Swaddling question

[gilder40]

My little one likes to pop her arms out and sleep with them above her head or by her face when swaddled. Did any if you STMs swaddle with arms out? Or always arms in? I have an appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow, so I'm going to ask him as well. Just wanted your thoughts. Thanks!!

[Widget123]

Swaddling with arms out is totally fine Do what baby girl likes as long as it's safe

[lalamomma]

We always did arms in at night. Arms free during the day. Both are safe.

[leenziepops]

You can do the angel swaddle which keeps wrapped up in the position your LO likes. Looks like this using a fancy bag but you can use a basic swaddle to achieve this too

[gilder40]

Thanks y'all. I'd rather wrap her with her arms out so the swaddle stays tight, than wrap her arms-in and have her loosen it trying to free her arms.

[trixi282]

If she likes it that way and sleeps well, then go for it! As PP said, totally safe. Swaddling is more about a secure feeling for baby than safety thing. We swaddled with arms out to transition away from the swaddle. Some babies hate the swaddle all together!

[sordidvolition]

My first always busted out his arms. He hated not having arms free. I switched to sleep sacks pretty quickly

[tatersalad]

My first also loved to sleep with his arms above his head, even when swaddled. I'm so glad Tinsley is home with you!

[tiffbot]

DS was an arms out kinda guy too

[honeybunches101]

Whatever works! DS loved having his arms up by his face too, but only slept with them swaddled down. One of my good friends had a baby who hated the swaddle and started sleepin through the night at 6 weeks!

[silv3rlining]

We didn't swaddle DSs arms for several weeks because he hated it. After a while we were able to swaddle arms in. I think it's just go with the flow. Swaddling arms is supposed to help with the moro (startle) reflex.

[noeliav]

DD was and is a hands-in-face baby, so we gave up on the swaddling in fairly short order Bonus was that we never had to wean from it, lol.

But, to your question, yes you can swaddle arms out. One of the swaddling blankets/things that we had allowed for it.

[missjenniebean]

Miss Thing likes to have hers out as well.

[omgtree]

Ellie is like her sister and likes her hands by her face. I used a halo sleep sack with the swaddle arms and would swaddle with hands by her face and she loved it. I'll do the same with this one when she comes home.

[gilder40]

Thanks y'all! We went to the pediatrician today, and she has gained 2.5oz since we left the NICU! He also said her lungs and heart sound great. Makes this momma feel a little less paranoid for night time. Lol.

[missjenniebean]

Yay for awesome news!

[ktbear]

Glad you had a good appt! DS hated having his arms swaddled too so we always did arms out, but I was always paranoid that I couldn't get it tight that way so we also switched to sleep sacks quickly.

[Deleted]

gilder40, great news!!!! congrats!!!

[Deleted]

May 20, 2015 14:42:13 GMT -5 michyme123 said:

May 20, 2015 14:24:09 GMT -5 noeliav said:

DD was and is a hands-in-face baby, so we gave up on the swaddling in fairly short order Bonus was that we never had to wean from it, lol.

But, to your question, yes you can swaddle arms out. One of the swaddling blankets/things that we had allowed for it.

we never swaddled either. Maybe for a week and that's it? He slept better without.

I'm just curious if you didn't swaddle how did you stop them from getting that startle reflex that wakes them up when they are on their back?  maybe DS just had a strong startle reflex because if i didn't swaddle he was up every hour with the startle reflex. 

[Deleted]

May 20, 2015 17:36:55 GMT -5 michyme123 said:

May 20, 2015 17:24:32 GMT -5 @poppyc8 said:

I'm just curious if you didn't swaddle how did you stop them from getting that startle reflex that wakes them up when they are on their back?  maybe DS just had a strong startle reflex because if i didn't swaddle he was up every hour with the startle reflex. 

for some reason he mostly just slept right through it so we never found it affected him much. Who knows what this little one will be like though! Lol

wow that's awesome! a few of my friends have had babies like this too. I can start dreaming now.

[Flick]

What kind of blanket is okay for baby to sleep with in the crib or bassinet? I know not to put anything in there with baby until a year old, but if she's swaddled I'm guessing that the blanket doesn't count? Should it be thinner or is a thick blanket okay too for winter time?

[trixi282]

May 20, 2015 18:47:13 GMT -5 Flick said:

What kind of blanket is okay for baby to sleep with in the crib or bassinet? I know not to put anything in there with baby until a year old, but if she's swaddled I'm guessing that the blanket doesn't count? Should it be thinner or is a thick blanket okay too for winter time?

Not sure I'm understanding your question, but if you're asking about the swaddling blanket, they are not thick to begin with, and it's not recommended to use any additional blankets in the crib at all.

As for the swaddle, once baby gets to big or starts to break free from the blanket swaddle you should stop using the blanket.  We used the SwaddleMe's from like day 2 because my DD would kick out the swaddle.  They're great for transitioning out of a swaddle, or just for those who don't get the hang of swaddling well from the start.

Either way, besides a swaddle, there shouldn't be blankets in the crib with baby.

[Flick]

trixi282 I thought you could swaddle with any blanket, not just the swaddle me ones I'm apparently very unprepared for this whole mom thing.
ETA tag.

[dogmama22]

Our hospital doesn't recommend any blankets at all anymore. They put each baby in a sleep sack from day one and we were told in class that they recommend all babies have their arms free. Typically, I'm a worrier and a rule follower, but I see no harm in using the swaddles that secure the arms until LO learns to roll over. We won't be using any actual blankets for sleep.

[trixi282]

Flick, that's what receiving blankets are for (both cotton and muslin), and swaddling is not recommended with thicker blankets, nor does a swaddle hold well with a thicker blanket. It's not really necessary either, even when cold.

I personally prefer the SwaddleMe's anyway, because they're easy, fast, and basically fool proof.

[Flick]

I have a bunch of swaddle me's I was planning on using, but thought I could use the thicker plush blankets to swaddle as well. Thanks for helping me out with all the info! (:

[tulips114]

Agree with PPs, totally fine to swaddle with arms out, or just switch to a sleep sack.

Neither of mine liked to be swaddled so we just went with it. Just one less thing to have to worry about weaning from later.

[gilder40]

May 20, 2015 18:47:13 GMT -5 Flick said:

What kind of blanket is okay for baby to sleep with in the crib or bassinet? I know not to put anything in there with baby until a year old, but if she's swaddled I'm guessing that the blanket doesn't count? Should it be thinner or is a thick blanket okay too for winter time?

I've been using the receiving blankets that are a little "stiffer" than other blankets. I usually swaddle Tins up in two blankets, each one swaddled separately. The NICU nurses said it would be okay because she can get cold easily and was having a hard time regulating her temperature. The super soft receiving blankets don't hold the swaddle well for me, and they're more stretchy...so they seem to loosen fairly fast. Makes me a little uncomfortable.