[Pooks*potters]

DS still sleeps in a love to dream swaddle.

He is almost 11 months old.

He is a very "particular" sleeper and though he does sleep well, it is only when very strict conditions are met.

A big, big, big one is his swaddle.

He resisted earlier gentle attempts to release him from it. I bought the wrap where you can take one arm out, then the other. Does. Not. Work.

I tried wrapping him in a sheet and slowly loosening it. No way, Jose, he just busts out and crawls around the cot.

And... He screams. And screams. And screams. You put the wrap back on, and he is asleep within 5 minutes.

Today my darling son was awake from 8am til 4.30pm. He slept for 30 minutes in the car then was up til 8pm. I sh*t you not.

My main reasons for getting him out of the wrap are...
Pressure from others. At least I'm honest about this one.
He is physically outgrowing the largest size one. Doom is pending!
He is one in a month or so. One! I mean... When does it end?? At some point this is going to have to happen.

This kid is a really challenging sleeper in a lot of ways. The only way I could get him to sleep in a cot was by going to sleep school, and I've tried some responsive settling as taught there (when he was just under 6 months old) but it hasn't been very effective, I'm guessing because he is so different developmentally.

I keep thinking... I am screwed. I'm going to have to go back to sleep school to change this. I just have no idea what to do here.

Anyone got a magic bullet for me??

I'm pretty sure I can't keep doing what I am doing, babies need more than 30 minutes of crap sleep in a 12 hour period.

Eta. And he was getting so upset he was gagging to vomit- I picked him up right away and soothed him. Then went for the drive, where he slept a little.

This post has been edited by Pooks_: 12/01/2013, 09:35 PM

[divineM]

I released DD from swaddling at just 4 and a bit months... What followed was a week or so of horrible sleep especially naps. I did it while at sleep school for various sleep issues and they had no magic bullet for this. Just told me I had to ride it out. It was avert long week but she adjusted and went back to sleeping as before. I don't know how you settle him now it could you introduce something else to comfort him- a cot toy,patting ?

[Pooks*potters]

Thanks divineM. He has his dummy, and I pat him until he is calm and relaxed and leave, returning as necessary.

I was worried someone would say I'd have to endure a tough week or so but you're probably right.

[Liadan]

I had the same problem with my DD and her need to be swaddled. Have a look at sleepy wings.

It is just a comfort/routine thing, he will eventually grow out of it.

[Pooks*potters]

I had the same problem with my DD and her need to be swaddled. Have a look at sleepy wings.

It is just a comfort/routine thing, he will eventually grow out of it.

Awesome!! Thanks!!

[tick]

Peke Moe worked wonders for us. Transition to Peke Moe was fairly painless whereas all other attempts to do one arm out etc had been a disaster.

[Regular Show]

Anyone got a magic bullet for me??

You do know 'Magic Bullet' is the name for something else ??

[Lokum]

I wouldn't worry that much. DS1 was swaddled until past 10 months and we only stopped because he was ready. I think he wanted to stop because we were o/s and it was so damn hot overnight.
We were using flat cot sheets to swaddle. There are other EBers who have wrapped for heaps longer, like maybe 18 months? Our kid was a mostly great sleeper, provided we followed his lead and met his rules (ie wrap, cuddle to sleep.) if something works now, I'd keep doing it until it doesn't!, for whatever reason.

[Sassy Girl]

You do know 'Magic Bullet' is the name for something else ??

I was thinking the exact same thing

[mummy.to.one]

We would tuck DS in with a sheet so his arms were held down fairly tightly to begin with, he would eventually wriggle out but to start with he would settle with his arms down.

He also loved being swaddled.