at this time he very rarely (only once before) wakes before we go in to feed him at 10.30 so if he does wake up before then it might be the arm out. I hope the gradual de-swadding might work and save us money not having to buy another swaddle!

Juuule - its the Swaddle Me blanket we use - it goes over his legs then folds across his arms - its not an actual gap but if he wriggles about the top part can ride up and leave room for his hands to come out. Bit difficult to explain!

[londonboots]

Hi Choc - M was also swaddled from birth which he seemed to love and also around 10-11 weeks started to get one or both arms loose (and sometimes kicked his legs free as well). We switched to a grobag with no problems at all (didn't even stage it - just switched right over). I figure he was telling me he was ready! Good luck!

[notcitrus]

Once A got his arms out instantly (8 weeks), I just put the blanket up to his underarms and rolled him up in it, tucking the end underneath his legs.

At 18 weeks he started kicking out of that, so started using a grobag. As soon as I gave him his blankie to grip and nuzzle, he fell asleep.
I hope he'll continue to nap anywhere his blankie is...

[ChocOrange05]

Thanks all - he has been asleep with one arm out since 7pm - will keep it out for tonight and see if it makes any difference to his usual waking.

[ChocOrange05]

Didn't make a difference - he woke at his usual time so I will do one arm swaddling for a few days and then try both arms out. For all the challenges we have thrown at our little man - moving from moses basket to travel cot / cot, moving into his own room, going away and now swaddling - he has taken them all in his stride and I am very proud of him.