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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Advice please on how to stop swaddling

17 replies

scarecrow22 · 04/05/2011 10:48

I've been swaddling dd (19 weeks) since birth. I feel the swaddling is a huge help as sometimes if she is overtired she'll almost magically calm down when I bring swaddle across her arm, and at night seems to resettle well too (though not in day!). I now leave one arm free, sometimes both. I'm nervous about ending swaddling though and would love tips on how to ease her into a sleep-bag. Thankyou all.

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sotiredandfedup · 04/05/2011 12:41

I swaddled my ds up until he was 8 months, he loved it and was so content and happy to be swaddled. I too was nervous about easing him into a sleeping bag, I put if off for ages!

I think if your dd is ready, then she'll be fine. Try the sleeping bag, but if you find she is not settling then just go back to the swaddling for awhile. Keep trying it every few weeks and once she's ready she'll let you know by sleeping the night thru!

4madboys · 04/05/2011 13:04

i still swaddle my dd, who is 21 wks and like yours she settles and calms as soon as i swaddle her and then she gives me a big grin as if to say thankyou!

my problem is that she also has a dummy as well and if not swaddled she knocks it out/plays with it etc, but she really does love to be swaddled, so i figured i will leave it till she is older and is showing signs of not liking it.

Original poster

scarecrow22 · 04/05/2011 13:29

4madboys - I get the grin too! At first I was confused, thinking "don't you realise you're about to be left alone in bed"...now I enjoy that magical smile :-)

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AngelDog · 04/05/2011 22:53

I agree with sotired. DS was swaddled till 5.5. months. I tried putting him in a sleeping bag and he woke 9 x a night (instead of 1 or 2 times) and couldn't nap for more than 10 mins.

Then one day he started screaming when I went to swaddle him and did it every time I tried. So I put him in a sleeping bag and he slept for the full 45 mins and much better at night too.

He doesn't sleep through even now though at 16 months, so don't hold your breath for that!

Pearlnz · 06/05/2011 21:32

i definitely think you need to continue for as long as you need. our issue was that when he started escaping, that is when he started waking lots.. no fun. and we got a pekemoe and it worked great you can google it, it's a sleeper with no arms, but more room than a swaddler.. iykwim? goodluck

ArthurPewty · 06/05/2011 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

theidsalright · 06/05/2011 22:02

DS was in his swaddle for AGES as well. If you want to do it, I am a big fan of cold turkey :) one night and you should be sorted (but it might be tough on you!)

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 06/05/2011 22:10

Have you tried half swaddling? (ie. without the arms)

Jojay · 06/05/2011 22:13

My DS2 was swaddled until 7/8 momths - no rush to get her out if it's working.

When the time came, I just did it more loosely and he 'escaped' on his own accord. The first night he was a little unsettled and took a bit longer to go off to sleep than usual, but it wasn't nearly as awful as I thought it would be.

allyfe · 07/05/2011 02:53

I wish I had read this a few months ago. WAs worried we were swaddling too long so stopped at 5 months. Ds has slept badly ever since.

TheRtHonCountessOfBapula · 07/05/2011 03:41

We swaddled until 6.5 months - tried to stop earlier but DS just wasn't ready - he had a strong startle reflex. We just sort of went for it and it didn't make his sleep (which is awful) any worse. I do still have to hold his arms down when settling him in the cot.

One thing you can do (which we do) to transition into a sleeping bag is to tuck the sleeping bag into the cot mattress, then tuck a cotton sheet fairly tightly over the top. (Obviously you need to use a lower tog sleeping bag/dress baby appropriately for the room temperature to avoid overheating.) It gives them that secure feeling of being held but DS pops his arms up and out when he's actually gone to sleep.

Bumperlicioso · 07/05/2011 04:22

Dd2 was swaddled till about a month ago at 6.5 months. We started by not swaddling her for the most guaranteed nap, the morning one, for a few days, then the afternoon nap, then after waking in the night. Eventually she slept with no swaddle. It hasn't made her sleep any worse (or better) but I do find she can be a bit of a pain when I try & put her down asleep after feeding and can stir as I put her down. She hates sleeping bags. We are currently in the middle of a 2.5 hour battle to get her to sleep because she got so worked up with it on. Just fed her to sleep for the 3rd time and she bloody woke up as I put her down!

Original poster

scarecrow22 · 07/05/2011 18:56

Thanks for all tips. Great to be reassured it is not cruel to be still swaddling DD... many people look in horror when I admit it! Will keep it up until she shows signs of rebelling, maybe with that second arm freed, and then follow suggestions. Your replies much appreciated - esp as was my first ever post. Personally I think the swaddle looks tempting too, but then most sleep does!

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Bumperlicioso · 07/05/2011 19:02

Glad you are reassured. I know what you mean about sleep. My dd was in a hammock till recently, it looked sooooo comfy! I'm sure she didn't appreciate it!

Atomant · 08/05/2011 08:07

We used a peke moe www.pekemoe.co.nz to transition from swaddle to bag as DD would always without fail punch herself in the face & wake herself up. She didn't do this in the peke moe.

Bumperlicioso · 08/05/2011 09:11

I wonder if dd would countenance a pekemoe? She hates being in a sleeping bag but I worry about her being cold. Just spent £22 on a sheet weight one from JoJo which she hates! But in the pekemoe she could reach her feet and move around quite freely...

Atomant · 08/05/2011 16:02

DD didn't hate sleeping bags she just couldn't settle & stay asleep in them. The peke moe was recommended by another mum on here & it saved our sanity. DD could wriggle & flap about about as much as she wanted, but didn't wake I guess because she still had a feeling of 'enclosure'. Got her used to sleeping freely, enough to use a sleeping bag eventually.

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