Help to get baby to sleep un-swaddled

**Tabby** · 21-03-2007 15:46

hi all

My DD will only sleep swaddled up in a wrap or 2 but have just had a major scare with her nap, I found her with the wraps all up over her face.
http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=feet004en4.jpg
Now she hates her feet in so wriggles and squirms till they are out but in the process can get her wrap so loose its over her face.
I did have her cot head elevated with books for her mild reflux so am removing them once she awakes as they make her slide down during the wriggles making it worse. ( will try a thickener at last feed instead )
I have let her feet out but shes still squirming in it.
So what I would like help with is how to get her out of needing to be swaddled to sleep. She wont even nap in my arms without it. (wakes constantly )
I have read to remove 1 arm at a time then wrap chest down and then none but I was hoping for something faster.
any help/advice appreciated
Also if your bubs was swaddled to sleep at what age did he/she stop needing it?
Vicki

**babylover111** · 21-03-2007 16:12

You poor thing! It would scare the living daylights out of me if I found a bubba with the wrap over their face like you did

You could try the one arm out then the other and just the body wrapped but if you're looking for something faster have you considered a sleeping bag? They have ones made especially for babies that keep them feeling secure and different fabrics for all seasons.

**InSaneOne** · 21-03-2007 16:20

i would try a sleeping bag too. you could always unpick the bottom and leave it open if she likes her feet uncovered (mum made me one last winter with the bottom open so bubs could walk. when she was alseep we just did up the bottom with a zip. (or you could use buttoms)

i was kinda lucky - when they swaddled beth in the hospital she screamed until we undid the wrap she just didn't like it - so we never wrapped her. she was also a tummer sleeper who crawled by 3.5 months too.

**babylover111** · 21-03-2007 16:23

With when they stop being wrapped it really depends on the individual, a little one I care for only stopped at about 19 months (thank god for the pumpkin patch huge wraps). She had full body plus arms up until about 14 months then just liked body until 19 months then she just likes to hold them while she sleeps as a security thing. Also as soon as her arms were free we gave her one to hold so she got used to just holding and slowly made the wraps looser and looser until she lost interest and was more focused on the one she was holding.

**Tabby** · 21-03-2007 17:01

Thanks everyone.
Will have a hunt for a summer sleeping bag I think although dp has been out of work for weeks so $ are short at the moment so until then looks like one arm in and see how that goes tonight

Billie&Beth: Great idea to unpick the end and replace with a zipper, thankyou. Am hoping the local carpark swapmeet will have some * fingers crossed *

**belinda1976** · 21-03-2007 20:09

Vicki

Try Ebay. I bought my DD a sleeping bag off their. They have brand new and 2nd hand ones.

**Tabby** · 21-03-2007 21:26

Thanks Belinda! I always forget about Ebay for things.
By the way your Emma is a cutie!!!

**pebilz** · 22-03-2007 08:25

I found my DS like this a few times and decided I just couldn't wrap him anymore. He was a total houdini too but just wouldn't settle without it. BUT having said that it was just too scary to do it. So we went cold turkey. It was hard as he would startle constantly but he just got used to it.

If you need a sleeping bag I have a lightweight summer one from my DD that's a size 0. I'll be happy to send it to you if you can't afford one at the moment. Just PM me if you want it.

**mum33** · 22-03-2007 08:59

we never wrapped DS so it was never an issue...

we tried to the sleeping bag on DS though because he likes to kick off the blankets and we thought it would be warmer in winter but he hated the sleeping bag too. but we ahve two, one that is enclosed at the bottom and one that has a removable end and can be used as a dressing gown also.

so i would imagine you wouldnt have to unpick one, as there must be more out there with removable bottom ends.

**Tabby** · 22-03-2007 15:45

Thanks sw33tn3ss
I never wrapped my first 2 either so this is a first for me, from day 1 she has slept better with it.
The dressing gown one sounds like a good idea. Will keep an eye out

and
pebilz: Have pmed you.
Yep and wishing that maybe the early days I should have done the same as you and just let her get used to being without it.

Tried the one arm out with her nap this arvo and no luck. She flayed her arm about just as if she was unwrapped and wouldn't settle.
I did take out the books from under cot so she didnt slide quite as far into the wrap.

DP gets a job soon! This not being able to afford things as I need them is the pits

again thanks for the tips/advice