Bella is not sleeping...

What happened to my dear sweet girl?

as some of you may know, we have been attempting to break the swaddle spell for quite some time. We reverted back when she got sick and well, because she just sleeps 1000X better when she is swaddled...

We've been one arm out for two weeks now as we started back after her ear infection was better. One arm, totally fine. Two arms, and all H E L L breaks loose! The last three nights have been awful. She goes to sleep fine...at 12:30-1ish she starts...Sunday night she was hysterical for 20 minutes and I finally couldn't take it and went in there...she wound up awake for two hours after that until DH gave in and swaddled her one arm out...she slept from 4-8 waking only once.

Last night was a "little" better...she cried from 9:40-9:47 and later on she didn't scream but she whined for a half hour from 2:30-3:00 and was then wide awake at 5:30 am until we gave her the binkie...then she slept until 7:45 am...

Because her sleeping is screwed up she is CRANKY...crying when I leave the room, crying in the carseat and just generally being a crankpot...she has NEVER been like this.

What can I do? Just let her continue to cry and not go in there at night? When swaddled, we would let her CIO and she would never last more than 5-7 minutes at a level 5...on Sunday, she was level 9 for 20 minutes+ and it broke my heart. Have we created a swaddle monster and have I hurt her by having done it so long because she was sleeping so well?

I just am at a loss...my Dad just laughs and said welcome to REAL parenting as we have been spoiled for almost 7 months

HELP!

Message edited 4/4/2006 12:40:34 PM.

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

I really have no advice but I am curious why you would try and break her from swaddling? Is it a bad thing? I always thought that babies loved it and when they outgrow it they let you know.

My daughter hated to be swaddled so I have no experience with this at all.

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

I just thought that 7 months was a little old for her to be swaddled...the doc gave a us a look when we mentioned it at the 6 month appt but didn't say it was terrible...

anyone else have any advice

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

bump anyone?

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

Truthfully... I agree with the above poster...
Let her decide when she dosent wanna be swaddled anymore... its not bad for her, and if thats how she wants to sleep... so be it...


*** I stopped swaddling Ryan @ 2.5-3 months, and he couldnt of cared less...

Message edited 4/4/2006 8:49:44 PM.

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

Maybe it's because they need to build up their stomach & arm muscles??

Heck I'm 37 & I still love being wrapped into a blanket.

For Bella - some sleep vibes:

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

I don't really have any answers for you because Katie stopped wanting to be swaddled at about 8 weeks.

If I was you I would get a straight answer from the ped about whether continuing to swaddle her is really a problem. If she liked it so much I wouldn't want to stop.
to you!

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

Im sorry to hear she is being so cranky! I too swaddle Jacob and he is 3 and a half months old. I tried to set him free one night without it and he also freaked out!!! So back in he went. I also was wondering if there is a timeframe for swaddling. Jacob is an arm flailer still so maybe when his arm coordination gets smoother he wont need it? I also know that swaddling prevents them from that startle reflex which makes them feel like they are falling. So i say swaddle if it makes her happy! Maybe try not to make the swaddle so tight, so that her arms are in, but moveable... Good luck!

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

Oh Kelly, I'm so sorry!!! I guess I was really lucky when I stopped swaddling Logan .

Honestly, if I were you, I would just keep swaddling for now. Try it without swaddling every once in awhile and eventually she will grow out of it .

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

my bella does not like to be swaddled at all. but at 8 months (on saturday)she also rolls on to her belly and will ONLY sleep like that. i think if she is comfortable like that then leave her alone. i hope you all have a better night tonight.

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

well, another night and she was up 3x this night o screaming so I guess that was better...but it's crazy...

and for her morning nap, she slept 13 minutes, yep that's right...
instead of an hour to an hour and a half she slept 13 MINUTES!!!

She is so cranky...I just don't know what to do for her...

half the people say stick to your guns it's an adjustment...half of them say still swaddle...I just don't know...

Re: Bella is not sleeping...

You have to do what is right for you but I do not see swaddling as a bad thing. It is not like you are forming a "bad" habit like needing to be rocked to sleep or needing a bottle before bed. You are just wrapping her in a blanket. I think it is a personal choice but I don't think it will hurt her to be swaddled and I do not see it as a bad thing. She loves it and she sleeps.
Sleep is the most important thing!!!

I rocked Abby to sleep every night for 7 months. I knew I was forming a bad habit but I work and I loved the time we spent alone before bed. I know the feeling that you have when people are looking at you like you are crazy and you feel like you are not doing the right thing but you know your baby best.

I did finally break the rocking habit but it was easy because I think Abby outgrew being rocked to sleep.
Do what you think is best when you think it is best. I am far from an expert but that is my advice.