My baby is swaddled all day!

[roseola]

My DS is 4.5 months old.

He just started STTN, 7:45pm - 6:45am, eats and goes back to sleep til 9:30am.

Before he was STTN, he would wake at 3am, I would unswaddle him, change his diaper, feed him, re-swaddle, back to sleep, eat at 6:30am. I would not unswaddle or change him at the 6:30am feed and he would go back to sleep til 9:30am.

I do not want to unswaddle at his new morning feed because I am pretty sure it will arouse him and he won't go back.

I am concerned that he is swaddled for too many hours in a row, and too many hours total per day.

He is swaddled 7:30pm-9:30am and then for a 2 hour nap, and a 3 hour nap.

I realize I could try to unsaddle him, but:

a) he JUST started STTN so I really don't want to mess that up!

b) if he gets even one hand out of the swaddle he wakes right up.

WWYD?

[jessmum46]

Leave him swaddled if it's working......what's your concern about it?  I presume he is unswaddled during awake time and has opportunity for free movement on the playmat, change table etc?  Tummy time?  Is he rolling yet?  That is one sleepy baby you have though - sleeping 19h out of 24   I think many people would kill for that!!! 

[roseola]

I'm not really sure what I'm concerned about! Probably the restriction of his arm movement.

He is completely unsaddled during awake time. He has rolled from tummy to back 2 times, and is trying hard to roll back to tummy. My old two were rolling around by now, and crawling at 6 months, so that may be adding to my concern.

It's more like 17-18 hours out of 24, which I know is a lot! My older 2 were also spirited and not so great sleepers. I am so happy and I actually prayed every single day of my pregnancy for a HSN angel baby. I was scared to post about it because you know how that goes.....

But thanks Katherine! Just

Leave him swaddled if it's working.

makes me less anxious.

[jessmum46]

I'm glad I've been able to help . I wouldn't worry about rolling or crawling yet, at 4.5m it's totally fine for him to be doing neither - in fact as I'm sure you know some babies never crawl!  Enjoy the fabulous sleep while it lasts xxx

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I honestly would not worry. I bet all of mine were swaddled the same number of hours at this age and all have above normal gross motor development.

Sleep while you can!!

[roseola]

Thanks Kate! Hope you and your family are doing well!