I have been swaddling my baby almost since birth and now that he is 13 weeks old I am trying to get him to sleep without swaddling him as I am afraid that he will soon start to roll over. I have tried the method of letting one arm out but it is not working. I read in the internet that there are sacks available such as Peke Moe and Zipadee-Zip that are perfect for babies who like to be swaddled but are too old for it. Unfortunately, these products only seem to be available in the States or New Zealand. I could perhaps order from New Zealand but it may take weeks to arrive and I really want to find a solution asap.

Does anyone know of a similar product available in Europe.
Thanks.

Here are some alternatives to swaddling, http://www.parenting.com/article/ask...baby-swaddling

I did the "wearing baby down" In a carrier/sling until asleep and then off to bed.

I've no expertise in this, but if you google "Babyschlafsack" (Baby sleeping bag), there are lots of options

Would you consider going cold-turkey on the swaddling and have a couple of unsettled nights and then hopefully he'll be OK?

We had to do this last month with our then 8 week-old. One of her hip joints is a bit under-developed and she's currently wearing a soft hip-brace which is too bulky for swaddling. We switched to a sleeping-sack and although she was a bit unsettled the first night she was fine after that.

Good luck!

Apart from a medical reason ( as in the mentioned hip problem) is there any need to actually "wean" off the swaddling? Does it really matter if one baby is never swaddled and another likes to be caccooned up for a year? ( as are many in "traditional " cultures.)

I ask, not in disapproval, but purely because I have recently come across several instances of newish mothers feeling the pressure to conform to some preceived rule of growing their babies, whereas often I think those mothers should just be left to relax and go with the natural ( and differing) flow of each otheir babies.

Dr Spock, Sir Truby King, and all the subsequent child "experts" have a lot to answer to, and to retract, I think. (Oh, and perhaps I am a bit cynical about the changes I have seen, sometimes complete circle, regarding what should and should not be done to/with babies.)

I used to do it with my son an we stopped when the weather became to hot. He didn't whine or protest. I think he was quite happy to sleep only in his diaper. Since the weather got colder I put him in his sleeping sack and he doesn't want to sleep without it.

Swaddled my son until almost 5 months. He didnt roll over until after 5 months. Google the brand summer. I got a sleep sack that had Velcro flaps the swaddle arms - although I never used it as it always seemed too big

As I swaddled for longer the transition was not an issue

Thank you for all your replies and sharing your experiences.

I would gladly continue swaddling but my boy is a strong little fella and he already surprised me when I put him on his tummy at 10 weeks and he rolled over on to his back. This makes me worry that he may roll over on to his tummy in the night and not be able to get back without the use of his arms.

At this stage I am only swaddling around his tummy and his arms. He can kick his legs freely and this doesn't seem to bother him. His arms are distressing him when he is not swaddled.

I am really looking for a product which gives him the feeling of being swaddled but allows him the use of his arms should he roll over. If anyone knows of a such a product available in Europe, please let me know. Otherwise I suppose the only other option is cold turkey.

This is the half swaddle sleep sack that i mentioned

I can dig mine out and send it to you to try out if you want?



My little boy was always skinny and this didn't really have the desired effect but a chubbier chunky baby I can imagine it working better

as for a product that makes him feel swaddled but with the use of his arms also - well really errr nothing I can imagine exists - how about getting a hammock for him to nap in - that way he feels enclosed and cocooned like a swaddle - but he'd not be able to turn over anyway

I swaddled for so long because he hated being on his tummy and didn't roll over until later but mainly because he had bad moro(sp) reflex and would constantly wake himself up and the swaddling helped him sleep peacefully - he had the moro reflex even past 6 months

Just seen this on amazon

Thank you so much for your offer Nickers and also for searching on Amazon. Both solutions, however, still restrict arm movement - I also found the "Woombie" and thought it looked great and if it wasn't his moro reflex that was waking him up, it most definitely would be an option - the arm free version!

If you look at the following websites you will see that there are actually alternatives for babies who like to be swaddled - allowing arm movement while giving the security of feeling swaddled:

http://www.pekemoe.co.nz/index.htm
http://zipadeezip.com/

I think this may be the solution I am looking for and would like to try it but they are not available in Europe. There must be a similar product out there?

Those solutions wouldn't stop the Moro relex though? Can you order one to a family or friend and get them to send it to you?

How good are you with needle & yarn? The zipadeezip bag looks like it wouldn't be too difficult to make for a fairly experienced sewer.

I use a "U" shaped pillow and then place my daughter in her swaddle in the middle of the pillow. I tuck the sides of the pillow tightly around her and elevate her feet on the bottom of the "U." I works great for her, but she sleeps in our room so I can check on her many times during the night.

Unfortunately, I am useless when it comes to sewing. I can just about manage a button.

Thanks a million for showing me your solution Lukenjenny. This may be a possibility when I move him into a bigger bed and cold turkey doesn't work. At the moment he is in a babybay.