Help needed please! DD waking constantly having been put in the cot.

[sparkle101]

Hi

My DD is 7mths old, she was a very small baby and was swaddled until a few weeks ago when we put her into a sleeping bag (still in her moses basket) we then put the moses basket in the cot for a week to let her get used to it and then this week we have put her in the cot in her sleeping bag with a cellular blanket to keep her legs down, the last four nights have been hell! DD has slept through since 10wks old and now she is waking up 2/3 times a night and really crying.

We have tried going in and comforting her and then leaving her, we have tried controlled crying and when we know nothing is wrong we have left her to grizzle for a while. The crying normally goes on for about half hour to an hour, when we go in she is rubbing her eyes badly as if she is so tired she wants to be asleep but won't go off.

This morning she woke up at 4:45 and that was it for the morning (she normally sleeps until 7:30), it seems the cot isn't agreeing with her but there is no other option obviously! Has anyone any ideas what I can do to get her to sleep through? DH wants to reswaddle her but I don't want to due to SIDS risk and I see it as a backward step but not sure what else we can do.

Any ideas greatfully received!

Disclaimer: I apologise for anyone who's babies are up a lot more in the night, I really do feel for you!

Its been a long time since I had a baby so my memory about this has faded.

I think you are right not to swaddle. I used to put DS in a light weight sleeping bag. Get a cotton cot sheet and put if half way under the mattress (width ways). With the excess material then tuck your baby in and use a towel to make it firm. I'm not sure I have explained this very well, but baiscally you are giving the feeling of being really well tucked in.

Hopefully are more experienced mn'ter will be along soon!

All the best it will get better
JD

Sorry, no advice but we have a similar problem in that DD at 19wo won't sleep unswaddled. I keep trying as she doesn't seem to like being swaddled much but just can't go off with free arms!! (startles a lot)
I was unaware of FSIDs evidence re swaddling - I thought there was some evidence that swaddling decreased the risk so the jury was still out?
I know there are lots of people on here who have swaddled for quite some time. Have you thought about a peke moe or woombie? Not tried the peke moe but the woombie was working for a while with our DD as it gives limited movement but stops the eye-rubbing and gives them a sensation of being wrapped up a bit.

Thank you ladies,

Last night we tried to put a towel in a like upside down u shape, which we then put a sheet over that and her head in that, and she slept all the way through! She had something similar in her moses basket so fingers crossed she's going to be fine, thanks jollydiane for the advice - looks like she wants to feel tucked in!

gummymum we've been using sleeping bag for about two weeks (when she was about 26wks) and it's been going okay, am a firm believer they will stop being swaddled when they want to stop being swaddled IYSWIM and maybe your DD is still happier with that, do you swaddle her for her naps and at bedtime? If so, maybe try naps with arms out and see if that helps? In regards to the SIDS risk I think it depends where you read there's always conflicting evidence, it's never worried me until DD started turning over so got worried about it then, swaddling has been my lifesaver!!!