swaddling

[hobbsy]

i have read numerous pieces of literature advising not to swaddle your baby after 6 weeks.i am still swaddling my DD 10wks as she wakes up regularily when i have tried her in a sleeping bag, think she is waking up when her arms are jerking in her sleep. i have read that swaddling can be a factor in cot deaths. Any advice?

I swaddled my DS up until he was 3 months old...he slept so much better that way. I wasn't sure when to stop, but he pretty much showed me himself, because he kept working his arms out of the wrap. I acted upon this and started to swaddle him with only one arm in the wrap, and once he was used to this, I let both arms free so just his legs were swaddled. And then finally I moved him into his grobag..there wasn't any problem. i just let him guide me. I'm not sure about the dangers swaddling poses, but I hope my experience helps assure you that you aren't the only one going beyond six weeks.

thanks, i will continue regardless as she is much more settles being swaddled and as you said will let her guide me.

Swaddling is fine at any age as long as baby doesn't get too hot...don't add too many blankets and keep an eye on the temp in the room to ensure your little one doesn't overheat. You can also half swaddle, where you leave the arms out as baby gets a bit bigger and wants to move more.

Jenna

I am so happy in some ways to read about the issues other people have had with swaddling...it seems like I'm the only one out there with this problem and nobody can answer my questions. My son is 4 months old and over the course of the last 2 weeks, swaddling has become increasingly harder and harder. Last night, I swaddled just one arm and left the other one out. He fell asleep on his own with the little aquarium going so I was quite happy about this. Then...he woke up at 12:00am (after 3 hrs..he usually can sleep 6 or more in a row). He was out of his swaddle completely and I fed him. Then I tried the blanket sleeper (the bag) thinking if he could do one arm, he could do the other as well....WRONG!! What a horrible night. His arms were all over. I put his arms into the bag as well, thinking it might be a bit of a transition as well...it's loose but his arms can't go all over the place. I'm at a loss of what to do tonight! I don't know if his arms aren't totally in control yet, or if he needs to get used to having them free??

I still half swaddle my ds who is now one for his naps. he seems to love being cosied up in a warm fleecy blanket or sheet. He has a growbag at night due to the moving about!