Rolling in the Swaddle

[Grace's Mom]

My DD Grace just turned 6 months on Monday.  Tuesday when my dh went to get her from her 2nd nap she was happily on her belly and swaddled (awake)....she sleeps on her back.  Today when I heard her wake up from her 1st nap she had done the same thing by the time I went in to get her (she slept on her back but when she woke flipped over).  To me this seems like a bit of a hazard.  Is it time to wean the swaddle?  She is only swaddled at nap time.  She is very spirited at times and is a huge wiggle worm so I am not sure the best way to go about it with her.  I do have 2 sleep sacks, but I live in Florida, USA and they are fleece and I am afraid they will be to hot, but I can't find any other kinds.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Melissa

[Grace's Mom]

Just one more thing to add....I don't know if this makes a difference at all but she still uses a paci at nap and bed time. 
Thank you.

[estherofi20]

they sell some sleep sacks at babies r us that are not of fleece, perhaps you can try that. But i do thi nk its time to wean the swaddle. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2317659&cp=&f=Taxonomy%2FTRUS%2F2255957&origkw=sleep+sacks&kw=sleep+sacks&parentPage=search

HTH

[Grace's Mom]

Should I just go cold turkey and place her in the sleep sack?  Or should I let one arm out at a time.  Her feet/legs have been out of the swaddle for months. 

Thank you.
Melissa

[estherofi20]

well you can try to put her arms inside the sleep sack, that way she will have more freedom, and after a few days, just leave her arms out. When i weaned the swaddle i used the tuck, here is the explanation Swaddle alternative

HTH

[Grace's Mom]

I love your sleepy time pictures estherofi20.  Grace is way too wiggly for that unfortunately.  For her first nap I put her in her swaddle with on arm out and she fell right to sleep but then when she woke she rolled.  For her second nap I got adventurous and put her in the grow bag.  I thought it would never work because she was moving all over the place, arms were going, legs were kicking, feet were in her mouth, she was chewing on the grow bag.  I tried putting her arms in it but she got them out immediately.  She did however fall asleep but woke 30 minutes later and won't go back to sleep.  She normally sleeps 1.5 hours this go round.  With a wiggly little one like this do I just have to give her time to get use to it and deal with shorter naps for awhile?

Mel

[estherofi20]

  With a wiggly little one like this do I just have to give her time to get use to it and deal with shorter naps for awhile?

well yep, i guess she will get used to the freedom herself. Now my DS is a wiggly one and he only likes to go to sleep with the sleep sack and he moves around the crib, so i think thatīs the only thing to do with a squirmy sleeper on your hands  

[Grace's Mom]

Today's naps have been horrible with out the swaddle.  1st lasted only 30 minutes and then she cried for an hour due to being over tired from only getting 30 minutes.  2nd nap last only 15 minutes and that was after it took 10 minutes to get her to relax and fall asleep at all.  She is soooo overtired.      
she just keeps rolling over and over and over, no matter how much she hates being on her belly and just won't go back to sleep. Her arms and legs just move way too much.   

We'll keep you updated.

Mel

[estherofi20]

mel, some babies like to be swaddled till 7 or 8 months... maybe your LO is one of them ?

[rinajack]

Mel, did you see my lovie suggestion.  Her arms need something to do.

I know you said Grace doesn't like to sleep on her tummy, but keeps rolling there.  I wonder if you put her on her tummy at the start if it would be different?  Or if that would trick her into rolling to her back?

Maybe without the swaddle she needs a longer wind down - maybe a story or something to help her be more still? I often do a story with the dummy in to help calm Zara before she is to sleep.

[riuliani]

My little guy is 3.5 months and has been rolling from his back to his tummy for a couple weeks now.  Today he figured out how to roll from his tummy to his back.  I was astounded.  I was also worried about the safety of the swaddle.  He generally obliterates the swaddle about 20 minutes into his sleep.  He is also a mover and a shaker in his sleep.  I would find him all over the place with his legs and arms sticking through the slats.  I tried to wean him from the swaddle by leaving one arm out.  I had the same experience in that he fell asleep okay but would wake up shortly after.  He is usually a very good napper.  Eventually I had to go back to a complete swaddle (we have always used the Aussie Swaddle because of his squiggling).  I now swaddle him and use the tuck.  It is a lot warmer for him which may not work for you.  We are in Canada and the nights are getting close to zero degrees, so warmth is good.  I found using the swaddle and the tuck fulfilled his need to help him sleep but prevented him from rolling around so easily.  Just a thought.

[Grace's Mom]

Rina...we have a lovey, but she just takes it and wackes it all over the place, thowing it, hitting herself with it, rolling over on it      What a silly girl I have.

I would love to keep swaddling but shouldn't I stop due to her rolling over in it?  Or is it not that big of a concern?  She has amazing head control.  The thing I worry about is her getting wrapped up in it  We use the miracle blanket because from day one she was able to get out of a swaddle (with the miracle blanket...there is one long piece on the right that gets wrapped around her twice and her arms are secured and she can't get them out)....strong lo.  Should I leave one arm out and keep the other arm in?  We keep her legs out of it, so it would mainly be so that her arms weren't all crazy.  It does help her settle better. 

Riuliani....thanks for the great idea and I wish I could swaddle and tuck in.  I do think the swaddle and tuck in would be  a bit warm for us.  We put her in her swaddle with just her diaper and she is so sweaty by the end of her nap and that's with the fan on, legs out and the AC on. 

Well, should I keep swaddling or not? 
-Her Cat nap went a bit better yesterday.  It did take her 20 minutes to go to sleep instead of 1 minutes like normal and she actually slept for 1 hour but that's because the rest of the day she only got maybe an hour of sleep (normally 3 hours) and I noticed she had the paci in her mouth the entire time which helps her stay asleep longer (we try not to encourage that...keeping the paci in the whole time). 

[rinajack]

I am not sure about keep swaddling or stop.  I haven't swaddled so I don't know.

But, have you considered putting her on her side to fall asleep.  Only one arm would be able to go crazy then.

Also have you considered losing the swaddle and tucking a cotton sheet in really tight over her to limit her arm movement a bit.

[Grace's Mom]

This is going to sound crazy, but I don't have an extra sheet at the moment.  I would have to go buy one so for today that won't work.  But the idea is GREAT.
-She does sleep some of the time on her side.  I will give it a try today (if I don't decided to just give in and swaddle  ).  Thanks.

Mel

[Katie]

mel did you know grobags come in different togs warmth) and there is a summer one?? just thought i'd let you know as thats what we use now.  Katie x