Why does she thrash around so much and when will it stop?

[izpie]

Dd is 15wks and from about 8wks most nights wakes us both up with her thrashing, usually starts at about 2amish. I started to swaddle to try to contain it but there's loads of raising legs & thumping down even when swaddled and often an arm or both break free and flailing arms begin. I can usually resettle her with a bit if shh patting but 5 mins later she's off again. She's a crap sleeper anyway & feeds every 2-3hrs in the night. I can cope with frequent nw for bf but not being kept awake with this. Any ideas why she does it, will it ever stop?

No idea - but if you find out can you let me know My 11 week DD does this too, starting after her middle of the night feed at around 3 and carrying on 'til morning. It drives me nuts as I can't seem to sleep through it and nothing seems to settle her.

Have wondered whether sleeping her on her tummy would help, wouldn't do it yet but am seriously considering turning her over once she's over 5 month if it hasn't got better by then!

I wondered that too but don't dare try it. When she falls asleep on me after feeding she's on her side and she always seems more settled. Funny how she only starts part way through the night though, she's fine from when she first goes down 'til that first night feed. It's a mystery!

Ds2 was like this. If she's escaping the swaddle, you're not doing it right!

Try 2 layers, it worked miracles with Ds2 who slept like it until he was 6/7 months.

Lay out your usual swaddling banket.

Lay a large muslin, or similar, on it, in a diamond shape, with the top of the diamond a few inches higher than the blanket.

Fold the top part of the diamond down so it is level with the blanket.

Lay the baby on the blanket so her head is sticking out of the top and the muslin / blanket is level with her neck.

Lay her arms down by her sides, then wrap the muslin over her arm, then tuck it under her body to anchor it. Repeat on the other side.

This keeps her arms down by her sides, and it's similar in effect to mothercare's miracle swaddle blanket.

Then wrap her up tightly in the main blanket.

Ds2 wouldn't sleep if he could touch his face with his hands so this worked really well for him. He was an awful sleeper until we discovered this.

It's worth a go.

And ignore anyone says that she's getting too old to need swaddling. Some need it for much longer than the first few weeks.