When we brought Will home from the hospital he did not sleep at all the first two nights.
My husband and I had to take turns holding him just so we could get a little sleep those first two nights.
Then on the third night as we were continuing this dreadful pattern, I happened to remember that I had one of those swaddle blankets with the velcro that I hadn’t tried.
As soon as I fastened the velcro on that swaddle blanket, Will’s eyes closed and he went to sleep.
Not only that, but he practically slept through the night.
I was amazed.
We continued swaddling him for nighttime sleep.
Fast forward a little bit and Will became a very colicky baby. He had to be swaddled to settle down during a crying fit an would not sleep unless he was swaddled.
When the velcro wore off of his swaddle blanket, I ordered the miracle blanket endorsed by Harvey Kapp, the author of Happiest Baby on the Block.
This “miracle blanket†was truly a miracle.
Will continued to need to be swaddled until he was a little over four months.
When Jenny came home from the hospital, we didn’t experience the completely sleepless nights that we did with Will, but she had a few nights that we quite restless.
I tried swaddling with a receiving blanket but they just were too small to do the job, especially at night.
So, I ordered a new pink miracle blanket for Jenny. (Will’s was blue and quite worn)
Since using the miracle blanket with Jenny, her nighttime sleep has been wonderful. She really only wakes once in the middle of the night.
I limit her miracle blanket to only nighttime use because it is pretty restrictive.
During the day she still likes to be swaddled, so I use a blanket from Swaddle Designs. I love this one because it is lightweight and the swaddling instructions are right on the tag.
I highly recommend both of these blankets for swaddling babies!
Because a swaddled baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby is a finer thing!
Are your babies swaddled? {I’ve heard that some don’t like it.}
Do you have a favorite blanket for swaddling your babies?
Post linked to: Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries, Finer Things Friday at Amy’s Finer Things, and Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family
Taking Heart says
I swaddle babies every night at work… and think its one of the most important tools to teach parents before they go home with their newborns.
.-= Taking Heart´s last blog ..I Know This Much =-.
Angela says
the twins I nanny for used them until they started busting an arm out and then rolling over and getting stuck. They were the best things ever.
JessieLeigh says
My first baby slept really well even without being swaddled, but when my preemie was born, a beloved nurse sent us home with a pile of “waffle-weave” blankets and lessons on swaddling. Both my girls have loved to be swaddled. I think it’s a great skill to have!
.-= JessieLeigh´s last blog ..Three Things You Should Know A Micropreemie Parent Needs From You =-.
Sharon Cohen says
What a great topic – surely a “fine” thing for Finer Things Friday.
I wish I’d known about swaddling when my kids were young. Colic is miserable for everyone and there were no home “remedies” that worked. I’m pretty sure the swaddling would have. When my first granddaughter came along her parents were taught to “wrap her in a burrito” (swaddling). I just loved the term!
.-= Sharon Cohen´s last blog ..Finer Things Friday =-.
Laura says
I swear by the swaddle. Both my son and daughter needed it to calm down and sleep. They both started squirming out around 3 months. When they were up every hour or so with an arm out, that’s when it’s time for it to retire.
Good luck!!
Buffie says
Both of my girls hated to be swaddled. My oldest would actually grunt and squirm until she finally managed to get her arms out. Then she would fall asleep. After a couple nights of that I completely gave up on swaddling her.
.-= Buffie´s last blog ..An Early Arrival =-.