swaddle Question

My nurse told me the other day that swaddling at this age is very dangerous. She said there is nothing to keep them from rolling over and that the sheer weight alone can cause them to roll over and then suffocate. I was a little freaked out by this and so we tried no swaddle last night. It was awful. My DS freaked about it. He sleeps through the night, but without the swaddle he was awake in the middle of the night screaming and nothing could console him. Finally we gave in and swaddled him. I don't know what to do. Anyone else had this situation? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have never heard that but I can understand what she is saying. FWIW we stopped swaddling about 3 months or so and for about the last month we swaddled them with their arms out. Maybe that is a good compromise for you to feel safe that they can protect themselves and still be swaddled. Just a thought??

 

That's odd for her to say. If swaddling was so bad, why would they swaddle all babes in the hospital? I have never heard that before at all, and the books I have say it is good. I really don't see how they could roll all the way over to suffocate.

You could swaddle w/ arms out, or 1 arm out if you want - though for my girls that would defeat the purpose

 

I have never heard of that..... I have swaddled both boys - and my id girls are both being swaddled.... If you are worried about them rolling over - you could try rolling up a towel or something to that effect and placing it alongside them from about underarm height downwards (if that makes sense) - this is like a barrier for them and would prevent them from rolling over....

 

it would be hard for them to roll over if they are swaddled but if you are concerned and want to swaddle them, use the sleep wedges/positioners so they can't turn over.

 

I swaddled Cate until she was 6 months with NO problem. She started to roll over at 5 months.
I think you would be fine. I don't really see how they could turn over in the swaddle, it takes a LOT of effort & coordination to roll over the first few times. Or try it with the arms out.

Just my 2c.

 

Our NICU said that when swaddling we should make sure the arms can come free. This is to help with overheating and arms free allows them to cool down if needed

 

I have also never heard that swaddling at 3 months is dangerous - if they're nowhere near rolling, it shouldn't be an issue. But I haven't seen nearly as many babies in my life as your nurse and I haven't read the literature.

If you're still concerned, know that there is a transition period out of swaddling. It took us about a week when we stopped at 4 or 5 months, and there were some very bad nights for up to a month later where I gave in and swaddled one when he was really frantic. It took them a while to feel safe when they woke up unwrapped. Swaddling with one arm out, then both arms out, is a nice way to get them more comfortable gradually.