experienced swaddlers: worth getting an actual swaddling wrap or just use sheets/blankets?

[Gemzooks]

Swaddled DS in muslin type sheet things.

Now 33 weeks preg with DC2, and will definitely swaddle again. But is it worth buying a special swaddling 'product'? like these adjustable wrap things?

no i just used sheets as it was summer, would use blanket for winter.

I used a baby blanket made of a cotton jersey,the slight stretch made it easier to wrap,it was from gossipyum (I think that's how you spell it,maybe gossypium?)

i managed with sheets for quite a while, but when ds got to a couple of months old and was getting quite strong, we invested in one of those swaddle blankets from mothercare, about £15 IIRC.
we used it loads and i had to wash and dry it very quickly each time for the next sleep!

just checked it is gossypium(.co.uk) and there is one with animals on in the sale for about £9.mine was good as I used it long after the swaddling stage,it is double layered and organic cotton.

I could never get the hang of swaddling effectively with a normal blanket, but if you can do it with a sheet then why not?

I used the 'miracle blanket' from Mothercare, which I think is a really clever design as it has flaps to hold their arms securely by their sides and a pouch for their feet so you can nappy change without undoing the swaddle.

thanks! will check out links.. is the mothercare swaddling blanket the same as the miracle blanket?

I used a stretchy sheet too. And added blankets in winter.

I cant get on with the miracle or grobag type swaddling as DS2 can get out of them in a flash so I use an ultimate receiving blanket just a big sheet really but made from soft brushed cotton so lovley and snuggly.

I cut a cotbed sheet in two the long way, so had two swaddle wraps that actually worked.

try kiddopotamus- they are pretty cheap on eBay.

blanket is ok for first couple of months but the velcro comes in handy when the LO gets bigger!

I used a cotton sheet.
Small sheet when younger and cot sheet when bigger.
I was unaware of special swaddling type products but couldn't see how they were worth the extra cost when sheets did the job.

I've got a grobag one - was worried about overheating with a blanket as my house is quite warm. It's good - but she only stays in it if my husband does it - I just haven't got the knack! But since starting swaddling at 9 weeks we have had 4 weeks of sleeping from 10.30pm - 8am - hurrah!

I bought a special wrap thing, but tbh dd2 grew out of it really quickly, I found a jersey blanket (think it was something from organic baby company) really good, it was about 3 foot square, and the stretch really helped. everything else i tried was too big or too small.

Some babies really hate being swaddled (dd1 hated it, along with being cuddled, co-sleeping etc), so something like a blanket or sheet might be a better idea because you can use it anyway.(I still use mine in the pushchair)