Is 4mo too old to swaddle?

[oysterpots]

DS will go down for 3 naps a day with a bit of persuasion (dummy, lullaby etc) but I've noticed he's so much better at getting himself off to sleep if he's in the pram or car seat (often I put him in a while before we go out so it isn't the motion that's doing it).

I think it's because his arms are more restrained - when I put him down for naps in his cot he flails around, pulls his dummy out, scratches his head and generally keeps himself awake with his windmill arms!

If I go in and hold them down by his side he has a few sucks on the dummy and pretty much goes off straight away.

So my question is: Is he too old to start swaddling him? What effect does that have (other than pinning those little arms down!), ie, does it eventually make them realise they need to keep still to go to sleep? I can't imagine you have to carry on swaddling forever, do you? Help!

well you can give it a go and see.

Personally I don't think he will take to it at that age, but it's worth a go.

My dts hated excess space when they were first born. They had to be snuggled up really tight to sleep. It carried on until they were about 9 mnths i think, during a really hot holiday where I just had to get them out of it.

I dont think it makes they realise they need to keep still, i think it is just a comfort thing. I noticed it far worse with the twins, who much have been tightly squashed in the womb.

I think at the age I was still swaddling. My dd is nine months old now and I still swaddle her (although under her arms)

If you are finding this is easier then keep doing it. I am not sure at what age the moro reflex stops (think it may be as late as 7 or 8 months) so if I were you I would keep doing what you are doing. If they are tucked in securely then this will stop them wriggling about. HTH

Thanks for suggestions. I guess you can't swaddle and use grobags?

I use grobags and tuck my dd in with a blanket (under her arms) You could maybe try doing this over the arms with a light sheet to see if that helps. As long as they don't get too hot I think is the main thing.

well swaddling really is jsut pinning the arms tightly against the body. You can do this with a muslin while the baby is small enough - try that with the grobag,.

Oysterpots, my DD2 is nearly 3 months old and I have to swaddle her otherwise she would only sleep for 2 mins. I put her down for a nap 2 hours ago swaddled and she is still asleep. Some babies just love the secureness of it, some hate it, my DD1 absolutely hated to be swaddled. I will continue to swaddle her for as long as she needs to be. I would definitely try it. Good luck!

I'm still swaddling at 3mo too, although I have been from birth. DS is the same, windmill arms (great way of putting it ) keep him awake, I even hold him firmly across the chest when I'm trying to get him asleep and he's a bit over tired, with arms swaddled by his side and stroking his face with the other hand. He's now only taking about five minutes to drop off to a deep sleep.