Another baby ?- re swaddling

Victoria808

I'm curious... does anyone who has a baby not swaddle (or didn't)?  We tried for the first 2 days home, but Anna broke free and loosened the blanket too much for my liking.  I wondered if others don't and it just doesn't get talked about as much as those who do swaddle. 

(I think I'm settling into motherhood as coming on here isn't as overwhelming!)

mrs.magoo

We didn't swaddle Austin for probably the first month and a half of life, because every time we used the Swaddle Me blankets, he would scream and cry - so we just put him in a sleep sack....but then one night we were having such a hard time putting him down he was up for over an hour crying and every time we would get him to sleep, we would put him down sleeping and he'd startle himself awake, so I tried the swaddle again and it worked - we have been swaddling him ever since and he sleeps much better now because he finds it soothing...but now we leave one arm out so he can suck his hand when he wakes up at night or when he goes down for a nap...

WideSmileMama

Both of my kids were swaddled at the beginning but both also seemed to sleep better without being swaddled within a few weeks so we went with what the nature of the baby seemed to be telling us to do......to do what they were most comfortable and doing best with seemed to make sense to me!

I've seen people advise forcing the swaddle even if the baby seems to resist it, though.  Never tried it, though, because I didn't need to.

MrsNich

We swaddle for his long afternoon nap and for nighttime.  I think it really helps him sleep.  When he isn't swaddled he tends to wake himself more easily with his hands, etc.  He doesn't always *love* when I put him in the swaddle but he typically will fall right to sleep after!

sassylassy

Connor used to break free too in the beginning I basically figured out that his swaddle was too small so I bought some at Nini Bamini store.  They have these ones that are a lot larger than most but they are thin cotton so they are great for the summer months.  We have AC going into his room so he is cool but sometimes it gets a little warm during his naps during the day, point being is that the ones that I have are versital to temp change and he is pretty much always comfy.

 I have been swaddling him with one arm out for about a month now.  He rarely busts out the other arm.  He always just seemed to want to have one out and now he will suck on that hand during the night.

Here is the link for info on the swaddle that I have.

http://www.adenandanais.com/muslin-wraps.html

and like I said, I bought it at Nini Bambini in Bedford.

GL!
 

EastCoastFamily

We stopped swaddling Alyssa several weeks ago but prior to that, she was swaddled and did very well with it.  We swaddled her mid-chest, down, and she never broke free although she is quite a kicker!!  We had her wrapped tight like a little burrito.  However, you don't have to swaddle.  Are you feeling like you should or have to?  Not all babies like to be swaddled, which is ok.  I think the "reasoning" behind swadling is simply that is makes babies feel nice and secure and snuggly.  Alyssa was fine with being swaddled, but when we decided not to swaddle anymore, we just stopped and she was fine with that too.  She is definitely a little wiggle worm, so we were worried she would have a really hard time falling asleep but that wasn't the case. 

LynandT72906

Lili never EVER liked to be swaddled.  We'd try, and she'd just break out of it.  She's always slept with her hands by her head (even in utero!) and now she sleeps with them behind her head...she looks like she's lounging.  I don't feel it's that big a deal if you don't.  Some babies just prefer it because it's what they're used to, some just want to be free!

carryl

We didn't, she hated it and would cry until we took her out of it even in the hospital.

CrissyBoop

we still do and occassionally Jack will get his legs free, but I think that's b/c the Swaddle Me blanket that we have is too small, but they only come in sm & lg so the large is too big and it creeps up to close to his nose and mouth for my liking, so we still use the other ones.  Jack has always flailed his arms around and this is the ONLY way he will stay asleep, I've been wondering what we will do when he starts rolling and won't be swaddled anymore!  Like the others have said, some like it some don't...Jack is fine until morning usually..that's when I hear him struggling to get his arms out, I may try the one arm thing too!  I love the Swaddle Me brand blankets we have the fleece and the cotton, both are great though I think the cotton shrunk quite a bit and seems too confining for his little legs now :-(  We just put him in a thin Onsie(that brand is really thin) and he is fine in the fleece with our Central AC and fan.