Baby falls asleep with blanket over his face

[maka]

I have tried to unswaddle DS hands and to put receiving blanket over his hands to still contain them. My DS seem to move his hands with the blanket up to his face and then falls asleep. He has been doing it when in his stroller when outside where I have constant monitoring but I'm really afraid to let him do this at night because of danger of suffocating. It does seem to be the only way for him to settle on his own, without outside help. Does anyone's LO likes to do this? What are some of the alternatives that you used? Thanks

[~Sara~]

I would keep trying to wean the swaddle with no receiving blanket.  How old is he?  Have you tried a sleep sack?  If he's looking for something to cuddle up with, it's possible with the sleep sack but there's no suffication risk.  DS would gather up the extra material and tuck it under his cheek.

[maka]

Sara thanks for your reply. DS will be 4 months this week. He is still having issues with his hands, sucking on them when awake but having problems finding them when falling asleep, that's why containing them in blanket helps but still gives him freedom of movement. We did use sleep sack with DS1 but hands are still free when in sleep sack.

[~Sara~]

Since he's still so young, I would definitely hold off on using the receiving blanket over him if he's able to pull it over his face.  How long have you been trying to wean the swaddle?  It might just be a case of him getting the motor control and being used to the sensation of resettling himself with his hands free.

[Mama_Mia]

Just a suggestion, maybe he is doing it because he doesnt like the light when trying to sleep? Is his room dark?

[ZacsMumme]

I wonder if he is using the blanket as a way of settling? Our DS plays with a lovey (A homemade taggie - 30cm squared bit of cotton material with tags sewn on) and always sucks on it, puts it into/over his face etc. You could always remove the blanket and try that, or cut up the blanket so it is a safe size and see if he uses it to settle?

example of a taggie http://www.trademe.co.nz/baby-gear/toys/other/auction-381892078.htm

[Marie-O]

Hello! You can try this too:
http://www.breathablebaby.com/blankets/blanket-safer.html

[maka]

Thank you guys for all the suggestion. We had one of the bests nights today. I unswaddled his hands but left his feet in and put a thin burp cloth over his hands (kind of swaddling it but not too tight so that he could put it up to his face but not over it). He sucked on his hands to go to sleep and when he woke up during night. I guess he just not ready to suck on his bare hands. I hope it will continue to work until he is ready to suck on his hands. Thanks again for all your great ideas. 

[addymommy]

my 5 month has pulled her breathable blanket over he face for about 2 months- doesnt matter where she is, she wants the blanket and thumb to go to sleep. I cut the large blanket into lil squares. i let her settle herself down and if she has it over her mouth i pull it off.