Baby won't sleep without swaddle...how to transition?!

[X19gbs]

My baby is 13 weeks now and isn't rolling yet but I am preparing for when he does and can't be swaddled anymore.

He has been swaddled for night and naps pretty much all the time (apart from when he naps on me) since birth.

I have bought swaddle suits so that I can do one arm out at a time to gradually get him out of it but it really isn't working!

He has recently not been sleeping great anyway, night times are ok but won't nap unless in arms during the day but to add to that having even just one arm out is completely ruining his sleep. It is even harder to get him to sleep (rocking etc) with the one arm out.

I am dreading when I need to do 2!!

He still has the startle reflex slightly but also chews his hands which distracts him from falling asleep too.

I am really trying but I am rather tired and tend to give in and just put his arm back in and swaddle him again.

Did anyone else have an issue with getting their baby to transition out of the swaddle? And any tips at all?!

From a very tired mumma!😂
Thank you.

My LO loved a swaddle. We went to a sleeping bag. And actually she transition very well. Could try it? There's lots of types of sleeping bags available

I think it’s just one those things you have to ride out unfortunately. My youngest rolled at 7 weeks so we had to ditch the swaddle despite him still having a strong startle reflex. The first night in the sleeping bag was pretty bad, the second he still took a while to fall asleep, third night no issues whatsoever.

We did a sleeping bag for our DD and she took to it really quick.

Oh and startle reflex - sadly just needed to ride it out. Sorry not much help. I actually forgot my LO did that. So frustrating as you just fed, winded got them to sleep.... Bang I'm awake with startle reflex. I can't member how long it lasted 🤔🤔

2 months ago I could have written this exact post! I was really stressing about it. Whenever I tried without the swaddle, hands were going every where, in mouth, flapping around. I gave up and bought the transition swaddle bag in the next size up and figured I’d worry about it when he could roll. But a couple weeks later his little fingers started creeping out of the neck hole into his mouth and that was it - constantly waking up 🙄 I took this as my cue to try arms out again (didn’t bother with the one arm in/out), and I honestly couldn’t believe my luck. He slept pretty well that night and has been in a normal sleeping bag with arms out ever since. I’m honestly no expert, but my little boy absolutely gave me the signs he was ready. Hopefully your little one will too!

My first was like this and was swaddled for so long as a result. In the end, we got the LoveToDream 50/50 sleeping bags where you can gradually get them used to one arm out etc. It worked well, but obviously did take some getting used to for him (a few nights) as he was suddenly happy to be able to chew his hands etc. Eventually they actually almost use the chewing hands as a way to self soothe and it all works out fine! Stick with it!