wrapping

[debz]

My bub is 6 months and likes being wrapped.

She gets one arm out sometimes and has trouble going back to sleep until it is tucked back in.

The health nurse said its ok not to wrap her now, but how do I stop?

Any suggestions?

[Crazy Monkey]

Hi debz,

My DS is 10 months old, and up to a couple of weeks ago I was still wrapping him... We went straight from the wrap to a sleeping bag, with very minimal problems... Although DS would wriggle out of the wrap during his sleep and be quite fine most of the time... I just followed DS, once he started getting out the wrap within seconds of being wrapped, I decided it was time to stop...

Some people start just wrapping 1 arm or just from the waist down or going to a sleeping bag instead of the wrap.

If you and your DD are happy to continue wrapping, I would just continue...

[kadownie]

I agree- if it's working for you and your baby I would continue. I have seen many older babies being wrapped. At times I even wrap my 19mth old. I guess it gives them a sense of security.

[kuz78au]

Hi Debz,
We just stopped wrapping our boy cold turkey and he had no problems. But he is a little younger so it may have been easier. I think the sleeping bag idea is good. And if you want to take it in steps that sounds good too! But remember, do what works for you, not what works for the nurse ;) But I understand you want to stop waking up in the night because he unwraps himself! This is why we stopped wrapping too!

Good luck! :hugs:

[funnyfarm]

My daughter stopped by herself at 11 months old.

I used to worry about this aswell when she was around 6 months old (as this was around summer time and seemed too hot for wrapping) but undoing the wrap and not wrapping at all only gave me many sleepless nights.

[debz]

Thank you all so much. I feel a lot better. I don't really want to stop yet as my husband is working away and it all seems too much at once.

I will wait until he gets home and do it gradually. Plus it will be winter soon and I will use a sleeping bag.

Thanks.

[Smurfette]

I agree with what everyone else has said. Olivia has only just stopped being wrapped, at 6 months. Prior to this I did try to unwrap her on occasions because I felt pressured. The nurse for one told me not to, and this was when she was a younger baby. In the end I did what was right for me.

Olivia led the way and I followed her lead. She used to get out of her wrap within seconds of being wrapped, so we went cold turkey with no problems what so ever. We had all sorts of issues when we tried it gradually, SHE was obviously not ready at this stage.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you. I honestly feel there is no harm done with wrapping an older baby. As long as your bubs is not rolling over, you shouldn't have any problems.

[jmmj]

Personally, I think as a mum when you have had enough you will make the change you need to and find the strength to do it. Until then keep doing what is right for you and your bub. However, remember that any time a little one doesn't like something they will kick up a fuss, but a little or a lot of crying won't hurt anyone and eventually they will get over it.

Good luck, I am sure you will make the right change for you when you are ready.

[Wivi]

I stopped wrapping my little boy a few weeks ago. He is almost 6 months. He loved his wrap and would go straight to sleep when I wrapped him. I loved doing it too - it was so cosy. He learnt to roll both ways though and would wake in the night and we would find him with no sheet. no wrap, nothing! Initially I stopped wrapping at night and put him in a sleeping bag. I don't think he even noticed he wasn't wrapped. He patted his teddy and went off to sleep (with a dummy). A few days later I stopped the day wrapping too. He is sleeping really well now -although can't yet put his own dummy in so sometimes we have to pop it in for him during the night.

Just give it a go - apparently if they are ready then there will be no problems, if they are not - they will fight it a lot. Somehow we must have tried at the right time - that was lucky!

[melbryan]

I stopped wrapping about 8 mths my little one was too strong to keep in a wrap so as I strated to get him out he never really slept as soundly as he did being wrapped but I wrapped his trunk (chest down in a large cot sheet, he then still felt secure. I proceeded to move i down his body until he was completely unwrapped. I used to let him cry because he didn't like to be unwrapped. He got used to it after a while. He is now a great sleeper. I thought I would be wrapping him until two. I think you can unwrap them anytime if you're will to let them cry and get over not being wrapped anymore.
Mel

[red crayon]

i stopped wrapping around 6 months. i just followed spencer's lead. at the six month stage, he'd be trying to unravel himself as soon as i had wrapped him and when i put him in the cot he'd do a houdini and escape the wrap. i started by putting him back in the cot after night feeds with no wrap and then during the day, i did a loose wrap for a couple of days and then no wrap. he did fuss a little initially but soon got over it. you and your baby will know when it is time to stop.