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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

Swaddling

46 replies

luath · 13/10/2006 21:09

Can't get DD to sleep or take a nap unless fully swaddled. Tried unswaddling/partial swaddling today and DD would not nap. Gave up this evening &Ended up swaddling tonight to get her to sleep. Any tips on how to go from swaddling to using a sleeping bag so arms are free?

OP posts:

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docket · 13/10/2006 21:12

How old is she? Some babies just seem to like being swaddled - ds was swaddled for months as he was a very 'flaily' baby, dd went almost straight into a bag.

Original poster

luath · 13/10/2006 21:18

She's 7 weeks old. Did you find it difficult to move your ds form being swaddled to using a bag? Should I just keep on swaddling for now then and not worry about it?

OP posts:

lulumama · 13/10/2006 21:24

i swaddled DS from birth and he was swaddled every sleep time until he was 6 months old. especially at night....he was unswaddled when he was 6 months old and could get himself out of it......i'd swaddle for now if working for you and wait for her to get fed up of it...very comforting for new borns....

Original poster

luath · 13/10/2006 21:28

Thanks so much Docket and lulumama its the first time I've been on talk as I'm new to mumsnet and the advice is much appreciated. Its great knowing you're not alone and other mums are out there.....thanks a million.

OP posts:

MamaGhoul · 13/10/2006 21:29

luath I'm a firm believer in swaddling. Both my children were swaddled until about 6 months.

If your DD is happy to sleep swaddled, then carry on

MamaGhoul · 13/10/2006 21:30

lol at docket "...DD went almost straight into a bag..."

CastsSpellsWitchySpells · 13/10/2006 21:32

Oh god yes, keep on doing it. DD was also swaddled til nearly 6 months, when it became too frustrating trying to keep her in it for more than a minute at a time!

Welcome to MN btw .

Original poster

luath · 13/10/2006 22:00

thanks guys....I'll keep on swaddling. DD flails her arms around if she's not swaddled and then can't get off to sleep or briefly falls asleep then wakes herself up when her arms move again! When you guys moved DDs into their bags at 6 months did they still just go off to sleep as they did when they were swaddled or did they still flail their arms and legs about and unsettle themselves?

OP posts:

CastsSpellsWitchySpells · 13/10/2006 22:03

Well, my DD was never really any good at getting herself to sleep anyway (my usual posting name is CantSleepWontSleep, which is testament to that!), but we went for putting her in a grobag and doing a bit of controlled crying all at the same time, so after that she settled far better than ever before.

The involuntary flailing had stopped by then though, so that wasn't a problem.

lulumama · 13/10/2006 22:11

mine did luath, and has slept brilliantly ever since...glad you have had a positive first experience on 'talk'

Original poster

luath · 13/10/2006 22:15

Thanks so much....I feel much happier now and will stop worrying about continuing to swaddle her.....I think I could get addicted to talk on MN...!

OP posts:

Mumpbump · 13/10/2006 22:17

I read somewhere that swaddling prevents babies having the startle reflex when they are asleep so helps them stay asleep as well as providing them with reassurance when they are going to sleep. We swaddled our ds until he was about 4 or 5 months and then he just got too wriggly.

Tattie100 · 13/10/2006 22:24

Nothing new to add, but I also swaddled DS for about 6 months when he decided for himself that he liked to have his arms free. Until then I think he found it really comforting - I'm also new to MN - wish I'd found it sooner!

samwhite · 14/10/2006 00:47

nothing new from me either, just wanted to add both were swaddled until they could wriggle free, plus our house was freezing as we were renovating so that was an added bonus - my only add-on would be make sure room not too hot for baby, and personally i wouldn't be puting my baby in a hat when swaddling at home.
after two quite different boys (the only thing they were the same on was needing routine) i'd say if baby is content kept at it, if baby isn't change it. good luck

newmum36 · 14/10/2006 08:53

I'm a swaddling addict....my ds slept for the first time until 5.45am from 10pm the first night I swaddled him (at 7weeks and on the advice of other mnetters) and other than once or twice a week, he sleeps really well. I swaddle him for all naps too. Sometimes if we are at a friends house over lunch, I swaddle him down in his buggy....I think they think I'm a bit strange, but if he sleeps with it, why worry !! However, he is now 14 weeks and this morning, got out of his miracle blanket at 4.30am and was madly sucking his hands and wailing. I've started giving him one arm for naps so he has sort of found his thumb. When he's properly worked it out, I'm moving to the sleeping bag so that at least if he's unsettled he can self soothe with his thumb - although I confess that I have bought some jersey to make a bigger swaddle just in case and have also sewn jersey stretch in the sleeping bag to clamp his arms down just in case !!! It's hard to give up a good nights sleep when you've just got used to it....
I think they say you have to "wean" them off it, one arm, two arms, under the arm, sleeping bag....see how it goes but I would also just watch for warmth if you decide to swaddle. When we had a warm spell this week, I took off his vest and just had long sleeve babygro, swaddle and sheet so he's well tucked in - he was otherwise a bit sweaty which obviously isn't a good thing !. it's a bit of trial and error on what else to use with the swaddle and depends on the type you have too.
Good luck but I would use one again without a doubt.

Roskva · 14/10/2006 10:10

DD worked out how to unswaddle herself at a very early age. Although at first she seemed to startle herself awake with her arms quite a lot, she soon got used to the fact that her arms are hers, and now sleeps happily in a bag, especially now she's sleeping in her big cot - in her carry cot, she hits her arms against the sides, and that definitely wakes her.

SOULGIRL · 14/10/2006 10:15

I swaddled my children from birth as recommended in a popular childcare book (SWMNBN!!) it really worked and they soon let me know when they wanted to be unswaddled!! As long as they dont get too hot I shouldnt worry

NatalieJane · 14/10/2006 10:16

Sorry to but in, but I have read that swaddling was great, but only for 10-15 minutes, is that wrong then? Do you leave them swaddled all night?

NatalieJane · 14/10/2006 10:18

Aha, x posts. That more or less answers my question! LOL Thanks.

princessmel · 14/10/2006 10:21

I swaddled my ds and my dd and I think it worked really well for us. I used to leave one arm out and pretty quickly they used to get both arms out so I wrapped them up like that. I stopped swaddling my son when he started rolling over and got all tangled up. He went in a grobag at 5 months.

Dd is 14 months and still swaddled!!!! Round the tummy and legs, both arms out. She loves it. If she wakes in the night I can usually re settle her by wrapping her up again. I did think about changing to a grobag recently as she moves around more and gets unwrapped and its getting colder , but each time we've tried it she's woken hourly.
I swddled her in her pram when she was younger too.

Tattie100 · 14/10/2006 10:23

I left DS swaddled all night - as long as baby is swaddled correctly, and is not too hot as other MNers have said, then it prevents them rolling onto stomach and prevents the new born "flailing" startle reflex from waking baby. He still woke up for feeds, obviously. The swaddling should not be too loose or too tight - as they grow they will eventually be able to undo swaddling - then you can move onto blankets or a gro-bag. It worked for DS, but may not be right for everyone.

MKG · 14/10/2006 12:53

From the moment ds was born he hated to be swaddled. He was always looking for his hands. The first thing he did when he was born was stick his hand in his mouth. No matter how much we wanted to bundle him, he wanted to be free. Other moms I know thought I just didn't know how to swaddle him up, but when they tried he just found his way out again.

ellanatal · 14/10/2006 14:41

i love swaddling my babies and they seem to like it too! although people have laughed at how tight they're swaddled it seems to help there sleeping and they soon wean themselves off it when they can wriggle out of it!
A friend was seen by her health visitor and told she must stop swaddling her 2 week old ds as hvs think swaddling has increased the risk of cot death - being a first time mum she's stopped swaddling due to fear and her baby is not sleeping now! hadn't heard this link before but it hasnt stopped me swaddling my 8 week old ds2.

Twopinkoneblue · 14/10/2006 23:16

I swaddled all three of mine. Friends couldn't believe how tightly they were wrapped, but they all loved it. They all slept through from about 5 weeks. I weaned off swaddling from 12 - 14 weeks, as with their dummies. Babies start to develop their dependency and attatchment to such things from 12 weeks onwards.

Peridot30 · 15/10/2006 00:00

I swaddled both my kids and both slept through night from only weeks old. after a few months used a growbag. What an invention-absolutely brilliant best thing since sliced bread!

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