We've swaddled Riley since she was born. And thankfully, because she's swaddled, she sleeps through the night. I keep wondering how long do you swaddle? I'd love to move her into a regular sleep sack with her arms out. Last night we tried it. NOT GOOD! For two hours she'd fall asleep and 10 minutes later wake herself up. We'd then get her back to sleep and bam, 10 minutes later, awake again. After two hours we gave up and put her in her Kid.dopotamus and she slept soundly until 6:00 am. Does this mean she's not ready? When do you make the transition? Help! I'm looking for advice for those of you who've swaddled. When do we make the move? Keep in mind she'll be 4 months in a a week.
More Advice Please
In less than a month we're setting out on a road trip. A SIX hour road trip to see my Dad, Step Mom, and step siblings in Las Vegas. I'm looking for your help again! What do you do to entertain a 4 month old for six hours???? Help! I'll take every idea you can send my way!
She's Going to be a Bunny
We ordered Riley's Halloween costume yesterday. Grandma Shanni started calling her Bunny from the day she was born. It's stuck and now we all call her Bunny. Of course she has to be a Bunny for her first Halloween. Here's a pic of the adorable costume we ordered for her last night. Too cute!
I snapped a couple pictures of Riley aka Bunny before I left for work. I love that the weather is getting cooler so that she can wear her long sleeve onsies and comfy pants. Riley and I went shopping Saturday and picked up this adorable onsie. Too dang cute! Notice the drool.
21 comments:
This may sound kindof wierd but I used those baby wedges. Those kind that are supposed to help them sleep on their sides. I just used them to make them feel like they weren't alone. Shelly started using my old ones and lance has been sleeping really well with them. Just an idea.
Thanks Mel! Believe it or not, we also use an Inclined to Sleep (wedge type thing) that helps her stay propped up on her side. Maybe we just need to try naps without the swaddler so she can get use to her hands. It's her hands that are startling her awake.
OMG! It's like I'm hearing our story all over again. We swaddled the twins - VERY tightly- since they were born and they continued to like it until they were well over 4 months old. They started breaking out of the swaddles every time and kept waking, so we stopped doing it. We put them in the sleep wedges, tighty, and wrapped a blanket around them tightly from the underarm down to their feet. It took about 3 or 4 nights before they slept without waking ever 10 minutes. They are now almost 6 months and are too big for the wedges, but we roll blankets and shove them under one side of their bodies and push them up against the bumper so they feel the safety of a swaddle. They have a hard time sleeping any other way. They started rolling and get mad when they flip, so that is our next challenge!
As for the car ride, she will likely sleep the entire time, except if you stop and feed and change her. Give her a 1/2 hour of energetic play at the rest stop and she'll be fine. We traveled 6 hours with our 1st at the same age and it ws very easy. Don't stress over it.
I don't really have much advice on the sleeping or car ride situation since I am still in the TTC mode! But, she will make such a cute Bunny for halloween!!!! How cute is that outfit??? Good luck on the roadtrip and have a blast!
Love the pictures! We can't wait to see Riley in her bunny costume!
Sorry, I don't have much advice. Andrew hated being swaddled, so that only lasted about 2 weeks.
I do find that drugging them helps them sleep longer! LOL!!!!
Don't call DCF, I'm totally kidding!
I'll let Stacey tell you about the swaddling thing cause she is better at words then I am but I will tell you this when it comes to travelling cause we have done it at least 5 times now from 2 months old to now.
LEAVE AROUND HER BEDTIME. Do her bedtime routine and then when you go to put her to sleep, it's in her carseat she goes. Riley sleeps thru the whole trip. All experts will tell you it's better to travel at night. Trust me it works.
As Angele said, it's best to travel at night for such a long car trip. For 2 hours or less, it helps to have bottles, toys, and songs to sing. We've done plenty of 4 hour trips to Ottawa and it's been easy during the night.
As for swaddling, we stopped swaddling once she was big enough to get out of it. At first she would wake herself up at night but we kept trying to have her sleep unswaddled and eventually she got the hang of it. She goes into her crib with nothing except a baby sleeping bag if it's cold.
Cute pics! Love the outfit!
Awww the bunny costume is adorable. We have our Riley's costume too. :)
we swaddled our son until he was nine (yes, NINE!) months... he was fine with it and slept the best that way so we didn't change anything until he didn't want it anymore. i say don't fix what isn't broken.
If she is most secure being swaddled and you have tried to not swaddle her i wouldnt worry about stopping. The only thing you really need to watch for is as she gets stronger she will break free of the swaddler and someimes it can end up on her little face. Just something to watch for.
As for the road trip, she will be just fine. She will most likely sleep the entire trip. We took Aydan to California when he was about 4 months and went on many trips to my moms in St. George. He did just fine. If you can, try to leave at night, around bedtime. Good Luck on your trip, be safe and dont stress!
We swaddled A until she was well past 2. The kid just likes to be bundled when she goes to bed. We moved from the swaddler to a blanket - and when we would forget she would remind us to "wrap her up". Now J would not allow himself to be swaddled - even at 4 lbs and in an incubator in the hospital. He just likes to be free - he's also our "naked" child. LOL. We took the kids on a 5 hour road trip when they were 5 and 11 months old. J screamed the whole time the car moved - then we would roll to a stop and he would start laughing and cooing. Damn kid. We just kept stopping, checking him, and driving with him screaming. Since then he has travelled beautifully - even on 8 hour plane rides. Can't wait to see Riley as a bunny!
So cute costume! Can't wait to see pix of her in it!!
long trip - i ususally stop in middle of the trip - let kid play for abt 30 minutes then hit the road. Using different music for playtime and naptime. Or leave during her naptime or bedtime...
Normally baby will sleep longer in carride - if your Riley likes car rides.
Hope things go well for you all...
we swaddled bay until she would break her arms out, then we would just tuck her back in if she woke herself up...but she has always liked to be tucked in tight.
The bunny outfit is adorable!
Good luck on the trip, I think she will do great!
I have no advice about swaddling because Erik hated it so we didn't do it long, but if it's anything like trying to get a baby to take a bottle when he's used to the breast, my advice would be to just keep trying every single day until she gets the hang of it. Don't try for long (like don't try all night all night if she doesn't like it), just until she gets upset/angry, and then do it the old way. Try doing it a big longer every time. I'd also suggest trying to make this switch at naptime rather than bedtime so it doesn't affect her night sleep, which could get her into a habit of waking up at night.
As for travelling, I totally agree with what Stacey and Angele said. Travel at bedtime or at nap time, especially at a time when you expect her to have a long nap. Do the whole normal routine leading up to it so she still knows it's time to sleep, and as soon as she's ready to sleep, put her in her car seat and go. Be all organized with the car packed well before her bedtime/naptime so you don't waste any of it getting ready, or worse, have her fall asleep somewhere other than the car and then wake up when you put her in. We find that travelling at naptime works perfectly. Of course Riley's not going to have a 6 hour nap, but even if she has a 2 hour nap, you've killed two hours. If you can travel at bedtime, even better.
Cam didn't like to be swaddled, but I have watched many a kids who do. I have swaddled kids until they were big enough to get out and stand up. Some kids just like it and need. You don't need to stop any time soon. She will let you know when she is ready.
As for the car ride, Cam always was a good car baby. We went to Idaho lots and he had no problems. We never travel at night, because I hate to, so Cam is just used to it.
I can't wait to see her in her costume! How freaking cute is that!
I swaddled both kids until they were over a year. They liked it and needed it. Worked for us. She'll let you know when she doesn't want to anymore.
As for the car ride - try to be on the road at nap times. One of us sat in the backseat for easier access and we brought several small toys. When the kids had enough, we pulled over to take a break to let them have some time out of the car.
I think you've already got great advice from these ladies already. Just wanted to say how adorable the bunny costume is. Can't wait to see pics of her in it!
My girls actually like to sleep on top of their favorite blanket and have never been swaddled - probably because they are so hot blooded... warm all the time. For the care ride plan around a nap or get up early to leave. Music and video work well too, even baby einstein at this point. Don't worry though we have taken the girls to New Mexico a couple of times and they do great!
I have no advice to offer up but just wanted to say what a cute bunny costume!
Swaddle her as long as you can.
Be lucky that she will let you swaddle her. She will let you know when she's ready to quit.
LOVE the bunny costume. She looks adorable in a sweater.
Wonderful parents you are... I'm telling you, really you seem so natural!
The car ride will be just fine.. We've flown for over 3 hours and car rides MANY MANY times with the boys.. Nap or bed time is really the best though!
Beau and Brady both liked to be swaddled for a very short time. We just quite swaddling when they seemed to want out..
Good luck!
Post a Comment