DS seems to dislike having his arms wrapped in his blanket and will struggle and fight until they are free. I was quite happy to keep his arms free as long as he's warm, but of course he does startle himself awake.
So, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a swaddle wrap, like a Woombie, or whether I'm forcing DS into something he won't like.
Bah, I don't know what to do. Help me decide? To swaddle or not to swaddle?
My answer is not to. Jazz hated being wrapped, she just couldn't stand it from day one, would pull her arms out, and even now at almost two she doesn't sleep with blankets/doonas on because she just doesn't seem to like the 'heaviness' or restriction I guess.
Yeah she did startle herself, it was frustrating, but she hated being wrapped and would fight it, and I didn't want to force her into something that was obviously uncomfortable for her.
I swaddled for the first 6weeks or so.
I used the swaddle me wrap for DD and would put her hands where she could could them, it's called a kiddopotamus wrap.
I only swaddled at night so they got used to sleeping with or without then took the swaddle away when it got to the warmer nights.
My little one isn't keen but she doesn't make a fuss. She sleeps soooooo much better swaddled though, as although her startle reflex has died down, she still punches herself in her sleep, rubs her head and wakes herself up - a LOT.
I guess if he's really upset about being swaddled, then don't do it.
But how does he sleep if he isn't swaddled? Does he need good sleep more? or are you happy for him to wake up when he startles?
Some babes just don't like it.
I struggled to get my DS to settle in a muslin wrap and then my sister got me one of the Kiddapotamus swaddles with velcro - I ended up buying two more. It was great for him.
Urgh, it's a tricky one. DS was like that but slept better if mummified. DH had to do it though, DS always broke out of my feeble attempts.
Not helpful, sorry.
Okay, an update. I've now had three nights straight of four-hourly night-time sleeps from DS, (was 2-3 hourly) and the only thing we've done differently has been to swaddle him in a bunny rug. The trick for us is that we have to wait for him to fall asleep, then swaddle him - if he's awake when we swaddle, he stays awake trying to fight his way out.
If it works, it works really well. He's generally not fighting his way out until he's woken up for a feed. PLUS, I'm now able to unwrap him if I need him to wake up for a nappy-change or a feed - within minutes he wakes up with no more prodding from Mumma.
So...our swaddling seems to be working but I just need to decide whether to invest in a swaddle wrap/woombie or continue with the bunny rug. Will see how we go.
Just want to say, the Woombie is amazing!! Such a fantastic invention.
It wraps them nice and snug but not too snug that they can't move their arms around. My little one likes her arms up on her chest and that is exactly where she's had them the past 3 nights we've used it!
My DD managed to still get her arms out of the woombie neckhole! Luckily her dad can stand CIO so he got her out of being swaddled. Wish I'd never swaddled her it went well for a few months then 4 months of hell rewrapping her every hour !!
Bah! Tell me about swaddling
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