Swaddling Headache

Hi H., I had the same headache when my little guy was that age. I slowly tried to ween him from the swaddle by wrapping him in it with his arms out. It didn't work at first but we kept trying (start with naps first) and eventually he was fine in a sleep sack. Good luck!

I bought what is called a sleep positioner The brand I bought was sassy. I bought it about 4 years ago from Kmart. If you go to Amazon.com and search for "sleep positioner" you can see other ones. It is really handy because it is just soft fabric and it makes it so they can't roll over like that. Mine also had velcro on it so that I could make it narrow or wider as I wanted it. I loved mine and used it with both of my kids. It worked really well.

Try using one of those baby positioners that looks like a wedge on both sides to keep him from rolling over.

You can buy a wedge. A wedge is just two foam pieces that lay in the crib and you put your baby between the two wedges it cost about $10 check Target, WalMart, babies r Us andy of those. We use one for our daughter and it works great. Hope it helps

Well I am no expert, but if he is rolling over at 4 months then I would say swaddling him has to go- especially if he was face down. I mean that is what they think leads to SIDS- or at least one of the ways. I don't think you are being paranoid... you are being smart!
I know we all were put on our tummies and we made it, but more and more the research shows that it is just unsafe and if he can't get his arms out to help and he won't turn his head, I think you just have to take him out of the swaddle.

It for sure will be harsh on him, but he will learn.
I stopped swaddling my little girl very early on because I didn't want her to get used to it and I am so glad I did.
I don't have any good advice on how to break him of it, but I assume you will have a few sleepless nights ahead.

One thing you can do since he is used to being warm is get those blanket sleepers. My little one sleeps in those and it nice and warm all night long...
Good luck.

After reading all of the responses and remembering when my kids were babies, I would combine what everyone has said. I say, use the sleep sack PJs and the foam cushions that keep you baby from rolling over in bed. I used both and although my kids loved to be swaddled and my husband was so proud to be the king of swaddling, (seriously, I couldn't do it as well as he could) both kids transitioned well to this. I remember being a first time mommy and it was scary trying to figure out what the right thing to do was. You're lucky, I didn't have this site for help!

I cant remember what these thigs are called but you can get them at walmart in the baby section. They look like wedges and you can place them on each side of your baby so they cant roll over. They range in price from 10-24 dollars. I use them with my daughter and its great. She rolled over without being swaddled at 4 weeks old I Immediatley went and got one it scared me so bad. She hasnt rolled since then but Im not taking my chances.

Hi H.,
My baby used to be the same way. He absolutely loved being swaddled and I didn't think he would sleep any other way. Around 4 months though, we started having the same problem as you, so I started putting him to bed in a sleep sack instead. He actually transitioned to that really well. I would definitely abandon the swaddling at this point. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry too much, little ones tend to tuck their heads down a little so that they can still breathe. You might try rolling up a receiving blanket and laying it in front of him so he can't roll over all the way.

There are special "pillows" that are supposed prevent children from rolling over at night. I bought one from Target for my son when he was just a baby. It kept him on his back, even when he was able to roll over, and he was a "swaddle me" baby as well.

I'm not sure what you are swaddling your son in, but have you tried the Halo swaddling/sleep sacks? The swaddling feature is removable, but there is enough space for his legs to move around so it lessens his chance of possible kicking out and causing him to roll over.

I'm just throwing out some suggestions.

You could also call your pediatrician for any suggestions.

I hope you find your answer soon!

P.
mamas2mamas.com

H.,

If your baby is starting to roll over, then I would stop
swaddling him at night.

I personally would be afraid he would smother himself also.

You can tuck his covers around him so he feels just as snug.

good luck dear.

Hi. My baby is eight months old now and still needs to be swaddled at night. What I've started doing, though, is just wrapping up her legs and feet, not her arms. She has taken to that pretty well, and she can roll over so I don't worry so much. I use the special swaddling blankets with Velcro tabs on them, and I put her in two layers so she'll stay wrapped up. Hope this might help.

My children loved being swaddled too, and we ran into the same problem once they started to roll over. My attitude is better safe than sorry, so that's when we started putting them in warm, snuggly pajama sleepers instead of swaddling.

We used the bumpers with our DS and he slept swaddled until 6 months. He had no problem transitioning even though I was terrified he might. First night he just rolled over and went to sleep. You never would have been able to guess that for 6 months he'd been swaddled anytime he was sleeping (and sometimes awake).

Everyone's already said what I was going to say! My son absolutely LOVED to be swaddled, but after a horrible night when he was just over four months old (it was like he was a newborn again...sigh), we decided to try an experiment and put him in a sleep sack (we'd used the sleep positioner thing since his birth because he had reflux). Wouldn't you know it, he slept the longest he'd ever slept at once that night. And he never looked back--no more swaddling, and his sleep improved dramatically. Once he learned to roll over both ways, we started putting him on his stomach to sleep because he sleeps so much better that way--he's like his mommy in that regard. I don't know if any of this helps, but that's how it was for us! Good luck!

My first baby needed to be swaddled to sleep until he was 9 months old! I just used a sleep positioner. That kept him on his back and swaddled.

Hi H.!

My little guy just started rolling over too and I also swaddled. I just modified the swaddle for a few days (kept it loose on the arms), then moved to swaddle him with his arms free so he still had that secure feeling. There were a few nights I would have to go in and rub his back or chest to get him back to sleep. Overall he adjusted fairly quickly to having his arms free. Once he did I started using a sleep sack. There is no way I can keep him from rolling over swaddled or not now unless I duct tape him to his matress!

Good luck!

We used to have to swaddle my 9 month old as well (and as tight as we could) and it was the only way she would sleep. But when she started moving around and rolling over, I realized it was time to stop because I was worried she would suffocate. So then I was afraid she would never sleep as well as she used to now that I wasn't swaddling her, but it only took a few nights of restless sleep before she got used to it. And now we have no problem putting her in the crib, she rolls over (now she only sleeps on her tummy) and she goes right to sleep.

I would stop swaddling him and get the pillow that keeps him from rolling over. Also, If he is ready to roll over there is not much you can really do to stop it. Kids grow up and surprise us.

H.,
When my oldest daughter was an infant, they had these wedges that had material in the middle between the two wedges that you put the baby laying down with in bed so they can sleep on their side, but not go completely over. That might be worth trying. THat is scary to find babies face down without their head turned! Best of luck with this issue.

I freaked out when my dd rolled over at night too...the doc told me once they can roll they can roll--the risk for SIDS drops dramatically at that point. that helped relieve my mind somewhat...we went to the swaddle me blanket and then to a sleep sack with my dd--that way she wasn't kicking her blanket off at night and getting cold.

H.: My first child was the Swaddle king, he loved to be swaddled and slept so much better that way. We have these foam pillows we bought from First years. they are attached with velcro to a small cloth you put them as far apart as needed on either side of the baby and it prevents them from rolling over. Hope this is helpful I am sure a baby store will carry them or kid to kid might have them. Best of luck.

Try letting him nap without being swaddled and see what happens.
I used the back positioner for both of my kids, for my daughter she stayed on her back until way after 7 mos, She however would scoot on her back and got herself stuck under one of the bumpers. I cleared the crib then of everything! Then my son was stronger and unswaddled himself and was on his stomach to sleep by 4 mos. The Pediatrician told me if that he is strong enough to get on his stomach to not swaddle him and leave him be. I kept trying the sleep positioner under him but he got over it, not sure how, but still ended up on his stomach. I finally had to just let him sleep on his stomach as he slept well and I couldn't force him on his back.
Once they are strong enough to flip themselves around or move, it is time to stop swaddling.
You are very lucky he sleeps through the night, very rarely do 4 mos old do that!! Layer his clothes so he is warm but take everything out of his crib now too, bumpers and all.
Try a sleep blanket too. Those are great.

Use the wedges that someone suggested. Or just roll a receiving blanket so that it acts as a wedge - put it on either side of your infant so he can't physically roll. You'll be fine.