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Original poster

Im really interested to hear what people think of swaddling a baby...

54 replies

mum2oliver · 08/07/2006 23:00

......

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NotAnOtter · 08/07/2006 23:01

Swear by it - the tighter the better !

hunkermunker · 08/07/2006 23:02

Tried it with DS1, he wasn't keen.

Didn't bother with DS2.

Some babies love it though. Don't have a problem with it!

MamaG · 08/07/2006 23:02

I agree with NotAnOtter, it made my 2 children feel safe and secure, even though they looked like little bugs - round head then this little bug shaped body

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General parenting
cye · 08/07/2006 23:02

worked for us too.

southeastastra · 08/07/2006 23:04

swaddling a newborn is what i did, taught to me by mum, taught to her by her mum

Original poster
mum2oliver · 08/07/2006 23:07

Cool.What did every1 swaddle in?

OP posts:
jetsetmum · 08/07/2006 23:07

think it does depend on the baby - DS1 (born in heatwave) kept poking his leg out every time Maternity nurse at hospital kept swaddling him - so I gave up once at home.

DS2 (born in winter) absolutely loved it - the tighter the better for him.

MamaG · 08/07/2006 23:08

I swaddled in a cotton cellular pram blanket or a thin cotton sheet depending on how hot it was.

Squarer · 08/07/2006 23:09

DS (born in winter) loved being swaddled in a flanellette sheet

MamaG · 08/07/2006 23:10

I'd like to be swaddled in a flannelette sheet I love them

jetsetmum · 08/07/2006 23:10

I also either used a sheet or cellular blanket

how to swaddle a baby

southeastastra · 08/07/2006 23:11

yes soft cotton sheets, ahh

magnolia1 · 08/07/2006 23:11

Dd4 was premature and swaddlig was the only way she would sleep. It worked for ages and was a godsend

Original poster
mum2oliver · 08/07/2006 23:12

Thanx guys.

OP posts:
cheeseypeas · 08/07/2006 23:29

Before I was a mum I used to think it was a bit mean but when I was shown how to swaddle my DS I saw how relaxing and calming it was.

If you think about it, because babies haven't even begun to master control of their arms and legs, when they get upset they kick and thrash and it must be a stressful sensation. It must feel good for something to hold them tight and stop that feeling of being out of control.

NotAnOtter · 08/07/2006 23:31

sheet - cotbed size jonelle is ideal - then folded cellular blankets. I do it in the pram too - my friends laugh ... 5 babies - all sleepers!

JoolsToo · 08/07/2006 23:32

didn't do it with mine - if I'd have known about it I'd have tried it with dd!!!

worked a treat with the dgs's

NotAnOtter · 08/07/2006 23:33

dont mean to sound smug - i seriously see it as my key to happy parenting!

MamaG · 08/07/2006 23:34

me too NotAnOtter

chopsolata · 08/07/2006 23:38

best thing ever, did it with ds until he was too big and then bought him a sleeping bag

happybebe · 09/07/2006 08:32

i always swaadle...reason being babies have the startle reflex until they are roughly six months old...any loud sudden noises makes them fling their arms and legs out and wakes them up. If you watch a baby go to sleep quite often just as they are drifting off their legs begin to drop and that can also startle them awake. If you swaddle them they cant fling their arms and legs out in shock so sleep better...

also some babies like my second DD elsie (2 weeks old today!) get very sucky when they get tired and dont wnat a feed but want to suck...however being so small they have no control over thier hands and just flail them about like a mad thing trying to suck...these babies benefit from swaddling too until they are old enough to get thumb in mouth or hold a dummy in. hope that helps!

Mazzarella · 09/07/2006 08:53

my son was swaddled until be was about 10 months he loved it!
My daughter wasnt impressed at all.

mousiemousie · 09/07/2006 09:12

Newborns love it in my experience!

saadia · 09/07/2006 09:14

Like cheasypees I also thought it was mean and that babies needed freedom to move but I found that mine slept much better when swaddled in a thin blanket.

CantSleepWontSleep · 09/07/2006 09:24

I got NO sleep for the first 6 weeks of DD's life until I started swaddling. She's now 5 months and still swaddled. In this hot weather I'm just using a flannelette sheet, but in winter I used a cot sized blanket.