Restless legs in an infant?

[sugahbee]

Hey all, my 9-week old has a very hard time falling asleep without being held or rocked, because he thrashes around, his legs pull up to his chest and kick back out again, over and over. (He moves a lot all day, but this action occurs predominantly at sleep times.) He's a very light sleeper overall, usually wakes up from naps at 25 minutes (first phase of the sleep cycle, I think) and has a hard time going back to sleep and staying asleep after that, because the jerking wakes him up. We are co-sleeping at night, and he does well snuggled up against me, I think my body prevents him from jerking too much. I have laid down with him for naps too but I would love another solution so I can get stuff done during nap times!! I do swaddle him but it only controls the arms, and I've read that keeping the legs stationary affects hip development, so I haven't really tried swaddling his legs. Pediatrician says he'll eventually go to sleep if I leave him alone but he does whimper and cry eventually from not being able to go back to sleep, and I am not a fan of CIO. any suggestions??

[sugarpop]

I would and did swaddle the legs as well...not intentionally but the only swaddle I know basically made her look like a burrito. I would think that hip development would be ok if you didn't swaddle all day long but just dduring naps. Sure he will probably outgrow it and will eventually go to sleep...but then you are CIO (yuck).

[Ellien C]

I second the swaddling idea. We bought a velcro swaddle blanket because he kept coming out of the regular wraps. OMG! Such a difference. He sleeps SO much better swaddled. About once a week I get lazy and don't have the blanket nearby at bedtime or I think he doesn't need it. So far it's always been a mistake. My son is 16 weeks.

My daughter always woke herself up with her hands. I kept thinking that if I could only put her on her stomach she'd sleep better. I wish I had swaddled her more. Lesson learned. Then again, at 7 yo she is still a lousy sleeper so maybe it wouldn't have mattered.

[cocoanib]

Could it be gas?
If not, i second the swaddling.
DD would do this when she was gassy sometimes.
Other times, it was just alot of movement.

When it was gas, i would make sure to burp her a few times at night.
When it wasn't I would swaddle her. We weren't regular swaddlers, but on nights like these, it kept her from thrashing around and waking herself up.
I would just take a light blanket and fold both sides under her nice and snug.

[sugahbee]

Anyone know a good swaddle that works on the legs as well? I use the "swaddleme" velcro blankets but he can still pull his legs in and kick them out again, so it doesn't help with that. I have tried the "double swaddle" which again, works great for the arms, but his legs still go crazy. Essentially, I am being his swaddle right now, I lay down with him and hug him in tight and prevent him from moving too much. It works but I can't do it forever!

[simplyla]

swaddle woes!

We're experiencing this with our 13-week old too! In the past she always slept swaddled (just arms), now I think it gets too hot (80 outside and no A/C here) so she kicks and squirms her way out of my very best swaddles! It works also if I act as her swaddle, but as others have mentioned, I can't do that all the time!

[Peace+Hope]

Originally Posted by sugahbee

Anyone know a good swaddle that works on the legs as well? I use the "swaddleme" velcro blankets but he can still pull his legs in and kick them out again, so it doesn't help with that. I have tried the "double swaddle" which again, works great for the arms, but his legs still go crazy. Essentially, I am being his swaddle right now, I lay down with him and hug him in tight and prevent him from moving too much. It works but I can't do it forever!

i got aden and anais swaddling blankets as gifts, and they are really big. i quit swaddling my LO around 2 months, but am starting to again, as he is startling more during naps on his back. he's about 13 lbs and 24ish inches, and they are still big enough.

stomach sleeping is AWESOME, but i won't do it at night while bed sharing. makes for good long naps during the day though.