Question about swaddling?

Question

If my son, 11 weeks old, kicks his way out of a swaddle at night is it a sign he's done with it and no longer wants it?

I swear...he sleeps longer, and better when he is swaddled, but he always seems to get out of it at some point, and it's very hard to get him swaddled anyway sometimes because he's always kicking and thrashing about. When his arms are free of the swaddle he seems to wake more and sleep less, the rare ties i can get him nice and tightly bundled he sleeps like a champ 5-6 hours for his first stretch!

Maybe I should be using a heavier blanket? I've been using a light "summer" blanket but it doesn't seem to do that job lately. Not to mention it's a pain to swaddle him all over again after a night time feeding and he always ends up waking up.

When did you all stop swaddling and how did you get your baby to sleep despite that?

Answer 1

My son is 4.5 months old now and gets swaddled for all naps and night time still.  We use the SwaddleMe blankets (large size) and the velcro tabs keep him in.  With a ceiling fan on and the cotton rather than fleece, it is not too hot for him.  It also takes virtually no time/effort to reswaddle him if he busts an arm out occaisionally.  Some babies are just squirmy and hyper and still need to be swaddled because they flail or poke their eyes by accident and wake themselves otherwise.  My son definately sleeps better...in fact he'll only sleep if swaddled or in a moving stroller.  We have to tuck tight blankets around him in his car seat if we are on a road trip where he needs to nap.  And he's recently gotten too big for the sling (the other thing he used to sleep in..which probably feels just like being swaddled).  Boo to the parents who say this is too old to swaddle.  All babies are different.  If your baby sleeps better swaddled (even if they initially fight it) keep doing it.  You'll know they're over it when they absolutely won't fall asleep and wont stop crying when swaddled...or if they start rolling over and prefer to sleep on their tummy (which is okay once they can roll).

Answer 2

We went through the same with our little girl who is 3 months now. She slept well when we swaddled her.  we couldn't just use the normal blankets for her. We used

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

I know it's hot now but it helps them to sleep. We stopped using them now and she is sleeping well.

Answer 3

Have you tried the Miracle Blanket?  My DD always got out of her swaddle until we moved to it - it is bigger and stretches - google it and you will see allot of great reviews.  We swaddled until 6 months and then moved to the pee pod blacket.

Or you can try a sleep sack - Target carries those!

GL!  Our kids slept better swaddled as well!

Answer 4

I didnt swaddle at all, my son didnt want to be tied up after he was born, he loved the ability to move around.

Its different for each baby.  He may be done with the swaddling, if you are worried try buying one of those sleeper blankets, it zips on like PJ's.  

He wont get cold that way and can be comfy.  My son loved his bag blankets, Esp in the winter.

Good luck

Answer 5

My son is 2 months old, and as of about 2 weeks ago, he refuses to be swaddled.  He also sleeps better when swaddled, but he just won't be swaddled, so I'm just dealing with him working out learning to sleep without the swaddle.  The first few nights were rough (him waking up every 45 minutes to an hour), but it's getting better!

Answer 6

I make swaddling blankets and have a start-up company. We recently earned the Good Housekeeping Seal on my newest blanket. Mine are 100% cotton (both flannel and summer sheeting available) and they are a larger size than most you can find. I had to make them because I never found store-bought blankets that worked for my bigger babies.

e-mail me and I will be happy to help, if you're interested.  

Answer 7

At 11-12 weeks it's time to stop the swaddling after all we are talking about a baby that is almost 3 months old....he is becoming more aware of his surroundings and wants the chance to explore it....plus babies at this age, altho they do sleep quite a bit, should be sleeping less than when they were newborns.

By the time my kids were 3 months old, swaddling was a thing of the past and they were alert more during the day....they took two naps (one mid morning and one mid afternoon, then went to bed at night around 7-8 pm....never slept thru the night until past the 6 month mark ( I breastfed so that may have played a part). There was never an issue of good vs bad sleep habits, all my babies slept well on nap/bedtime scheduals (with some flexibility, of course)

if you are concerned about him getting cold from kicking off covers, there are baby sleeping bags that'll keep him warm but allow movement, I crochet & sew so I made my own.....

Now is the time for interactive toys.....baby mirrors that fasten to the side of the crib and baby 'gyms' that he lies underneath and gazes up at....one on one interaction is very important, always....got a good baby seat? Strap him in and carry him a bout with you as you go about your daily chores...always talking and stopping for touch play and eye to eye contact......it could be newborn bundling days are over, Hon, he needs the freedom of movement for proper physical developement..besides soon he'll be rolling over...after that, good luck on the bundling-you'll only fustrate him if he wants to wiggle about....good luck.

To the thumbs downers: honestly I don't know what your issues are.....we are talking about the personal preferance of a baby and it's developement, not what is convenient for the parents ...sure, there are some babies that like being confined, others outgrow it fast and want the freedom of movement, and there comes a time when  a baby needs to be listened too...my goodness are ya gonna bundle the kid up 'till he starts college? Eventually ALL babies outgrow stuff and swaddling is no different and there is certainly nothing wrong in ending it if baby is constantly wriggling out of the blankets...this baby just might be telling his mother he wants his wriggle room now....jeeze...and I ought to know......4 healthy adult kids is proof of that! Mine refused to be swaddled after age 3 months but then all my kids were very active babies and not content to be bundled up in a physically restrictive way. So the 'thumbs down ' are being given to my babies, not me as I was only doing what they were happiest with. If the baby prefers it, fine, if not, fine too there are NO right and wrongs in this, just opinions and whatever each particular baby desires. period.

Answer 8

swaddle him in 2 light blankets and have them start in different direction then if he gets out of 1 he stays in the other

Answer 9

same thing happened with my son, we swaddled him until 4.5 months old at night, we used these (they have velcro closures so it keeps the blanket closed nice and tight and they come in different sizes!)

they saved us for those first few months because he could not sleep unswaddled!

http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php

(it is FINE to keep swaddling him at night as long as he needs it! one thing we started doing towards the end was swaddling him and leaving ONE arm out (we would change arms every night) so he got used to having arms out slowly).