Swaddling

Bonny - posted on 05/22/2011

We wrapped both of ours until they outgrew any blanket we found that stretched, they eventually stopped wanting it but they did the same thing, unwrapped themselves at night and slept fine. Once they started rolling themselves they liked sleeping on their stomachs, the doctor said if they rolled themselves that way then it was fine, and they stopped wanting to be wrapped if they were on their stomachs. That's how we outgrew it, they preferred stomach (doctor approved) to wrapped.

Kimberly - posted on 05/11/2011

there for awhile i thought my kid was to old but then i realized all the benifits of it and i tell moms of 13 month olds to swaddle them too sooth them. its a security thing and just think back in the olden days they were swaddled till they could help with the chores lol

Tina - posted on 04/29/2011

If it works for you why change it. I wish i could wrap my baby and he'd settle and go to sleep. Desn't work for him. Kids grow up quick enough without pushing the issue i'd enjoy wrapping them and babying them as long as they let me. It's not doing any harm. Grand parents sometimes need to be reminded that they've had there kids it's your turn to be the mother.

Carly - posted on 04/29/2011

Tell her to mind her own business. I wrapped my babies for as long as possible too - they love it! As long as there is no risk of her pulling the swaddling over her head and suffocating, then you do what you feel is right and working for you.

Patricia - posted on 04/27/2011

do what you think is best after all no ane knows there own child like their mother

Tiffany - posted on 04/27/2011

I'm a firm believer in following what works for you and your baby. If you are interested in "weaning" her off of the swaddle for sleep, you might take a look at the Halo Sleepsacks that have the SwaddleMe option. Then maybe you could gradually loosen the swaddle and eventually not use it at all. Good luck!

Susan - posted on 04/27/2011

Honey, if it's working for you, don't stop. This is your baby, not your sweet mama's. My baby is 19 mos old. Since Christmas, she loves to snuggle in one particular blanket "I" received as a gift (DD and DH stole it from me). She prefers to be snuggled in that blanket every night and at nap time. So please dont let your sweet mama get under your skin. Just tell her she raised you to be a very smart mama, and right now this is the best for YOUR baby and her grandbaby.

Kari - posted on 04/27/2011

I stopped at about5 months and it took a couple of weeks for my daughter to get used to falling asleep without being all tucked in. Babies adapt, so do it in your own time when you think you are both ready!

Kari - posted on 04/27/2011

You know what is best for your baby, and if you want to swaddle her then you should. It is not doing any harm, and I'm sure your daughter feels secure when you swaddle her. Mom knows best, and you are her mom! :)

Tanya - posted on 04/26/2011

I think if she is getting out of the wrap by morning then she is still getting her opportunity to develop movements that swaddling typically hamper. I did, however, read an article by Dr. Sears last night that said you should try alternatives to swaddling to allow normal hip and motor skill development. Maybe try swaddling your baby's arms, not legs and see how it goes. Then maybe slowly wean her off swaddling. You never know. Maybe she'll sleep well unswaddled, too.

Anna - posted on 04/26/2011

My baby girl is 5 and half month soon and has be swaddled since she was born.. once i place her in she knows its bed time and with in mins is off to sleep...Babies will grow out of it in there own time.. and a baby that has enough sleep is a happy one.. why change something that works...keep up the good job and there isnt a right or wrong its what ever works for u!!

LeighAnn - posted on 04/26/2011

Every mom is different and has their own style.You can respect your moms opinion but you are the one who knows your basby the best.I'm sure you are doing this also to ease the fact that your husband isn't home right now. Its harmless to do what you are doing,so relax.Your baby will voice her opinion when she no longer wants to be swaddled

Colleen - posted on 04/26/2011

Your the Mommy you do what works for you.... BUT I have a feeling you are creating a cover hog like my husband, he has to be ALL tucked in at night and he is NOT a small man LOL.
Your not hurting her, and she will let you know when she doesn't want to be swaddled anymore. Its not like she isn't strong enough to get out if she wants. Obviously she likes it.

Victoria - posted on 04/25/2011

My little girl sleeps swaddled, and if it gets you threw the night, have at it. somtimes parents/grandparents have the need to push their ideas. DO WHAT WORKS. However i also reccomend asking the dr to see ideas on how to break the habit, and to see if they think it should be stoped.

Misty - posted on 04/25/2011

If she still likes it keep doing it. It obviously comforts her. I swaddled my daughter til 4-5 mos when she started wiggling about and would end up with the covers on her head :( but my son hated swaddling after his 3rd week I kept trying cuz I know they sleep better when they are swaddled but he would fuss I think it was uncomfortable cuz he has a brachial plexus injury

Hayley - posted on 04/25/2011

You should do what the hell you like :) Its your child after all....not your Mothers.

Kathy - posted on 04/25/2011

Wow! I wish I could have swaddled my son until he was nine months, he started kicking loose around 7 months. As long as you're not leaving her swaddled all day, but only doing it for bedtime, I don't see why it should be a problem.

And from someone who a huge proponent of swaddling and knows more about it than me....
http://www.happiestbaby.com/when-do-i-ha...

Simone - posted on 04/25/2011

my little old is 7 months n we swaddled her from birth, we slowly stopped, so one night she was swaddled n then the nexxt night only half swaddled and n then the next night both arms out but body still wrapped up n now she will go to sleep fine not swaddled. hope this helps

Tanya - posted on 04/24/2011

if it makes her comfortable and she likes it then keep doing it. But I wouldn't swaddle her too tight, so she will learn to get out of it and sleep without being swaddled. Also I work in a Preschool nursery and find that most swaddled babies end up loving to sleep on their tummy, they just roll over and go right to sleep.

Yolanda - posted on 04/21/2011

I'd say move to a sleep sack, too. It's sort of in the middle. the problem with still swaddling, I think, is that they need to build strength in their arms and backs, and can't if they can't roll around and push up, etc. You can also try to wean her by leaving one arm out, then 2, then moving to the sleep sack over a month or so. You can also get tight jammies and make sure her room is warm enough to just sleep with the jammies. We actually began using a blanket at that point (but our girls were walking at 9 months).

Rashelle - posted on 04/21/2011

my husband is in the air force and is tdy'd so I am staying with family. I love my family but I wil never be doing this again. You are your babies mother so you do what you believe is best for your your baby! Dont let any one else push you around. Hope your husband comes home soon! Good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 04/20/2011

I was reading new research recently that listed swaddling as a risk factor for SIDS, so it is not recommended to swaddle infants. That being said, by far the greatest risk for SIDS is 2-4 months of age, so there is probably not much medical risk from swaddling your 9 month old. Your mom has a lot of wisdom, but some of her information is out of date because she has not had a baby in many years.
It sounds like the routine of the swaddling is probably part of why your daughter goes to sleep so easily when you do it. It sends her brain a message that it is sleepy-time! I think the one poster had a great suggestion about gradually weaning your daughter off of swaddling. You could start wrapping her just a little less tightly. Maybe if you tell your mom you are doing that she will get off your back.
Good luck!

Rachel - posted on 04/20/2011

it is ur kid do what u feel is right

Magaly - posted on 04/20/2011

You know what works best for you and your daughter. If she likes to be swaddled, I'd let her be. My son never liked it after his first 24 hours of life.... =) I think a lot of moms second guess themselves when they have a different opinion than their mother, but it's ok to parent the way you feel is best for your family. Even if it contradicts everything your mom says. =)

Gina - posted on 04/20/2011

Don't stop swaddling. There is nothing wrong with doing it. Everyone has an opinion about it. There are children who are swaddled up to 18 months old. And changing things at 9 months of age will make things extremely difficult. Around 9-11 months of age every baby starts going through separation anxiety and the change in how they sleep would just make it worse. Plus, if you are going to go away from swaddling you should make it gradual. Starting with one arm. Most children who are ready to start transitioning to no swaddling will work one arm out of the swaddle. My son did that at about 11 months of age. It was the pediatrician who explained to me how important swaddling was and I read a book called "Bed Timing" by a child psychologist that explained transitional periods for children and how it can affect the child's sleep and when to do or not to do any sleep training based on these developmental stages. It is hard to stay with family when you have a baby especially when your husband is gone and you don't have his support. But really you are the mom and you can make great decisions for your baby. It is hard to find a way to kindly tell your family thanks for their opinion but that your will continue with what you are doing because you are the mom and it is what you feel is best.

Kristal - posted on 04/20/2011

Frankly, she is your child and you should be doing what you see fit to do! Yes, your mothers opinion does matter but if swaddling your daughter to get her to sleep is working, then why stop?

Tammy - posted on 04/20/2011

I'm not a baby expert, but I say if it isn't broken, don't fix it! If it works for her, and makes her feel secure and safe, great! Parents (grand parents) try to be helpful, and tell us what we need to do because - after all they didn't kill us right? It doesn't sound weird to me at all that you chose to move back in with mom - it's hard being a single parent (even if it's just for awhile) and I sure there are other things you appreciate about being close. Good luck!

Ali - posted on 04/20/2011

Swaddle until your child no longer wants it done - Not anyone else. I swaddled my daughter from birth up until 2 weeks before her 1st birthday. If I swaddled her she would fall asleep anywhere, anyplace. She slept through from 7 weeks on and still does.

I only stopped because she started to resist it. Now I still use a sleeping sack (but a home-made one as it must be open at the bottom so she can move about and walk a bit) as she now wriggles in her sleep and cant keep a blanket on her.

So dont let anyone tell you its a bad thing - many people told me my daughter was too old to be swaddled (this was anytime from 4 months onwards) but I didnt care as it was working for us.

Jenny - posted on 04/19/2011

I say keep doing what you are doing. When she doesn't want to be swaddled she'll let you know.

Lexi - posted on 04/19/2011

If your daughter didn't like being swaddled at this age, she is perfectly capable of unswaddling herself. You can try to explain to your mom that she isn't "stuck" or "trapped" in any way. My son was unswaddling himself and made it clear he wanted to be done with that phase of life at 5 months, but I've known other babies that are comforted by it for much longer like yours. At some point you may have to stand up and firmly say "mom I love you very much and am so grateful for the support you've given me during this hard time. I appreciate your advice but there are just going to be some things that we disagree on. I need you to drop the swaddling issue. I am Miley's mother and even though I take all your advice to heart, the final decision is mine and this is what is best for my daughter right now." I know how hard it is to live with your mother. It is so stressful and frustrating. We had to move in with my mom when we lost our house to foreclosure and now we live in a rental she owns, a few blocks from her house. It is very hard to set up the boundaries in a situation like that and can start a fight when you first try, but it has to be done. In the long run, standing your ground and setting limits will keep you both from getting as upset and frustrated. Just try to do it in a calm loving way. *hugs*

Tracy - posted on 04/19/2011

Every baby is different and so is every mother. You should do what works for you and your baby, not your well meaning mother. My baby hated being swaddled from day one...even in the hospital she like to stretch out. So I have never swaddled her. But my friend still swaddles her baby and she is over 12 months. That is how her baby likes to be...all snuggled and warm. If Miley likes it and it works for you guys, then go for it. What is the harm?

Maren - posted on 04/19/2011

My sister-in-law was swaddling her daughter until 7 months for the same reason. She thought she was going to swaddle forever! Then they gave the baby a blanket with a stuffed animal head on the top and she didn't need to be swaddled anymore. You could try that and then your mom would stop. I say, if it works, go with it and tell your mom this is your baby and you decide what's best. You've heard her suggestion and thanks, but no thanks. Hopefully, she'll stop.

Good Luck!

Stifler's - posted on 04/19/2011

You can get sleeping bags but I see no harm in the swaddling. Your mum will get over it! She'll grow out of it soon enough.

Amy - posted on 04/18/2011

oo mothers will do this..it works..is ur mom gonna be up w ur daughter in the middle of the night??? prolly not. keep wraping her...in her day her ma and grandma told her the same sort of things. it is sad.. avoid her at ur baby's bedtime..♥ you sound like a great mama...rock on ..xoxox

Miriam - posted on 04/18/2011

Its your daughter your business do what you want, nothing wrong with that!!

Elizabeth - posted on 04/18/2011

If baby still sleeps well and can get herself out during the night, then i can't see one thing wrong with it. I swaddled my first till she was over 10months old! it's hard to stand up to mom, but it works so "thanks mom, but she likes it... when she fights it i'll stop" :) good luck!!!

Angelica - posted on 04/18/2011

MMy daughter is 16 months and we live with family who hates swaddling but as her mother and her father does it to we swaddle and when our family puts her to sleep they don't. We still do because she likes It.

Colleen - posted on 04/16/2011

I say if it works keep doing it til she's too big to swaddle

Aicha - posted on 04/16/2011

If swaddling works then stick with it you are the child's mother , my ma says if it works use it if not toss it alway stick with what works

Jennifer - posted on 04/15/2011

I have found that babis that like to be swaddled seem to like sleeping bags, so maybe up grade her to a sleeping bag!!! Other then that , just do what works for you, I would suggest swaddling her with her arms out so she can use them in case there is an issue!!

Vanessa - posted on 04/15/2011

I swaddled my son soooo tightly, I thought of it this way in the womb he was used to being all wrapped up in warmth. But when I woke up one day with him all tied up in his swaddle I hyper ventilated. "I had to wean him off his swaddle" lol it was hard in the beginning but he got used to it. I would say stop once they can roll over.

Nikki - posted on 04/15/2011

Just follow her cues, makes life much easier. She will stop in her own time.

Sarah - posted on 04/15/2011

ya i tried not wrapping her up last night and it took about 45 min for her to fall asleep! i know its not that big of a deal but idk im just gonna stick with what i do cause she un wrapps herself like 2 hours into the night

Nikki - posted on 04/15/2011

We stopped at 11 months :)

Sharon - posted on 04/14/2011

I think you need to do what works best for your family.
We stopped swaddling our little man at about 5-6wks cuz he absolutely hated it, and we kept getting told time and time again that he 'needed' to be wrapped up.

Aimee-Grace - posted on 04/14/2011

Once my daughter was rolling over in her sleep, I stopped swaddling her. It made me nervous for her to not be able to use her hands to lift up if needed. Other than that I don't see an issue.