Swaddle Transition

[RR1992]

Hi all,

hoping for some help to overcome the final stages of our slow transition out of the swaddle. My DS is 10 weeks and we very quickly learnt after his arrival that swaddling was the only way we would get any sleep. At first I used swaddle suits which he hated, but if I put him in one asleep he would stay asleep. He eventually started waking up shortly after being put in the suit so we moved to traditional swaddling using a cotton cloth. He will fuss a bit but can now be put into crib awake and go to sleep in 10 mins or so if swaddled. He does seem very unhappy when he wakes up though kicking and crying to get out of the swaddle (part of why I want to transition him out as I hate feeling like he’s waking up uncomfortable). For the past two weeks I’ve started the process of transitioning him out of the swaddle and I now just swaddle him with one arm in alternating sides. This transition was very quick and easy and didn’t really impact his sleep. Last night I tried to swaddle him with both arms out and he was not happy - crying, fighting sleep. After 1hr I gave up and went back to one arm in.

My question is for those who have successfully followed a similar transition how did you overcome this final hurdle? I know I’ll have a lot of people say why take him out if it’s working, but I don’t want to get to the point where he is rolling and needing to go cold turkey and I really don’t like waking up to him kicking around and struggling. Ideally I’d get him into the sleep sacks now where he has more freedom to move.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

I don't really understand this. He is too old for swaddling. Just put in a sleeping bag. It may take a while to get used to but he will ! Just do it

I think you're over thinking this OP. Waking up kicking, thrashing around and crying is just how most pre-4m babies wake up, it's not to do with the swaddle. That's equivalent to saying baby wakes up crying when wearing green so ill stop baby wearing green - the two aren't linked.

The most useful time for a swaddle, second only to the first 6 weeks, is the four month sleep transition. If you're ever going to need a swaddle, it's at 4 months. So I'd kerp it until then.

I don't understand your rationale for wanting to drop the swaddle so early, if not FTM overthinking.

I forgot to answer your actual question.

I'd suggest moving to very tightly tucked in, to move away from swaddling. Put baby in a lighter weight sleeping bag. Use a cot sheet but have it long-side across the cot. Baby feet to foot of cot, both arms in. Then wrap the sheet all the way under the mattress and right round.