I can't be the only one who's swaddled their baby past 6 months. Can I?

[Jojay]

I've tried to get DS2 out of his swaddle but it's a nightmare every time.

Swaddled, he may cry for a moment or two, never more than 5 mins, then settles himself to sleep.

Unswaddled, it took 45 mins of crying, me trying every trick in the book to get him off, until I gave in and swaddled him, after which he fell asleep in seconds.

He's swaddled very tightly, with his arms pinned down by his sides. if he can get his hands to his face, even if they are inside a blanket IYSWIM, he just can't sleep. if he manages to get off, he wakes again after 20 mins.

I've tried leaving one arm out but that's just as bad

He can't be the only one like this.

I've no problem carrying on for now, but how does it resolve itself?

[Jojay]

Ok, maybe I am the only one.....

[princessmel]

Dd was swaddled (loosely (sp)really in the end) till she was nearly 1.

We wrapped her in a sheet and ahe had her arms out. Blankets on top.

If she woke in the night sometimes re wrapping would send her back off. Otherwise it was bm.

[dinkystinky]

It does resolve itself - DS1 was swaddled till around 7 months. Some babies need it more than others to help them go to sleep. He'll let you know (by fighting the swaddle) when he no longer wants it.

[eclairea]

I have the same problem. DS is 6.5 months. During the day he can just about go to sleep without swaddling, (after about 15 mins wriggling, sometimes with me physically holding his hands away from his face). At night when he is fed to sleep he is fine and doesn't need swaddling, but when he wakes up in the night a swaddle will put him back in minutes and without it it takes upwards of 30...

So I am just trying during the day to swaddle just one arm, or to hold both until he goes to sleeo, so at least he has some idea of arm movement when he sleeps. Trouble is as well as his hands being all over his face and stopping him sleeping, when not swaddled he stretches out both arms and hits them on the cot bars.

[Jojay]

eclairea - he sounds just like mine....

[MotherofPearl]

I still swaddle my 14 month old DD and it really does seem to help to cue sleep time. I don't think it really matters how long they go on being swaddled for, does it? Hope not!