How to stop swaddling (so we still get sleep!?!)

[niwi1]

My DD2 is 11 weeks and has been swaddled since birth. First in a muslin, then a Swaddleme and for the last 2 weeks a Woombie. I've been trying to get to the point where she can move a bit more before I unswaddle her. I tried to put her in a sleeping bag about 2 weeks ago for 3 nights running and she slept for a good 8 hours and then woke as her arms were flailing about. It was at this point I put her in the Woombie and she has slept fine. It is a convertible one so eventually we can transition to putting her arms out.

She got back on track until a few nights ago. The problem at the moment is that again she will sleep for a good 6-8 hours and then wake up as she is trying to suck her fingers, which she obviously can't do!

I have to confess she is fed to sleep and then I hold her for 20 mins before putting her in the cot (with DD1 we spent ages running up and down the stairs to settle her so I'm trying to avoid this). However, have I now created a situation whereby when she does come out of her deep sleep she is needing this to get back to sleep? She didn't need this up until a few nights ago.

I am confused as to what to do? I just put her in the sleeping bag for days sleeps so she gets used to having her arms free. She normally wakes after 45mins but the last few days for her lunch nap I've let her wail a little and she has dropped off again.

Any advice as to how to transition? Cold turkey on all fronts (swaddle and feeding to sleep) or a gentler approach.

Personally I would try to stop feeding to sleep first. 11 weeks is so young that she should adapt really easily. Swaddling is fine until they can roll over so there is no immediate need to stop. Feeding to sleep works fine for some people but I ran into difficulty with DD1 not being able to settle for anyone else which drove me nearly insane but was also a key factor in stopping BF earlier than I wanted to.

Um tbh I think.the fact she is giving you a stretch of 6-8hrs! Is pretty impressive at that age, so I would do what she needed to resettle her, she really is very little and they constantly change. Sounds to me like she is doing great.

There are some lovely sleeping bags with padded detachable arms (vertbaudet, I think) which might give her the feeling her arms are not completely free but she can still get her fingers if she wants to. I'd do that and gradually cut down the after feed cuddle duration.