Can I help her stop startling?

[snowmummy]

My DD has just started, after six weeks of sleeping on/with me, sleeping in her crib. It does take her a little while to drift off, and then she suddenly startles and wakes herself up. Can I do anything to help her stop this? Its such a shame as she puts in a lot of effort to go to sleep only to jump awake again!

Have you tried swaddling? This really helped both my children with the startling reflex.

cc

My dd started waking herself up in the same way at about 10wks old, so frustrating isn't it. I started swaddling her. Felt strange to start swaddling at over 2 months old but it was either that or tummy sleeping which I am too anxious to do. It has helped a lot. I often leave an arm out so not a total swaddle but if that wakes her then I do both.

Is she flinging her arms out as part of the Moro reflex? If so they seem to grow out of of this startle reaction. My LO has at 15 weeks. I think she stopped at around the 12 week mark.

Yes, swaddle, or just hold her hands as she falls asleep.

Thanks for your replies. She doesn't like to be swaddled, although I haven't tried for a few weeks. Yes, she does fling her arms out and I have held them whilst she nods off but she can startle anything upto an hour after going to sleep.

I think I'll give swaddling another go.

Some babies do resist a bit when you put them in a swaddle. Do try it, obvoiusly stop if she really hates it but give it another go.

I was just going to post the same question! My dd is 13 weeks today and has constantly waving arms, really almost never able to settle herself. She screams when swaddled and it really distressed me but she just can't sleep without. I read somewhere (I think NHS leaflet) that swaddling after 2 months can inhibit development but so can lack of sleep, presumably. I needed some reassurance that swaddling after 3 months is ok. Problem is - swaddling her for every day time nap = screaming fit 4 times a day.