Swaddling- 7 month old

[Purplefiend]

My 7m old is swaddled. We have tried twice (once about 3 months and once about 6months) to stop swaddling after she started fighting it and she seems to get on fine for the first week and then she seems to 'discover' her hands and then start hitting herself in the head, clawing at her eyes and taking her dummy out until she wakes up. She does this on pretty much every sleep cycle which is exhausting. After about a week of next to no sleep, I end up swaddling again which she responds to.

My OH wants to try and unswaddle her again. She is currently showing no signs of fighting her swaddle and seems to be sleeping well just now. Should I leave her be or are we storing up problems and should we just fight through?

P.s We have one of those zipadee zip things but not really tried it, we just end up swaddling her in it!
She currently sleeps in our room in a travel cot although OH wants to move her through to the nursery soon but I have said that it's one or the other because it will be too much change otherwise.
She is unswaddled for naps which since the last attempt of removing the swaddle have becone difficult and she has started batting at her head.

Any advice greatfully received!

[CheapSausagesAndSpam]

Just stop. It's not thought to be a good idea anymore OP...it's associated with a higher risk of SIDS and can also cause hip damage.

[grobagsforever]

Hip damage? How can a blanket cause hip damage? Link to peer reviewed evidence pls?

SIDS risk only if over heating - seen the temp outside @CheapSausagesAndSpam?

It's fine OP. She'll kick off the swaddle when she's ready - ignore the hysterics.

[Purplefiend]

@cheapsausagesandspam Her legs are completely free to move around, we swaddle her arms only with a cellular blanket so that shouldn't be an issue.

[catladyinthemaking]

Mittens should stop her scratching at herself and she wont do any harm batting at her face.

[RobertPostschild]

I swaddled my first child until she was over a year. It was the only thing that settled her and stopped her pulling her dummy out by accident. I never planned on swaddling and happened on it by accident. Later children have not taken to it at all. I think you have to go with what works for you and for the child. My oldest, like your child, had her arms secured but her legs were free to move.

[Purplefiend]

I have tended to put socks on her hands which can help with the scratching but she still manages to wake herself.

[FATEdestiny]

I would keep swaddling if it was me.

There has no getting away from the fact that swaddling after baby can roll is dn increased SIDS risk. But there are loads on non-ideal things people do even though they carry some degree if SIDS risk (use sleepyhead, baby sleeping in different room too soon, cosleep, nap in anything other than a cot.... there are loads more).

It's about managing SIDS risk, not eliminating it. So as long as you make an informed decision that you can internally justify, then it's just a personal decision.

I would continue to swaddle based know the fact that past 4 months is past the peak age for SIDS. I know my baby would have strong neck muscles by this age so could easily lift head if face-down. That baby would always be placed on back initially and I would continue to room share in a cot next to me.

As an anecdotal addition, 30-odd years ago I slept in a sleeping bag right through my childhood until a teenager. A normal camping type sleeping bag, on my bed. I had the option of blankets/sheets or a duvet, but always preferred the enclosed feeling that you get from a sleeping bag. I would guess a swaddle gives a similar feeling.

[Purplefiend]

Thank you for your comments, it's so hard to know what the 'right' thing to do is.