Swaddling - when to stop?

[Emalina]

Hi all - my DS is 8 weeks old. 2 weeks ago I asked HV when I should stop swaddling, and she said I should stop now (as in 2 weeks ago). Problem is DS still flails about which keeps him awake - I tried loosening his swaddle when he was asleep last night, and he woke up straight away. 2 hours later he was still awake (even after a feed - he fell asleep, but when put in bed flailing limbs woke him again!)

I reswaddled him, and he fell straight to sleep. Will swaddling him affect his development and will he ever learn to control his limbs if I keep swaddling?

Firstly, was he born before/on time/after his due date?

I've just googled and although some people suggest 8 weeks, some say that their babies are 9 months and still being swaddled. I think 8 weeks is still quite young and unless your HV thinks there's some real developmental reason as to why you shouldn't swaddle, I'd carry on until your common sense says to stop, ie: when he's waking himself up because swaddling annoys him or he's kicking off the blanket.
You could also try cranial osteopathy to help his flailing limbs.My DS did this and even swaddling didn't help. After CO, he was able to sleep more soundly.

DD was swaddled at night until she was about 6 months old!
She was born at 33 weeks and we used one of these.

Erm, I have just stopped swaddling dd at 7 months! She was term. Every time I tried to stop before she just woke herself up flailing around. A couple of weeks ago I tried again and she had a little wriggle and went to sleep, has been fine ever since!

Development seems normal. Personally I would carry on as you are until he seems ready to stop.

i swaddled DD until 3 weeks ago

that is when her moro reflex settled down

she is now 18 weeks

you can swaddle for a lot longer if you need to

Thanks everyone. DS was 2 weeks overdue. He isn't able to get himself out of his swaddle as it is one with velcro on it.

Initially he did seem to struggle against it, and settled ok at night, so I can't remember why I persisted with it! I must have had a reason though.....

But now he actually smiles when I put him in it!! He seems relieved to have something to help him switch off. So thank you, it's good to hear that it does no harm to keep swaddling.

I still swaddle my DS at 14 weeks because he didn't like his sleeping bag. I've never heard of the eight week thing.

We swaddled til around 16 weeks I think (DD was 3 weeks early) then we switched to a Peke Moe which has been excellent. We tried sleeping bags but she kept waking herself up with flailing arms and for some reason she didn't with the Peke Moe. I'm not affiliated with PM in any way shape or form, I heard if it from someone else here on MN and it really worked for us. Gave our daughter the freedom to move around in her sleep without waking herself up. We used the Miracle blanket prior to this and thought we'd never be able to get her out of it. They are a bit pricey though.
Others suggested to us gradually unswaddling but it didn't work us as she was(and still is) such a flailer (if that's a word!)

dd swaddled until 6mths then started using sleeping bags