Swaddling | ExpatWoman.com
 

Swaddling

2937
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 13:15

DD has been swaddled for sleep since birth, and she's now 11 weeks. I'd planned to keep her swaddled until I was sure her flailing arms wouldn't wake her, but I read online the other day you should only swaddle for the first month or it might affect motor skills development :\:.

She still flails her arms around when she's agitated, and when she's tired (I keep missing her tired signs but that's my next thread!) so I'm concerned if I switch her to a sleeping bag she'll never get to sleep. I really want to keep putting her down awake so I don't make the same mistakes I did with DS who needed me and a boob to get to sleep for ages.

Any input much appreciated :).

ETA: She was a month early but I'm not sure if that's early enough for me to need to use an adjusted age.
<em>edited by DubaiCat on 17/01/2012</em>

651
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 20:12
Swaddled until about the same age as the rest! DD just started resisting one night and would mange to half "unswaddle" herself during the night. Stopped swaddling one night and she immediately turned on her side and slept without any disturbances. I resisted swaddling in the early days/weeks, when I picked it up again and persisted - swaddled for daytime naps as well, she started sleeping much better.
2937
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 20:03
Thanks all :). I'm really struggling with her daytime sleep so I definitely don't want to stop swaddling her if I don't have to!
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 15:02
DS was swaddled until 5 months, very reluctantly stopped overnight when I discovered he was able to roll over while swaddled, he started crawling a few days later, I don't think it remotely affected his motor skills, far more important is what they do while awake (i.e tummy time). I stopped swaddling his bottom half quite early though and just wrapped his arms/upper body. I did read something about hip development (???) and also I was worried he would overheat. Also leaving it until I "had" to stop made it harder, I'd aim for a gradual wean (one arm, then 2 arms etc).
1403
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 13:23
Z was swaddled till around the age of 5 months (my memory is bad, but around that age) and no sign of it affecting motor skills development whatsoever. If Elin is happy being swaddled then leave her swaddled. ;) <em>edited by shellly on 17/01/2012</em>
488
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 13:21
Hi lovely - DS was swaddled for AGES! I remember we tried his arms out around 3 months and he was still flailing and waking himself up so we had to put him in the miracle swaddling blankets as he could get out of a normal swaddle very easily. We then had him in woombies which zip up the front and keep the arms in but allow more movement (and arms out eventually) and amazingly he's only had his arms out completely from about 6 months (I was starting to worry he'd never get them out!!)....and his motor skills are totally fine!! I wouldn't worry for now. But if you want to try her, you can half swaddle or take one arm out at a time and see how she goes. I also used to tuck DS in which helped his legs from flailing as well. Have 2 miracle swaddling blankets you are welcome to try, as well as some smaller woombies (but these might still be a bit big for her)...
510
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 13:19
DD has been swaddled for sleep since birth, and she's now 11 weeks. I'd planned to keep her swaddled until I was sure her flailing arms wouldn't wake her, but I read online the other day you should only swaddle for the first month or it might affect motor skills development :\:. She still flails her arms around when she's agitated, and when she's tired (I keep missing her tired signs but that's my next thread!) so I'm concerned if I switch her to a sleeping bag she'll never get to sleep. I really want to keep putting her down awake so I don't make the same mistakes I did with DS who needed me and a boob to get to sleep for ages. Any input much appreciated :). ETA: She was a month early but I'm not sure if that's early enough for me to need to use an adjusted age. edited by DubaiCat on 17/01/2012 My kids were swaddled until practically one year and no trouble with motor development!
 
 

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