Swaddling/sleep issues

[jennifer08]

Hi, 

My baby is 6-months-old.  For her first 3 months, she was a great sleeper, took great naps, and slept 6-7 hours at night.  It was great.  I don't know what happened to her, but she has regressed to the point where she is waking every 2-3 hours all night, needs lots of help to get to sleep, etc.  She has always been swaddled in the Swaddle Me blankets.  (I am a terrible swaddler with regular blankets; it's just frustrating!)  She is now to the point where she can get her hands and arms free, but they do not soothe her.  She gets mad because they are too stimulating to her, and I am having to rewrap her 4-5 times a night.  It's exhausting!  She cannot sleep unswaddled.  Every time I try it is a disaster.  I've tried the mock-Woombie with a sleeper with her arms in and the sleeper's arms tied, and it's just too much for her.  She cannot settle unless her arms are immobile.  Really, that's okay with me, but when she wakes in the night, gets her arms out, and starts fussing and needing help, I wonder if there's a better way.  I nurse/rock/pat/shush her to sleep.  Any suggestions?  I know there are a few threads out there about weaning from swaddling, but I can't get anything to work.  Forget trying to swaddle with one arm out!  It's not possible for her right now.  

She is also teething, so that adds to the issue.  I'm hoping once the first tooth makes its appearance, things will settle down.  But this was all happening before she started teething, so I don't know.

My older 2 kids were never swaddled; they slept with us in our bed so it never seemed necessary.  This baby sleeps in a co-sleeper by me and in her crib for naps.  She doesn't do well when I've tried to have her sleep with me.

TIA for any suggestions.

[QuestionGal]

can she roll over? Will she sleep unswaddled on her stomach? 

With DS he had to be holding something to sleep. In his case the pacifiers were a perfect fit so he slept with one in his mouth, one in each hand and a couple extras tossed around. That way when he woke up in the middle of the night he could find one again quickly.

what about just verbally shushing her when she starts to wake or gently shaking the co-sleeper?

We love the miracle swaddle blanket but it's only supposed to be used until about 4 months. 

Also I'm guessing that once that tooth comes in and she accomplishes her next milestone she'll calm down. But it does sound like she's ready to wean from the swaddle. 

[jennifer08]

Thanks for the input.  She can't roll back to belly yet, and can roll belly to back if she's in the right mood.  She hates being on her tummy, so she doesn't have much motivation.  Maybe once she figures that out, she'll want to be a tummy sleeper.

Shushing and rocking the cosleeper doesn't really work once she gets those hands free.  She just gets more worked up.  She does use a paci; may have to try your idea.  My older dd slept will a jillion pacifiers forever!

[MusicTMama]

Our first was the same way- we swaddled her until she was about 8 months. We used a sheet that was cut down to suit swaddling her size. In "The Happiest Baby on the Block" Karp talks about swaddling pretty extensively (I.e., technique and weaning).

Best of luck!