Swaddling for naps

[Birdy]

Megs mom - you are really such a huge help to folks - the moderators on this site are really wonderful.  Anyhow - I have several nap-related questions and don't know why I have waited a good month or two to ask a question.  I guess I am just so busy reading everything. 

Ok here goes.   So my lo will be 6 months in a week.   She has always been a 45 minute napper and pretty much wakes up happy from them.  We swaddle her with both arms in these days (this is the only way she extends her naps to 1.5 hours and me putting pressure on her legs so she won't raise them up to slam and drop).  She used to find her fingers  and that would sometimes help her to go back down after the first cycle but now she waves her hand in the air and draws on the crib bumper.    So my question is -  do most folks swaddle tightly still at this age for naps AND bedtime?   We just swaddle for naps -  at bedtime she has a blanket sleeper on and would most likely come out of an additional swaddle I think - since night sleep is pretty resltless - unless I wrapped her like a mummy.   One more thing while  I am asking you if you don't mind - I don't know where I would have posted this.   So I know bathtime is part of the night routine for most folks.   It is for us as well, however, seeing that all our lo wants to do is splash like a champ - it doesn't seem all that relaxing?  Is it still the fact that she is in warm
water?  What do you think about that.   Thanks much.

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Hello, and welcome to the boards 

I just wanted to let you know, I am one of the moderators for the Naps forum, and I noticed that you posted at the end of another post. Unfortunatley, our board is a busy one, and your post was getting buried under all the new ones. I have 'split' the topic, which basically means that your post is now a new topic, which hopefully will be seen more clearly, so more people can help you.

I really hope we can help you   If you have any questions, please don't hesistate to ask

Caroline

[tylersmommy]

I swaddled Tyler for naps only until he was 8 mo or so. He seemed ready to have his arms free, so we gradually weaned to wrapping his legs with a blanket. He just turned 2, and that's how he still naps. We kept doing it because the act of swaddling had become part of his nap routine, and the blanket is now his lovey. I'm a big believer in swaddling however long you and your baby want to.

For baths, I've read that the warm water slightly elevates body temperature, and that can help babies relax and fall asleep easier. That wasn't exactly true for us, as we were never able to include baths as part of Tyler's nightly routine because he just got too wound up. From what I've heard, though, it does work for most babies. Hope that helps, and welcome to the boards!

[Meg's Mom]

You have been given a great welcome and advice on above posts.

I wanted to say thank you for the compliment, ALL the mods here work really hard and care tons about helping :-).  We remember very clearly how desperate we were when we first joined! lol

So my question is -  do most folks swaddle tightly still at this age for naps AND bedtime?   We just swaddle for naps -  at bedtime she has a blanket sleeper on

  We swaddled Megan until she was almost 9 mos!  But we started leaving her arms out and just her feet in towards the end.  If it helps extend her naps then IMO, stick w/ it. 

the bath ? - Like Tylersmommy said, it works for some.  What i read was that the warm water brings the temp up and the quick drop, helps them to fall asleep.  Is it causing problems w/ your LO settling at night?

Welcome again, to a wonderful place for support in this wonderful thing called parenthood 

[corrina01]

I still swaddled my DD tightly like a mummy, she loves it, for nap times and bedtimes, it works well.

Re the bathtime,  my DD splashes constantly and laughs, I didn't think it would be relaxing, but as soon as she is out of the bath, gets in her sleepsuit, she knows its time for bed.  I give her a bottle while singing a lullaby.  When I get the swaddled ready, she is grinning like a cheshire cat, as she knows it is time for bed.  She goes out like a light.

I think when my DD splashes about it is to release the tension, and preparing herself for the long night ahead.

HTH