Is swaddling harmful?

My DD is 12 weeks old and will only sleep long stretches if swaddled. In the middle of the night I hear her trying to get out of it, but she usually gives up and goes back to sleep. If she's not swaddled, she'll be up every few hours.

I just feel bad because she does try to get out but if she's not like that, she won't sleep. What would you do? Do you think she's ready to come out? Usually by the morning she hsas one arm out but I am now using that velcro swaddle blanket and she usually stays in that.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

I had my son swaddled in the miracle blanket until he was five months old. It's not harmful, they just say to only swaddle them when they are sleeping so they can develop their motor skills

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

According to many Dr.'s swaddling is natural. It is what the baby is used to ans they actually feel more secure. Read The Happiest Baby in The Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. He talks about the importance of swaddling and other neat facts.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

i had ds swaddled in the velcro swaddle me blankets for a while and when he started to be able to break out i switched to the miracle blanket. it was a lifesaver! he also only slept well when he was swaddled. some babies just need it. i think we swaddled until at least 4 months. if it works for you, i'd keep doing it. obviously if you had the baby swaddled 24 hours a day it would be harmful to their motor development, but just for sleeping it's perfectly fine.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Yeah I never swaddle her for naps= only at night and she sleeps really well in this blanket. I don't even make it that tight so if she really struggles, she can get out. But do you think she wants to get out if she's trying to get her arms out? Because once she does that, she wakes up and cries!

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

My kids loved to be swaddled but with thier arms out. They even pulled them out in the NICU all the time.

We found that towokr for us so they would be swaddled but still able to move and would sleep great.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

DD can only sleep at night if she is swaddled, otherwise she hits herself in the face with flailing arms. I always hear her grunting while trying to escape, but I've noticed once she gets one arm out she's wide awake and crying. I LOVE THE SWADDLE.

I'm still doing it with a receiving blanket (she got out of the velcro ones in minutes )...what is the Miracle Blanket? Is it stronger then the velcro ones? I hate having to swaddle her myself with the blanket, sometimes I get it tight enough and sometimes I don't.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Posted by Charly

DD can only sleep at night if she is swaddled, otherwise she hits herself in the face with flailing arms. I always hear her grunting while trying to escape, but I've noticed once she gets one arm out she's wide awake and crying. I LOVE THE SWADDLE.

I'm still doing it with a receiving blanket (she got out of the velcro ones in minutes )...what is the Miracle Blanket? Is it stronger then the velcro ones? I hate having to swaddle her myself with the blanket, sometimes I get it tight enough and sometimes I don't.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Posted by Charly

DD can only sleep at night if she is swaddled, otherwise she hits herself in the face with flailing arms. I always hear her grunting while trying to escape, but I've noticed once she gets one arm out she's wide awake and crying. I LOVE THE SWADDLE.

I'm still doing it with a receiving blanket (she got out of the velcro ones in minutes )...what is the Miracle Blanket? Is it stronger then the velcro ones? I hate having to swaddle her myself with the blanket, sometimes I get it tight enough and sometimes I don't.

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Bella was swaddled until 8 1/2 months--the last two was one arm out (NOT my choice) and she is JUST fine.

My ped thought is was funny...and said it was completely fine...

Re: Is swaddling harmful?

Thanks girls!