My 11 week old daughter has been swaddled from birth for naps and nighttime sleeping. We also use a sleep positioner and put her on her side/stomach at a bit of an angle. She seems to sleep pretty well like this. My question is how I wean her off both these "helpers" when she starts rolling over and I should no longer swaddle her. I've heard you can wean them from swaddling by leaving one arm out and then both and then nothing at all. But, what about the sleep positioner? Since she's "anchored" on her side/stomach, how do I lay her without it? Do I put her on her stomach then? Do I put her on her back? Since she's never really slept on her back I'm afraid she'll feel pretty "lost" laying there trying to get to sleep on her back. And I'm not sure I want her on her stomach with just one arm free. She can already lift up her head and chest when on her stomach.
Just so you know (if you don't do this, please don't respond and tell me how awful it is that I do) I do let her cry to sleep - she goes to bed awake but sleepy and will fuss or cry for about 5-10 minutes (usually not more than five now) and then put herself to sleep. We do have a rocking/singing/bedtime routine for naps and nighttime too to help her wind down.
Have any of you been in the same situation? I'm more concerned about how to position her without the positioner and what has worked best for some others with the same issues.
Thanks!
V.
There isn't really a reason to wean off either of these. We stopped using the positioner when my daughter could roll over on her own. We continued swaddling her until she wriggled out of it (about 6mos). We had no problem stopping the use of either one. She'll let you know when she's ready. :)
I say, if it works don't change it. You aren't hurting her by swaddling her and using your sleep positioner, they are comforts to her. I promise one day she'll tire of them and will wiggle free, then you'll know not to do it anymore. Keep in mind you won't be doing this until she's 16, and for now, if that's what it takes to make her feel secure in her own bed I say go for it!
why would you take these things away if they are causing no problem. she will eventually want to be free from the swaddling and will push her way out of it when she's ready. unless you have some reason that you want her to be done with these things then i would say let her have a good sleep with whatever helps her achieve it. good luck
I wouldn't put her on her tummy until she has learned to sleep completely unswaddled and can lift her head up well. My son slept swaddled on his back/side until about 7 weeks and then he refused to be swaddled and wanted to sleep on his stomach, so I really didn't have to wean him off the swaddle. I would suggest just leaving an arm free, but keeping her on her side and then try leaving both arms out and eventually she will probably get used to it. One rule of thumb for infants is to be patient and just give it a few days:) It can be rough at first, but they get used to new things pretty fast. And I do not judge you for letting her fuss before bed...I follow the same practice and all my kids have had healthy sleep patterns and have slept through the night by 2 months old, so I think it works like a charm:) Good luck with your baby girl!
Hi. I swaddled my daughter for 5 months. She slept really well and I did not want to mess with it. Why are you thinking of unswaddling her? My daughter started breaking out of her swaddle so we stopped it. At night time i put her on her back. They say "Back is Best" but i would let her nap on her belly. She loves her belly. Once she learned how to roll over (about 6 months)I started putting her on her belly. (because she would just roll there anyway). I would remove the positioner first and she how she does. Try not to do too many changes at once. I would swaddle her and lay her on her back. Then in a few weeks try unswaddling her. GOOD LUCK.
My daughter was swaddled until she was 9 months when she weaned herself from it. I say don't change it. You are not doing any harm in keeping her swaddled and using the sleep positioner.
There is no reason to take either away if they are helping her sleep. I had read all the articles about weaning and at what age. Our pedi was also hasseling me about getting my 4 month old out of his swaddle and positioner. All it did was lead to about 2 weeks of sleep deprivation for all 3 of us. We're back in both now and he sleeps much better again. She will grow out of both when she is ready.
My 7 month old still loves to be swaddled for naptimes and bedtimes. As she's grown, we've just adapted the swaddle blanket (we use The Miracle Blanket) by leaving 1 arm out, etc. If you're little one is sleeping great, there's no reason to take her 'comforts' away.
I do remember when my 1st child started inching his way down his sleep positioner, that's when we decided to move it out and just lay him on his back.
So maybe just watch you baby's clues....when she starts moving around alot and trying to get out of swaddle.
you really dont have to wean these things.. your daughter will get to the next developmental stage.. and then she wont need them anymore..
pretty soon she will be able to use her hands.. and she wont want them tucked in a blanket..
once she can rollover there is no need for asleep positioner...
they recommend all babies sleep on their back.. so put her onher back.. but if she can roll ove than she will roll to a position that she ismore comforable..
I just took my 9 mo out of the sleep pos. also- She felt pretty lost but can roll over it and stand up well. So I just lay her on her side against the crib and pat her for a few sec and walk away- she fusses for 30 sec and is fast asleep. I took her out of swaddle at about 3 mos and now she sleeps in a sleep bag. She could stand up at 5 mos and crawled- so the bag prevents her from running around the crib and helps her calm down to sleep. Hope this helps!
