Rubbing hands all over face

[littlegrasshopper]

Why would my 7week old be doing this? Seems like he does it everytime he's sleeping now, in almost a frantic way.  I do notice he's also trying to suckle his hands. I've tried unsuccessfully to get him to take a paci. I'm using the swaddle so that's helping and when he's doing this.. he usually passes right out when I do it but if he gets his arms out... it's back to rubbing them all over again? Other times... he freaks when I keep his hands in and cries. If I finally let them out... he might fall asleep with them on his face??

[ambersmum]

Hi there littlegrasshopper,
                                    My dd went thruogh a phase of doing this too, (still does if she is overtired). I think rubbing eyes when tired is normal, maybe your lo wants to eye rub but at 7weeks doesn't have the co-ordination to do so, so his hands are all over his face. Swaddling seems like a good plan. Does he do it when overtired or just always?

If Amber was keeping herself awake with the rubbing I would gently hold her hands and do sh/pat till she was asleep then very gently let go (one finger at a time) but keep sh/pat till she was really asleep.

Like everything I've worried about to do with her it was a phase and she grew out of it, maybe your lo will too.

HTH
I'd love to know how you get on

[Jaime]

Juliet has given you some great advice so far, so just wanted to add a couple things:

if he likes his hands by his face there is a version of the Aussie swaddle where you can do this.  Instructions are at the top of this forum.

also, depending on the weather where you are, his skin might be a little dry & itchy.  i've found that putting lotion on my babies after bathtime (or at least before bed if we're skipping the bath) helps too.

[teezee]

we have been trying to ween dd from her swaddle this week seeing is she is now 6 months and at first it was going wonderfully and she seemed happier to go to sleep, now she keeps waking herself up by poking her eyes out  :?  :?  and she is not overtired as i have been putting her down when she first yawns!  so maybe i will try the aussie swaddle also and do it a little more gradual.

[JennŠ]

Maybe this is his way of soothing himself?  I just keep DD's hands clean so she can't give herself pink eye.  Not so good on keeping her nails trimmed since they grow so fast.  I guess I would not worry about him doing this at this point.

[teezee]

gotta say that i used the aussie swaddle today and tonight and it works awesome!!!!!!!!!!!