5-month-old can't sleep without being swaddled

[Anonymous]

If swaddling helps, keep swaddling. No need to stop now. Babies will eventually start wriggling out and that's when you can transition from arms out to sleepsack or no swaddle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is five months old, and we've been swaddling her since day one. Our ped's been telling us that now it's time to stop swaddling and just put her down in a sleep sack. Trouble is, she's kicking her legs up trying to get out of her sleep sack. And of course, she's not sleeping at all. The only way to get her to sleep is to wrap her really tight in a Miracle blanket (it's getting too small now, but we don't have an alternative to it).

Did anyone have a similar experience? How long did you continue swaddling? I'm worried that I'm impeding her motor skills development, but at the same time, I do need her to get a good night's sleep.

TIA!

SWADDLE HER!!!! My goodness! I don't even know why your ped would say this. Keep at it. In a little while, try going w/o it slowly: first an arm, then two, etc. If it's working then just go with it.

[Anonymous]

Switch first to a looser swaddle - like the halo sleep sack that has velcro to keep the arms down. Then they get used to the feel of the sleep sack. Do that for a week, then try taking away the part that holds down the arms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm.. why does your ped think your child shouldn't be swaddled? I would get another ped! Babies are all different and I would do what makes my baby feel safe. I swaddled our little one until about 18 months. Yes.. 18 months! I mean tighty like we did as a newborn., It didn't hurt anyone and he loved it.You are the parent and you know your child better than anyone! Our child is well adjusted, happy, sleep through the night child. As a parent.. GO WITH YOUR GUT! I would stop asking people for their advice as you are bound to get many different opinons, Go with what is best for your child and what makes them happy. Only YOU know what that is. I would also stop worrying about what everyone else's child is and isn't doing. All children are different and if your child wants to swaddle.. swaddle!

There can be issues with swaddling too much and too tightly. It can interfere with the normal development of the hip joint and lead to hip dysplasia. At some point they need to learn to sleep without being swaddled. I'm not saying it's appropriate for everyone to stop at 2 months, but 18 months is an incredibly long time. It seems as though most people stop between 5-7 months. I would start with unswaddling the legs first (yes, the opposite of what most people say), then do 1 arm, then both arms.