New question... has anyone tried weaning their touchy LO from the swaddle? My DS is 5 1/2 months (but born 4 weeks early so really 4 1/2) and we have swaddled him from the beginning. He just can't settle down to sleep without it! I am currently working on naps with one arm out. Sometimes I can get him to nap for his usual 30-40 minute nap like this but other time he gets so upset that I need to swaddle both arms in. I have read a lot about people putting their LO on side and then tucking in a sheet real tight. I can't imagine getting my guy to settle in the bed, then tuck a sheet in, and then keep him there! Any tips??
With Ds1 we did just what you're saying, put one arm out (the left, since he sucks he left thumb), and he slept on his side. Then gradually we put both arms out until only his bottom half was swaddled. Then we moved to using a sleep sack blanket (which he still uses, in a toddler size of course!
Putting on his blanket is SUCH a part of his winddown routine, even when he was as young as 5-6 mths he knew it was sleep time when it was blanket time.
Ultimately, Ds1 is a tummy sleeper, but I let him side sleep until he rolled over well on his own, at which point there was no stopping him
Depending on how comfortable you are with tummy sleeping, perhaps you could try putting him on his tummy once the swaddle is weaned? I find Ds1 feels more secure in that position.
I've never tried tucking a sheet in though... so I'm not sure what to suggest on that one