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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To swaddle my 6 month old?

47 replies

BoSho · 03/04/2011 21:39

I've swaddle him in this Kiddopotomous swaddle since he was born and he finds it really reassuring (can wriggle an arm free now) so I'd like to continue, but I just read about hip dysplasia.

Is this type OK or should I chuck it in the bin, and could I have already damaged him?

OP posts:

Summerbird73 · 03/04/2011 21:42

you havent damaged him but i would recommend moving away from swaddling. they like to move around in their sleep by this age and it can be v restricting. we stopped swaddling DS at around 2 months old and he has always slept really well.

i can recommend a grobag, it keeps them warm and with spring having sprung it is not so cool at night now.

pigletmania · 03/04/2011 21:44

I should have thought that at 6 months he would be moving more and this would restrict his movement somewhat, fine for a newborn not for an older baby me thinks.

squeakytoy · 03/04/2011 21:45

I have never understood the purpose of them. Surely a child should be able to move its arms and legs?

RitaMorgan · 03/04/2011 21:46

New babies often find them comforting squeakytoy - reminds them of being in the womb.

Original poster

BoSho · 03/04/2011 21:49

Phew, it's a relief to know that I haven't damaged him, but it's tough to stop swaddling because he really likes it. His eyes start closing and he goes all sleepy as soon as I swaddle him, and without it he's much more restless, flailing his arms around and keeping himself awake. Is it really so bad?

OP posts:

Onetoomanycornettos · 03/04/2011 21:50

I also swaddled both mine as tiny babies, but with the top part being quite tight, not the bottom. But by six months, they are starting to roll and flip over onto their tummies, sitting up quite soon, I would not be swaddling a six month old, but I haven't read a lot about it, that's just my instinctive response and I moved to grobags by this time point.

ArthurPewty · 03/04/2011 21:51

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RitaMorgan · 03/04/2011 21:51

I don't think it's bad, but as he starts wriggling around more and crawling it might be a bit of a risk of getting caught up round his neck or face.

ArthurPewty · 03/04/2011 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

BoSho · 03/04/2011 21:52

Can they still move around in growbags then? And what about the flailing arms?

OP posts:

Onetoomanycornettos · 03/04/2011 21:52

One solution might be to put him in a grobag, then put a cotton blanket (not a too hot one) over the top and tucked in at both sides, so it's quite firm at the start of the night, but they can get loose and wiggle if they want to. That's what I did with mine, I think, hard to remember now.

Summerbird73 · 03/04/2011 21:52

i think it is so bad actually OP, where do you draw the line? you have to stop at some point. it must get so claustrophobic for him, especially as he gets older.

I do understand you being reassured by swaddling but i do think you need to let him move around a bit more, he needs to learn how to sleep unswaddled

dinkystinky · 03/04/2011 21:54

Those kiddipotamus swaddle bags arent actually that tight on their legs/arms so dont worry about it please! DS1 was swaddled till at 6 months - classic swaddle till 3 months then lose muslin swaddle or those kiddipotamus robes till 6 months - at 6 months we phased the swaddle out by going for grobags with a large muslin loosely wrapped around one arm only, then just around his middle then dropped it and grobag only when he was happy with it. DS2 on the other hand was only to happy to ditch the swaddle at 2 months...

ArthurPewty · 03/04/2011 21:55

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Olivetti · 03/04/2011 21:56

I was worried about this as swaddling was a sanity saver for me in the early days, but I moved DD into a grobag at about 2.5 months and there was no fuss at all, she loves it. I would just give it a try....I tried to act all casual as if nothing was different, stroked her and gave her a kiss in the basket, and she was fine. I'd just give it a try tomorrow night or whenever!

strandedpolarbear · 03/04/2011 21:58

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ArthurPewty · 03/04/2011 21:58

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worraliberty · 03/04/2011 22:01

2 of mine used to sleep with their arms above their heads once they got to about 4 months old. Once you saw the arms go up, you knew they were down for the night.

I don't really think it's fair to force a child to sleep a certain way, and with the warmer nights ahead, how would you like to be forced to sleep in an adult version of that?

Original poster

BoSho · 03/04/2011 22:02

Yep, point taken Summerbird73. Was thinking along the same lines, but it's hard to move on when it's working so well. Think it is time though. Thanks for the tips everyone. Maybe I'll try to move to a growbag.

OP posts:

strandedpolarbear · 03/04/2011 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SeriousWispaHabit · 03/04/2011 22:04

Both DDs have resisted swaddling from about day 2 and just wriggled about and screamed until working themselves free. 9 month old DD2 can now escape from a poppered grobag in her sleep

Actually, I'd really like to know how she does that. Should I be posting on the gifted and talented board?

Original poster

BoSho · 03/04/2011 22:06

I was worried about that worraliberty but he can 'escape' really easily if he wants to and will often get both his arms out (also in the surrendered position!) so I don't think he's being forced to sleep in a certain way.

OP posts:

Onetoomanycornettos · 03/04/2011 22:07

If you do and it's too different, try the cotton sheet or blanket on the top of the grobag tucked firmly in on both sides of the mattress, it makes it nice and snug to start off the night but they have plenty of room to move around if they want (but you have to make sure they don't overhead, I used to use the light grobags plus a cotton sheet/blanket depending on the weather).

Summerbird73 · 03/04/2011 22:10

no worries OP, as i say i do understand it is hard to move them on from things if it has been working so well. you will get it with all sorts of things like we did (bottles to cups - feeding them to letting them feed themselves)

all scary but worth it!

NotaMopsa · 03/04/2011 22:11

I swaddle mine until they are so huge its a strain to do it. They wriggle out but were all soothed by it until around a year

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