Weaning off swaddle
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Topic: Weaning off swaddle
Posted By: nuts_nats
Subject: Weaning off swaddle
Date Posted: 23 July 2010 at 12:34pm
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Help I need some advice on weaning my 7 month old off swaddling! She has been wrapped in a DreamSwaddle since she was 8 weeks old for every sleep and simply won't sleep without it.
However she has outgrown the largest swaddle now and instead of buying another I think its probably time to teach her to sleep without it. We are also currently doing 'sleep training' to reduce the number of night feeds and teach her how to self settle. So I am of 2 minds, since we are trying something new, maybe its a good time to get rid of the swaddle... or maybe its a really bad time since we are having such disturbed nights already? Maybe having her arms out would help with self settling? For the last week I have been wrapping her arms with a muslin under a sleeping bag hoping it might help the transition. I have tried a few times the one arm out technique but she won't fall asleep and wakes herself up scratching at her face, even making it bleed. 
What are some of your experiences with weaning off a swaddle? What did you do and how long did it take? Have been looking at the 'Peke Moe' sleep sak as a possible alternative, has anyone used one of these, and was it worth the money? TIA ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Replies:
Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 23 July 2010 at 1:49pm
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I'd try changing one thing at a time.
Having said that, H was weaned off the wrap at about 4-5 months because he was really fighting it and trying to get out. We started wrapping him with one arm out, and gave him a soft toy (ones that look like a velvet hanky with a head and knots for arms and legs - hope that makes sense  ) to hold. It worked really well, and within a week he was in his go go bag. He never had a dummy, but really needs his sleepy toy to cuddle, chew and suck on. It's pretty grotty (we have 2 that we cycle) but has really helped in establishing good sleep.
Having said that, I kept wrapping him occasionally until about 10 months, when he was so overtired or worked up that he really needed that comfort. I used a flat cot sheet to wrap him as nothing else fit. Good luck ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 23 July 2010 at 2:23pm
| We weaned our twins off swaddling at around 6 months. It was easier than I expected actually we just went straight to the merino gogo bags which were fantastic and used them until the girls turned one. I think the best policy is always cold turkey. It has always worked for us. It avoids confusion and they usually adjust after a day or two. But if both you and your daughter are content to keep swaddling I don't see the harm in it. |
Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 23 July 2010 at 4:39pm
| I keep doing it until about 8 months, when it was impossible to stay in there. Did the one arm, then no arms and then no swaddle worked fine. Actually once the sleep training was finished she slept heaps better without as likes to sleep on side and tummy. Peke Moe sounds like a great half way step. |