Swaddling - when did you stop and why?

[OceanPrincess]

Hi all,

DH and I are debating stopping swaddling DD when she sleeps and changing to a sleeping bag.

DD is almost 11 weeks old, still swaddled and sleeps fairly well during the day and at night (once settled). She started in a cradle and has recently migrated to the cot for two reasons - she was getting too big for the cradle (length-wise) but also she was getting her hands out of the wrapping and hitting the bars of the cradle in her sleep, which then was waking her up.

When she works her hands and arms out of the wrapping, it doesn't seem to bother her - in fact during the day she often works her arms out before she's even asleep. We aren't swaddling her that tightly anymore as she seems to like being able to suck her fists and fingers.

Should we do away with the swaddling all together? Start using a sleeping bag?

When did you stop swaddling your little one? How did it work? Any suggestions?

[Jellyfish]

We stopped when we got home from the hospital! DD never liked it and prefered having her arm/s above her head so hated being confined. We use a sleeping bag now that it is getting cooler (she is 7 weeks today) and she seems to like it since her hands are still *free* so to speak.

Never know till you give it a go!!

[AliBaby]

We stopped when Ashlyn was 2weeks. She hated it and always fought to have her arms out. She sleeps in a sleeping bag and loves it. It may take her a week to adjust but no matter when you make the change it will still take a week. I also find it good that she doesnt need to swaddled because it means she will fall asleep anywhere even her bouncer or playpen.
Also she seems to know at night that when the sleping bag goes on that its night and it does help with the sleep routine. during the day she doesnt sleep in it though.

Maybe you could just stop swaddling during the day to start with.

[Muffy]

OP - we stopped swaddling bella during the day, we only do it at night time.
As ali said i think it help them get into a routine.

[Nai]

I swaddle Juliette from under her arms down and then put her in a sleeping bag at night. During the day I just swaddle her under the arms and she sleeps like that. I started a few days ago as she was getting out of her swaddling and waking up cold during the night. Also she started sucking her thumb and screams if she doesn't have easy access to it!

[Just Me]

I swaddled my DD till she was 10 months old and we are just starting to stop swaddling DS now at 11months. Swaddling was the only way that either of them would sleep. We use an angel wrap though (their arms are still wrapped, but out stretched to either side of their head so they can move them or suck their hand if they want to).

We put them in a sleeping bag while they learn to sleep unwrapped and today DS did his first day time nap without being swaddled. He has been unswaddled for his night time sleep for a couple of weeks.

You really have to go with the flow of what your baby seems to want. If your DD is already going to sleep with her arms free then go with it I say. I only did it for as long as I did because they both seemed to like it so much. They let you know when they don't want it anymore.

[feeb]

we stopped swaddling around 9 weeks and went straight to grobag.

no issues

[Liz]

Wrapped DS until about 7 or 8 months. Wrapped DD until 15 months.

Stopped wrapping when it stopped working!

Both were unravelling themselves whilst asleep, so the wrapping was more a sleep cue than anything towards the end.

We did try sleeping bags here and there, neither of the kids would take them... HATED having their feet covered (what a waste of money LOL) So, we just kept wrapping Even now my kids kick covers off.. they hate it. I do tuck them in once they're asleep, but if they're awake, they don't want a bar of blankets!

[OceanPrincess]

I swaddle Juliette from under her arms down and then put her in a sleeping bag at night. During the day I just swaddle her under the arms and she sleeps like that. I started a few days ago as she was getting out of her swaddling and waking up cold during the night. Also she started sucking her thumb and screams if she doesn't have easy access to it!

Sounds like a really good idea Nai. That's one of the reasons I'm thinking about doing it - last night after a 3am feed, DD woke at 4am screaming and wouldn't resettle, I fed, tried the dummy, everything - eventually I added another blanket and that combined with another feed (like three sucks LOL) seemed to settle her which makes me think she was cold.

Might try to layer her a bit warmer tonight and get a grobag tomorrow.

Hope it helps...

[Daffodil Mumma]

We stopped wrapping DS after the first couple of nights being home. He just had to have his arms up all the time!! He didnt seem to have problems settling without it either. Im wanting to put him in a sleeping bag now its getting colder at night, but until I can find one small enough, he seems happy enough with just blankets.

[AJC]

We stopped around 4 weeks because DS no longer liked it, he would grunt and groan trying to get his arms out.

[Georgi]

OP - Looks like you've had a good response already, though you may be interested in these other threads.

I have posted two other links within this thread

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...your-baby.html

HTH

[StephV]

I heard or read somewhere that you are "supposed" to stop swaddling when they can roll. Our little angel is a little houdini with getting the arms out, but she can't fall asleep without the wrap. I'm going to do it for awhile longer. I like the idea of not wrapping for day sleeps, maybe that's worth a try

[Shanti]

For those of you that stopped wrapping in the early weeks.... did you find your baby still woke up often with the startle reflex??? My DD still has it (not sure when it goes?) and i find wakes herself up sometimes if she's not wrapped as her arm hits her forehead or something.... she always had a very strong startle reflex.

We are still wrapping DD, day and night. SOmetimes I try without but she doesn't seem to settle.
When i do wrap her, she sometimes fights it like she loves having her arms out.
We have ordered a grobag... we'll see how that goes. I'd like to stop wrapping her but I think I should do it gradually like one arm out then the other etc....??? ANy ideas?

[Georgi]

REN Check out the links I posted. In one of them (sorry not sure which thread it was), there is plenty of info on how to gradually stop wrapping. That's what I did with BJ. Most resources say they have the startle reflex till around 4-4.5months though I read one book that said 6months.

[SamiH]

My advice after having 3 kids who love/d being wrapped - try it for day sleeps and see. If it doesnt work, still wrap.

HOnestly at the end of the day it is no big deal.

My DS1 was wrapped until 10/11 months - really he just liked it around his shoulders, his leggies were free and he wormed his way out - but it helped him get to sleep. DD stopped around 6 months, her choice. DS2 is wrapped and as soon as the wrap passes his shoulders he turns his head like he is using body language to say - ahhhhh bed time LOL.

I have just got a bag ready to try him this weekend coincidentally - day sleeps first - if it doesnt work, well so be it. It's not like he is gunna be 2 and still be wrapped.

[Shanti]

Thanks G

[didispunk]

My DD is nealry 8 months and i dont swaddle her when i put her into her cot awake.

but when we are out and about i swaddle her to sleep as i know she is tired and well her cot is not there to put her in so she sleeps when I swaddle her. I will probably do this till she is 1. i would think/