Swaddling for sleeping - arms in or out?

Our twins are almost 4 months old and (I think) are overall fairly good sleepers. We use the Halo swaddle sleepsacks for both their night sleep and their naps. We used to leave their arms out but that made it much more difficult for them to go to sleep; some nights it would take 5-6 tries each. So their arms have been swaddled for a while, but they are starting to fight it more and more as they get bigger and more aware. Sometimes they are so squirmy in their sleepsacks that it keeps them awake for a while. But if we take their arms out, they just wave their arms around and hit themselves in the head. So I am not really sure what to do.

Has anyone else gone from arms in to arms out and, if so, how old were your babies when you did that? I think once they can roll over from their back to their stomach, we will have no choice but to keep their arms out - is that generally true?

Thanks.

 

Really it's however they sleep better. If their flailing arms are still keeping them awake, keep their arms in for awhile. You can swaddle for quite some time, you just might have to get more creative about how you swaddle My twins were around 5-6 months when we graduated from the swaddle and moved to just sleep sacks. I started swaddling them a little lower down, so when they squirmed enough they could break out of the swaddle. Then I let one arm free for a few days, and then the second one. Then we switched to sleep sacks. I have heard of some people keeping the swaddle until closer to 9 months or even a year, but you have to start swaddling with a bigger/stretchier blanket when they get bigger! :lol:

 

We use(d) the Halo swaddle sacs too. One baby started to roll @ 5.5 months and was ready to "graduate" to arms out too. We knew this because he would start his sleeps arms in and end up arms out by the end (without waking himself up). We did one arm for a few days then both. With the other guy, we figured if his bro could do it, so could he. We started with one arm out, then two but he just kept waking up. His is still on one arm out and it works. He is starting to wiggle the other out so maybe he'll be ready soon. Good luck!

 

If you can get away with them sleeping with their arms free, do it! The more transitions the harder it will be. My youngest slept with his arms free from birth. I do not think the twins would have managed that.

 

I have to start with 1 arm out for Annabelle. She loves her swaddle but is in the 92% for height and very strong and can bust out of them. I have the bigger sized Swaddle Me but it's too small and she's broken it (pushed it so much it's got a hole). Sigh. I don't relish doing this.

 

Thanks, everyone. I hadn't thought about starting with one arm out. Lilah consistently breaks free of the swaddle (she loves to sleep with her arms over her head) so last night we got her to sleep with her arms out and she slept through the night (not the first time, but it is pretty rare)! Adira is another story - she can be tough to get to sleep in the evening. I think I will start putting her down with one arm out for a more gradual transition.