Nevermind
Well, that went poorly. Our attempt at cold-turkey ditching the swaddle was quite unsuccessful. They are now back in their swaddles, and hopefully we haven’t messed up the entire night.
Anyone out there have suggestions for something other than cold-turkey on the swaddle? The rest of the bedtime routine was exactly the same. Rebecca went to sleep easily, but didn’t stay that way. Daniel took a long time to go to sleep at all, and only stayed asleep for 5-30 minutes at a stretch. But they’re getting big, strong, and clever, and I frequently find them completely out of the uber-swaddle at about 4am (wide awake). So I think the end of swaddling is nigh, since DCFS frowns upon the use of duct tape. Those of you who’ve done this, how did you do it?
Tags: Swaddling
January 1st, 2008 at 3:33 am
We used the Miracle Blankets, which worked amazing. Finn busted out a few times towards the end, but but besides that, they showed zero signs of not wanting to be swaddled. But, we figured, at 6 months, enough was enough.
First of all, we never did swaddle them during naps after the 3 month mark (and when the Colic 6-9 Hell Time was over, too!). Around 4 months, I put them in thin sleeper blankets (the type with the zippers (maybe they are called blanket sleepers?) to get used to them. Then around the 5 month mark, I’d only swaddle their lower half–so, the arms were free. About 9 days before their 6 month b-day, we zipped them in the blanket sleepers for nighttime and that was that! They actually did ok. BUT—they only lasted about 4 days before we had to seperate them into different cribs (not sure if yours are co-sleeping?).
Anyway–you could try unswaddling one arm, then another arm, and then the whole shabang. I know that I LOVE to sleep with heavy covers on me–and when it’s summer and I only sleep with a sheet, it’s “odd”. So, maybe the blanket sleepers would add a little weight, so they don’t feel entirely free. If that makes any sense.
That’s just what worked for us.
Good luck! …and Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
we went cold turkey when the boys were 3 months old at night, but like carrie, used the zip up blanket sacks. it was a rough first night, but the second night WAS better, and by the third night they were fine. that first night my best friend and her fiance were visiting and they basically took the night shift and helped the boys through the rough patches. jordan and i woke up the next morning, unknowing of their efforts, and thought “they did great!” no such luck.
we also, like carrie, had ditched the swaddle at nap time a few weeks before, and i think that helped.
good luck! that first night is going to be rough. but remember, you can swaddle your kiddos as long as you think they need it. i have a friend who swaddled one of her twins up ’til 8 months!
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Harrison loved the swaddle but started breaking free with both hands around 3 months. We still use the same swaddle blanket around his tummy and lower half and he does well with it.