Swaddling - Austin,TX

Swaddling while she is sleeping or needs the closeness of her arms to her body is GREAT for her. However, you could/should start giving her some tummy time... she will reach out and try to get toys and even push up when she is ready... Swaddling helps babies to re-center themselves and sleep better.

Hugs!

J.

Why don't you swaddle her once she is in a deep sleep loosen the blanket so she can move around or even take it off. This way she still moves and is learning but still gets th swaddling she is used to and loves.

Dont stress. My daughter was swaddled until she was 6months old. Just do more tummy time and work with her. My daughter went to gymboreen whiched helped her crawl and walk and climb. She was quick at rolling over and holding her head. She did that with a few mins old. But climbing was hard for her since we had no stairs.. Think about some playgroup time and that should help.. you dont need to stop the swaddling enless thats how she is all day and I dont think thats the case.. Good luck J.

Swaddling your baby at bed time should not effect her being able to push up. little ones are all difrent, so dont panic if she is not doing it right when the books says she should.

Everyone has given great advice. Something to mention to your MIL is that if the baby sleeps on her back she won't be having time to push up with her arms anyway- the swaddling doesn't have anything to do with that. Tummy time is the best way to develop the motor skills and muscle building.
S., mom to four girls

Never ever listen to your mother - in - law or your mother for that matter. Your child will do what she needs to do when the time is right. If it helps your peace of mind use a boppy with toys in front for tummy time and that will help her build muscle strength and coordination for raising up. Babies work on their own time and we as moms need to enjoy what is working while it is working. I am a mom of 3 (almost 4) I am the director of a preschool (infants - pre-K) and owned my own home daycare for many years. My home daycare babies started with me as early as six weeks. Don't worry relax - ask your dr. if you should be worried and tell your mother in law with confidence "the pediatrician is not worried and neither am I. The baby is just fine!!!

I would ask your doctor at her 4-month old visit...or give him/her a call. He/she can tell you what to worry about re: developmental milestones. My second child, a boy, is about to be 6 months in a couple weeks and I try not to compare him to my first-who did everything early...except talk. My pediatrician has been really good about telling me when to worry...i.e. not hitting milestones. As far as the swaddling goes, I really doubt that would have anything to do with it since I assume you are putting her asleep on her back as recommended. Just keep doing tummy time and engaging her while you do and I'm sure she will start pushing up when she decides it's time!

Don't mess with a sleeping arrangement that is working!

Why not trying to extend tummy time during the day?

My 5 month old is not rolling over and the peditrician said not to worry. Those things are happening later nowadays because of the babies sleeping on their backs.

I swaddled my son for several months and it didn't hinder his crawling in any way. If anything his was ahead of the curve for kids his age. It was the only way I could get him to sleep. Just make sure to encourage tummy time when you can and maybe exercise his arms and legs every now and then. Use it as mommy and baby time.

My 5 1/2 month old is still being swaddled and she does not sleep the same without! At 4 months I don't think she was really pushing herself up like she does now but every baby developes at a different rate. It's very important to give them tummy time and actually get down and play with them. My daughter has been sleeping through the night (between 10 and 12 hrs) since she was less than 6 weeks old and I owe that to her being swaddled. My suggestion is to have more tummy time and if you are really concerned with her development, talk to your pedi at your next visit or give them a call. If your daughter is sleeping well being swaddled, don't give that up, she will grow out of it eventually but it's security for her right now.

Swaddling is snuggly, but it is also restricting, which is okay if you don't want their arms fighting back when you are trying to give them medicine, etc. What I used to do with my baby is put her in her bed and then tuck in the ends of the top sheets into her mattress sides. That way she is snuggled and feels secure and yet could still move her arms to reposition herself.
Linda C

Babies develop at different rates. MILs have good intentions, but do not always know everything.

Sounds to me like your baby just needs some more tummy time during play, and some patience. Swaddling is not hindering your baby's development. It makes her feel secure and safe, which is important for her development. It helps her sleep, which is important for development.

My daughter seemed content to lie down with her little cheek on the floor, even though I knew she could push up with her arms. At 4 months I knew she could do it, she had done it a few times, but didn't prefer to do it. Now (at 7 months) she's constantly on those arms.

When she's on her tummy, it's a good idea to be just out of her eyesight sometimes to encourage her to push up, pick her head up, roll over, etc. (in front of her, beside her). I liked to put her on her tummy on the Boppy sometimes (with me always in attendance) as it gave her a leg up (or arms, as it was!). I also did a lot of "tummy time" with her on my chest. She loved it, and she needed to push up to see my face. I think that helped her development a lot!

I TRULY don't think swaddling is hindering your baby. We JUST stopped swaddling at 7 months, but my baby has been pushing up for months now. Don't stop something that is so obviously beneficial. You're doing a great job, mama!

I'd ask your doctor if he/she thinks that's why your baby is not pushing up first. That's amazing that she still tolerates swaddling at that age. And that she sleeps that long without feeding.

I swaddle my 3 1/2 year old and he pushes himself up on tummy time and sometimes he will not. I don't think it is the swaddling that inhibits that. Do you just swaddle at night? Maybe try and fit in a few more tummy times during the day. Good Luck!

I doubt swaddling has anything to do with her pushing herself up. I'm sure you've heard and are sick of hearing "every child is different". The truth is, it's true. The general matrix for development that are suggested are mere guidelines. I learned the hard way with my son and his speech. Most delays are transient and if you work with her on it a hurdle she will surely over come soon. Not alot of kids go to Kindergarten not knowing how to push themselves up. Don't give up the swaddling, good sleep is the best thing for positive development. Be patient with her and know you're doing everything right for her. I'm sure your mother in law means well but remember. The swaddling thing wasn't practiced much back in her day and anything they weren't doing back them seems futile or silly so they'll shoot it down. Go with your instincts. Good luck, you're a good mommy!

Keep on swaddling, sister. It can't hider anything except midnight feedings. :) She'll push up when she's ready, no need to worry.

Hi R.,

Although swaddling can be a dream, try putting her to sleep with out it and see how she does. DO you use one of those swaddles or do you wrap her in a blanky that she can get out of? You could just wrap her in a blanket so she can wiggle out in the morning. That way she gets her comfy hug and a little exercise in the morning.

my daughter was swaddled until she was 9 months old..your little one with be fine my walked early and crawled early so dont worry

My daughter took her time pushing up too. Its okay. Just make sure that you give her lots of tummy time when she is awake. Babies do things at different times and its easy to get worried, but try not to. Relax and enjoy the rest you get when she is swaddled.

I wouldn't worry about it. My son loved to be swaddled and didn't push up for a while. We bought a 'tummy time surf board' for $20 at Target and I saw upper body strength almost immediately. If she like to be swaddled ignore your mother-in-law and trust your instincts!!! Oh, FYI my son is one of the strongest, coordinated, and active 2 year olds that I have seen:).

Both my kids LOVED to be swaddled. My 2nd had colic and swaddling worked like a dream. They are 2 and 1 now and perfectly fine. Just give her more tummy time...kids all develop differently. She'll pull up when she is ready. If she is sleeping on her back (like they tell us they should) then I dont see how the swaddle makes any difference in her arm strength. I say, do what you have to in order to get sleep! :)

Ahh mother in laws or even mothers have a way of finding fault or simply just trying to put something out their on the table that is concerning them. This is what I know from my own babies. If they want to swaddle let them swaddle because when they are ready to wiggle out and move about they will. I had two that wouldnt swaddle bast two months and the others swaddled it seemed like forever. I always gave my babies lots of floor time when it wasn't too cold or if they werent too newborn, if you know what I mean. I have seen that when you dont put them down on the floor they'd grasp things later. I have a friend who was living in a old frame house with wooden floors and she didnt ever put her baby on the floor and she crawled and walked late because she always kept her in the baby bed or on the bed with her anyway she asked me and I told her so she moved shortly after that and her baby caught up to speed. So swaddle all you want momma your not hurting her in anyway, now that its about to warm up you can get on the floor with her have her grasp your fingers and you can work on pulling her up to a sitting position and and that will strengthen her, but please don't think too much about something being wrong. She wants to swaddle I'd eat it up as long as you can because past 4 months they usually start wiggling out, I wished mine would swaddled longer. By the way if your talking about pushin up like to get up on hands and knees, I don't think its time for that yet. I know at 4 months they can push up on their arms to turn over. Mine did that like in the 3rd month, but honestly I think your baby is enjoying the snuggling probally mostly because its still been pretty cool. You'll see a change when it warms up.

I definitely think you should keep swaddling. If she gets sleep, you get sleep. That is the most important thing and best for both of you. Both my son and my daughter hated to be swaddled right out of the hospital! They started sleeping through the night on their own at about 2 to 2 1/2 months, both of them. Thank goodnees. But they also can't sleep unless they are sleeping on their bellies. I know they're not supposed to, but they don't sleep otherwise and I'm not changing a thing. I just don't tell the dr that's how they sleep. This is actually how they both learned to push up, they would pick up their heads and make their little baby noises to let me know they were awake in the morning. I'm in no way suggesting you should put your daughter to sleep on her tummy. No ma'am! How she sleeps is how she sleeps. I think in your case just more tummy time should do the trick. Or even as one other mom mentioned more tummy time on mommy's tummy when your daughter is tired of the floor.

I wouldn't give up the swaddling just yet try proping her up a little or get down with her and place her arms under her so she gets the idea and put things where she has to look up at them while you have her up she should get the idea one of my grandbabies wasn't trying to do anything and her mom was getting worried, it seems she was just a little more laid back and when they spent the extra time to encourage it she started to see things she wanted now you would never know that she was a little behind the "norm". all babies are different T.

Well, after two kids, I don't mean to go against your MIL, but I don't think the pushing up is because of the swaddling. Honestly, I think it's because of her age. Especially when this is only your second child (next to Tarzan) and only your first child (with two legs) you have nothing to compare to. Children develope at different ages.
For example, my son (who is now 4, 61 lbs, and 46" tall) was a slow goer. At 4, he still doesn't sleep through the night! He couldn't sit up until he turned 7 months, didn't crawl until 7 1/2 months, but still walked at 11 months, wrote his name at 3 and learned to ride 2 wheels at 3 also. To say that he HATED tummy time is a total understatement!!
My daughter hated swaddling, slept on her tummy constantly, learned to crawl at 5 months and still couldn't sit up. Didn't walk until 12 months. She's two and I can't wait to see what else is in store for her.

Before you know it, your little one will take off. As a first time mom, I was soooo nervous about every little thing and after the second one, I stopped worrying, but that came with time and experience. You'll get there. I wouldn't worry so much about the "milestones" and just enjoy her being little. Before you know it, she will be off on her own, snuggling will take a chair to exploring, and listening to the unique sound of cherrios crunching on the floor with a new pair of shoes will be so much more fun than a game of peek a boo!
Good luck with your growing baby girl!

I don't see how the two are conected?!? My oldest son was swaddled until he was six months old because that was the only way he was comfortable sleeping, and he was an over achever as far as mile stones go. (He was even in the 110% of hight so I had to make my own blankes to swaddle him in.) Pushing up is something that takes time, and my youngest child didn't do it until about 5 months old (my oldest was doing it at 4 month, but like I said he was an over achiever). You can't rush a child to do anything and you are not stopping her from doing something by comforting her while she sleeps. She wouldn't have time to push herself up while she is sleeping anyway, and you wouldn't want her on her tummy to practise by herself at night anyway would you? I am sure that you love your MIL, but she brought her children up in a different time. I have to remind myself that I am the mother and not my mom or MIL. It is my turn to go with my gut, and do what is right for this child because no two babies are alike.
On a side note, please keep this in the back of your mind because if I would have known this with my first I would have been much happier. Don't worry about the mile stones and don't try to help them along. It can work, but once you see that baby running around and not needing/wanting you around as much you will long for the days you have right now. My oldest is almost 5 and it is hard to remember those wonderful, yet tiring days when he was tiny.

Dear New Mommy, All babies move at their own pace. If your little one isn't doing things in the exact week or month that whatever manual says your baby should be doing, don't worry. Swaddling is a tried and true method that worked for me and works for millions of moms all over the world. I wouldn't invest a lot of time worrying about every little thing, you beautiful girl will get moving soon enough! If at the next pedi's visit you notice that there is still a problem, mention it and see what they recommend. You can also "excercise" your little one while she's awake and have her tug on your fingers like a little baby pull up. Good luck and congrats on the new arrival! P.s. everyone and their mother-in-law has an "best way" to handle a baby, you do what works for YOU and your BABY!

Hi R.,
Trust me, that has NOTHING to do with swaddling. My baby loved to be swaddled, and slept that way 10 hours a night. She also started crawling at 4 months old. My niece, however, couldn't stand to be swaddled and she didn't start pushing up until around 6 months and didn't start crawling until 9 months old. Babies develop at their own rate. All children are different. There's no text book time for all kids. As long as she's getting tummy time then she has time to strengthen those tummy muscles then she's doing fine. Don't worry. And don't stop swaddling as long as she's feeling safe and comforted. My baby decided she was done being swaddled around 6 or 7 months and gave it up on her own. God bless you and good luck!

I've read and heard a lot of different opinions and practices on swaddling. I planned on swaddling our daughter (now 11 months) until 3 or 4 months of age because I read the book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" and that's what she recommended. At her 1 month appointment, the doc said to stop because they start to not like it about a month old. I gradually stopped between 1-2 months. We recently changed pediatricians because it was obvious that ours really had a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to babies which was frustrating because clearly all babies have different likes and dislikes.
I also have a friend that swaddled all three of her kids until they were 2.
Unless she's swaddled ALL the time, I really don't think there is anything wrong with your baby. My daughter has always slept well, swaddled and unswaddled so hopefully it won't be a problem when you stop swaddlig.
You may want to ask your pedi at the next appointment or call and talk to a nurse to ask about the tummy time. If they say it's fine to keep swaddling then I suggest do what you are both comfortable with. If you want to keep swaddling and your baby isn't fighting you, then why stop?
Good luck!

I can't see swaddling being the reason that your daughter does not use her arms to push herself up. You swaddle your baby when she is going to sleep and babies don't use their arm muscles when they sleep. All children develop at different times and your daughter may just not be ready to push herself all the way up yet. Just try to give her more tummy time through the day and she will start using them more. Give her time. You baby does not have to do everything on an exact time-line. When she is ready to do something, she will.

Hi R.. I'm not sure if there can be developmental issues. It doesn't seem like there would be since she wouldn't normally be pushing up or working on it when she's sleeping anyway, but I'm no professional. I did want to tell you though that my daughter LOVED being swaddled and she slept swaddled til she was 18 months old or so. She is now 3 1/2 and definitely doesn't have any developmental delays. Also, my almost 7 month old son still sleeps swaddled and doesn't have any issues with pushing up. If it helps her sleep like that, I would stick with it. A rested mama with a baby who doesn't push up quite yet is much better than an exhausted mama with a baby who can push herself up in my opinion. Plus, it seems like 4 months is a little early anyway.
Hope this helps.
- P.

I agree with the other moms that swaddling probably has nothing to do with her arm strength. She just needs tummy time. My twins did not like tummy time for the longest, so we just did it for very short intervals. Their physical therapist also suggested tummy time on mommy's tummy.

As far as swaddling, they make several new products that can extend the life of swaddling. The one my mother-in-law insisted upon buying for the twins was the "sleep sack". She has lengthened twice by adding more fabric to the bottom of the sack. My twins are 13 mo. now and still sleep in the sack.

Always trust your motherly insticts!

Well I am grandmother of 4 and told both of my girls to swaddle AT NIGHT!! Sleep, all night sleep, is desperately needed by all. As to during the day, put her on the floor on a quilt on her tummy just as you are doing, and leave her to her own devices for awhile. Don't go off and leave her but he will try to scoot or get up on all fours to go for a toy if you will put one out there not to far from her. I doubt that swaddling is delaying her development. I wish someone had told me to do that with my two when they were babies. She will get up on her hands and knees when she is READY. REMEMBER< NOT ALL BABIES OR PEOPLE GROW OR DEVELOP AT THE SAME RATE> DON'T SET ALL OF YOUR GUIDELINES BY A BOOK< LET YOUR DOCTOR TELL YOU IF SHE IS ALRIGHT! TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT>

I would definitely keep swaddling. I swaddled my girl until she was around 11 months and she pushed up just fine. A lot of other moms I know have done the same and not had any problems. They get such great sleep with the swaddling and that benefits us as well.

Hey, R.! Google the words Developmental Milestones and pick the chart for 4-6 months. You might want to print it up. At my daycare, every few months, I remit to the parents their child's growth according to the DM. Also, as you expose her to multiple voices and noises, she will turn her head, acknowledging recognition. Over the next two months, begin putting bright (primary) colored, bitable rattles around her while placing her on her belly (preferably on a blanketed floor). The more floor time, she will begin moving towards the items as well as persons voices around her most. Dad's, Yours, grandma's, care provider, etc.

Ck with your pedi, but I doubt it has anything to do with her sleeping hours. You may want to try putting her on her stomach a little more often than you already do and put her favorite toy just out of reach for longer periods of time. That will make her want to push up and reach, which will strengthen her arms. Don't stress about what's normal, aslong as she developing close to that time frame she's ok. They all do it their own way. Sleeping 8 hrs at night is great and above all trust your instincts!

Hi R. -

all children develop at different stages. I'm a BIG fan of swaddling, and trust me, it DOES NOT hinder their development. My son would work his arms free even when he was quite young. It's comforting to the little ones and you still need all the sleep you can get through the night!

If you are worried about her development make sure she gets even "tummy" time and you can bring her arms in front of her face and she will push up (great for photos).

Good luck!

I still swaddle my little one and he is approaching 5 months. We work on his tummy a little every day and yesterday he pushed up on his arms. Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with swaddling. My girlfriend, mother of three, swaddled all of her girls until they were at least 10 months old because they slept so well at night and like you said, would go right to sleep. Just work with her a little each day on her tummy and the stronger she gets the more she will use her arms, night time is not practice for that..in my opinion.

Keep swaddling! Some babies love it (or even need it) for a good night's sleep, and if your little girl is one of them, don't stop. Every baby is on their own schedule in terms of developmental milestones, and you shouldn't worry unless your doctor tells you so. (My little girl hardly ever pushed up as an infant, and could sit up by herself before she could even roll over!) The swaddling has nothing to do with it, and it sounds like it's something perfect for her. Good luck!

R. -

First, congratulations to the new little one. I am a new mom as well to a beautiful and vibrant almost four month little boy. From day one, he has always been swaddled. If he isn't swaddled at night then you can count on very little sleep because he is so active in his sleep that even the slighest arm tinge would wake him up. My husband and I watched a highly recommended DVD - The Happiest Baby on the Block and the doctor said that a baby can be swaddled up to 7 months old without delaying the development process. I think as long as you can give your daughter some tummy time during the day so she can learn to push up on her arms you should be okay. I am sure you have read somewhere that all babies are different and thus will develop at different stages.

Hope this helps.

A.

R.,
My advice to you would be to try swaddling with her arms out. If she stills sleeps great - then just keep an eye out for improvement in the push up activity. If she doesn't sleep well - then don't stop!

A well rested child is a healthier child! Keep that in mind.

If she just needs that swaddling comfort to sleep, then just try to have her spend more time during the day in tummy-time. Make sure you're down there with her (like poles on a magnet) so that she'll want to use her arms to lift her head and upper body up to see your face when she hears your voice. PS - tummy time is a great time for mommy to get in some situps, pushups, and stretching to get that pre-baby body back!
Enjoy your baby!

Hello! If your daughter is only swaddled when she's sleeping, then I don't think it would affect her development. She's not rolling over or pushing herself up in her sleep, after all. As your daughter develops and starts crawling or even walking, she'll let you know that she's done with the swaddle. Until then, enjoy the sleep!

We had a terrible time breaking our little girl of the swaddle. I don't know if it is really hindering her developmentally but we were concerned that she would start trying to roll over and wouldn't be able to. She would also only fall asleep with a swaddle but seemed to fight it all night trying to get out of it. By about 4 and a half months she was rolling over and now sleeps exclusively on her tummy. She's 6 months old now. My mother in law is a pediatric nurse and told us that they needed to start discovering their hands more around 4 months so in this way the swaddle was hurting her developmentally. As we were breaking her of it, we continued to swaddle her at night but would only wrap her legs during the day. After a couple of weeks, we moved to no swaddle during the day and only her legs at night. By gradually getting her used to it, her night sleep was never really interrupted.

I am an occupational therapist. There is plenty of time to work on pushing up on her tummy during the day too. Put her on her tummy and lay in front of her to get her to push up to look at you or put toys on the floor in front of her. I have never heard that swaddling could delay their skills. Your pediatrician will ask about her milestones and will look for red flags if there are any. Also try rolling a towel and putting it under her arms so she doesn't have to work so hard to get her head up. Remember some kids will do things early and some late. For some reason Grandma's have a way of making moms worry, even when they are just trying to be helpful. I had a friend say "maybe the reason your son isn't talking is because he watches baby einstien". Now you can't get him to stop. I would let her get her sleep and ask your pediatrician if your concerned.

I don't know if it is due to the swaddling, but you can try two things to help.
1 - don't put her arms in the swaddle any more.
2 - more tummy time.

Hope this helps!

Wow, that sounds like a dilemma if I've ever heard one. Well, my daughter has slept through the night since she was 3 weeks old. (She wakes up like once a night to be turned over or changed but that's it) I haven't swaddled her since then. I don't see anything wrong with swaddling her BUT make sure you give her plenty of exercise time as well. Lay a blanket down on the floor and let her practice pushing up. Encourage her. I don' think you should give it up at night though, if it works. Just make sure she's getting motivation to move herself around and starting to show some interest in playing. But I must warn you, when she does start moving and pushing up...she won't want to be swaddled anymore.But don't rock her too much either. I made that mistake with my first son. He didn't sleep through the night til he was like 14 months old. I hope I can help a little! :)

Personally, I swaddled my daughter until I couldn't find blankets big enough to wrap her in around 6 months. She slept so well swaddled and I slept so well, I could function during the day. (My son hated to be swaddled and slept horribly...and I slept horribly). Sleep is to be treasured!! Just make sure she has enough tummy time and she will figure out the whole arm thing. Each one grows/learns at their own speed. {{{hugs}}}

Ask your pediatrician (call your nurse triage line)

Well, first of all, as milestones go- they're generalizations and the dr. is the only one who can say whether your child is behind or not.

And my children broke out of their swaddles within the first month and still sleep well. Besides, I think arm strength is based on how much tummy time they get when they're awake. As long as you're putting her on her tummy and practicing, she will get better. The dr. will tell you if it's still ok to swaddle at 4 months (though I don't see why it wouldn't...)

Swaddling does not make her not push up. She will do it on her own time. When she is swaddled, it makes her feel comfy and warm just like when you were growing her. One does not have anything to do with the other. My little man loves to be swaddled too, but just wiggles out of it when he wants. Don't worry about it and just get some rest. When she is awake, though, try to put her arms under her and encourage her. She will get it soon enough.

You may just need to "remind" her, that's what her little arms are there for. :o) If she is laying on the floor, I would put her arms there for her to help her figure it out. I would think she would be doing it on her own, so if it were me I would swaddle only her bottom half. If it persists I would talk to your dr about it.

B. Farrell-Menchaca
Bella Amadis Photography

Congrads on your new little one. It is ok to swaddle her at night, but just make sure she gets lots of extra tummy time during the day--so she can practice pushing herself up. Once you notice she is pushing up during the day, then swaddling may no longer be a good idea. As she gets older and she may wake up in the night(without the swaddling),but she needs to learn to go back to sleep on her own and entertain herself in her crib until it is time to get up. I don't mean leave her in the crib to entertain herself all the time. As they get older the love to try and eat their feet and roll over and even stand up in the crib(at that point--remember to lower the matress) It is a fun time hearing them talk to themselves and spy on them entertaining themselves in this way. Hope this helps some.
As a mother of 3 way older ones, it would have been nice to have computer advice which you can keep or throw out.
Good Luck!! and trust YOUR instincts. Your with her more than anyone, so you know her better.
I. H.

I swaddled until 8 months, and she pulls up and walks just fine.

I do the SAME thing! I swaddle my 4.5 month old and got "the look" from my doctor at the 4 month checkup when I mentioned it. My daughter will NOT sleep unswaddled! Although I don't think my doctor likes that I still swaddle, she made no mention that it would hind her development. I can't see a problem with swaddling because it's not like our babies are swaddled all day long. I think more tummy time would strengthen your daughters arms more than unswaddling.

Hope it helps!