My son is now 4 months old and getting too big for his swaddling blanket. I also would like for him to start sleeping in his own room in his crib. Right now he sleeps in the basinet in our room. My question is did any of you have a problem once you stop using the swaddling method and if you did what did you do that worked? Also I have questions about the self soothing method. I know that you are supposed to put the baby down, sooth them, leave for a couple of min, but when you come back to sooth them are you supposed to pick them up and sooth or just talk to them and pat them and then leave again? Also, I do respect everybodys opinion but please do not respond to these questions if you are going to try to convince me to do otherwise. This is what I have decided to do and I hope that everybody would respect that. Thank you everybody for your time and I look forward to getting responces.
Thank you everybody for your responces. Well monday night the 19th I put him in his crib for the first time to sleep at night with out the swaddle blanket. I was pleasantly surprized. He only woke up once that night and then went right back to sleep after I came in and patted him on the back. Since then he hasn't woke up once during the night. I don't know why but I have been blessed with an easy baby. I know it has only been a couple of nights but I am feeling confident that there are not going to be many sleepless nights. With a few exceptions. Thanks again for your comments.
I couldn't stick with it, but I was advized not to pick up my son after laying him down. sooth him with whatever method you decide on...music, pacifier, bottle of water, singing, etc...
My son will be turning months on the 28th and moved my son into his own room at about 3 months...he did a wonderful job, but I still tuck a blanket around is waist and down to go to sleep. He seemed to adjust well. When he cries you are supposed to let the try and calm down on their own, but if they cry for too long...your choice what too long is.
I started with 10 minutes and lengthened it...then go in and talk to him...try and calm him with your voice and then leave again...to pick him up only makes you have to start all over again in the process...after awhile he will get used to the fact you dont pick him up all the time
hope i helped some
Beth from Chehalis
We weaned my daughter from her swaddle by moving to a half swaddle (one arm only) at nights then for naps. Then eventually we took away the swaddle completely at night then for naps. She tended to sleep better at night and poorly during the day, so that's why we made the change faster at night. She had a very strong startle reflex which finally calmed down when she was about 5-6 months old. We did have to buy a larger swaddling blanket; we bought an Ultimate Swaddling Blanket by Swaddle Designs.
As for soothing, I tried going into the room to pat her back to sleep and picking her up to rock her again and not going back in. For us, the best thing that worked was not going back into the room at all. If we went in she was definitely up.. if we didn't then she sometimes went back to sleep after 10 minutes or so.
Have you tried a sleep positioner? When I took my daughter out of the swaddler, I bought a sleep positioner from babiesrus.com. This worked until she started rolling over then she was fine because she could roll onto her tummy and sleep.
I have no advice with the other half of your question and since my daughter is terrible at putting herself to sleep I'm not a trustworthy resource anyway! :)
My daughter (now 18 months) was in a swaddling blanket until 6 months old. If you want to continue to swaddle him, try two thin blankets wrapped in opposite directions, leaving the feet out if necessary. It bought us a couple months.
If that doesn't work, take a receiving blanket and roll it tightly to resemble a papertowel role. Tape is all the way around with electrical tape or duct tape. Make two rolls. When you lay your son down, tuck a blanket on each side of his body to provide him the security of having something holding him in.
There is also a great book called "The No-cry sleep solution" by Elizabeth Pantley that can provide you tips on teaching your child to sleep on his own (and in his own crib). It took a little time but our daughter goes down without any tears in her own room.
Good luck!
J.,
I used the book "the Baby Whisperer" and it was an awesome guide (although we didn't follow it 100%...you have to decide what works for your child and what doesn't.) It sounds a lot like the method you are using. I found that our son slept better when he wasn't in our room anymore (not only do they wake US up, we wake THEM up!) So putting him in his crib at night is a good idea (although napping in the cradle is still an option during the day.) We made it a point to put our son in his crib while he was still awake so that he could learn to fall asleep on his own. He wasn't too thrilled about it in the beginning, but it has really paid off in the long run, because anytime he wakes up in the middle of the night, he puts himself right back to sleep (in fact, we did this with both of our boys and they are both great at going right back to sleep!) Start out by going in to comfort him after about 5 minutes (rub his back, give kisses, whatever, but DON'T pick him up...or he'll require that everytime.) And then gradually increase the time incriments to 7 minutes, 10 min, 15 min, etc. Eventually, he'll fall asleep waiting. It's hard to hear them cry, so if you can, do a chore or two in between trips into his room...it'll help keep your mind off of it. I think it took us about two weeks to do this, but like I said, it has definately paid off in the long run! And the crying didn't hurt him a bit...he's well adjusted and still loves his parents! Good luck and hang in there!
When you go back to sooth him, try to avoid picking him up because it's just reinforcing his cries for you. Try talking softly and reassuring him with as little physical comfort as possible. It will take awhile, just try to be consistent and offer a little less each time.
I had a little trouble with my son and we kind of weaned him out of it we started by leaving his feet unswaddled and once he got used to that we just kept loosening the arms until he finally got used to not being swaddled tightly then one he got used to sleeping not swaddled then we started him in his own room.
I did self soothing and did not pick my son up unless it was an extreme situation or if I thought something was wrong. I would go back in periodically and talk to him and stroke his back, but then after a minute I would go out even if he was still crying. It is the hardest thing in the world to sit in the next room and listen to your baby cry. I would suggest keeping a clock there so you can time the intervals to keep getting a little longer and longer. Otherwise after thirty seconds you'll swear it's been ten minutes!
My son started sleeping really great after the initial transition. I kept him in a bassinette next to my bed the first 3 months and then switched him straight into the crib with no going back. I don't think I kept swaddling him for long but if I remember correctly I had one of those things that keeps them from rolling over. I would just check on him a lot after he went to sleep to make myself feel better.
I have 2 ideas for making that transition. Move the bassinet to the bedroom and keep him swaddled as a transition. That way not everything is changed at once. If the swaddling blanket is too small use a regular blanket.
My second is based on what my daughter did with my granddaughter who liked to be swaddled and wouldn't sleep easily in her crib. She swaddled her in a regular blanket and put her in her car seat, fastened the straps, and put the car seat in the crib. Apparently she felt more secure. At some point she stopped swaddling her and just put a blanket over her but still put her in her car seat. When she would wake up I'd gently rock the car seat and she'd go back to sleep.
