The Miracle Blanket

[MGardner]

Does anyone use this blanket? We use it consistently for all naps and night time sleep, he is 11 weeks old. My mother criticizes me and says it's putting my LO in a straight jacket and says it will hinder his development. I am worried about that too but my LO will not stay asleep without it as his arms are flailing and his jolts wake him up. He is a light sleeper. Another thing is on the package of the Miracle Blanket it says not to use it for more than 8 consistent hours, or 10 hours in a 24 hour period. Well...since he sleeps for 6 straight hours, then is fed and sleeps another 2 then fed and 2 again and most of the time I keep him wrapped unless I have to change his diaper in which case I unwrap the blanket change his diaper and wrap him right back up again, I am obviously breaking the rules. ALso because he sleeps in it for all naps we are going way over the 10 hour limit. But if I simply swaddle him in a recieving blanket or even a swaddle me blacket with velcro he busts out of those things in under a minute. Am I hurting him or his development by using this Miracle Blanket? Why does it have an hour limit on there? Do his arms fall asleep, because when I unwrap him when he wakes up he seems to be in a little pain... What should I do instead if I can't use this miracle blanket for those many hours? Should I not be swaddling for naps? When shoudl I stop swaddling?

[Coliedy]

My mother calls the swaddle that we used a straight jacket also.  We just called our son “our little burrito”.  First of all, the good thing is that the arm flailing that you are talking about is probably a startle reflex that should start to subside if not disappear soon.  (could be later than sooner I’m not a doc)  The swaddle that we used with Matthew had Velcro and he could get out of it too but, we are just now getting him to sleep without it and he is six months old.  As far as swaddling for too many hours a day I have no idea about.  This could be a question for your ped.  Matthew was swaddled only at night.  For naps he sleeps in his swing.  I know it’s a prop but it worked for him and only took three days and a lot of hard work to get him to take naps in his crib.  However, our thought process in only swaddling was to help him associate that swaddling was for “long” sleeps and it seemed to work for him.  We just switched him about two weeks ago from the swing to the crib.    If he seems like your LO is in a little pain maybe you could try loosening the swaddle, or massaging before and after swaddling.  Anyway I hope this helps with some of your questions.

[numberonenole]

We also use the Miracle Blanket for all naps and at night time, so he is in it for at least 15 hours a day (he is 12 weeks old). It helps him go to and stay asleep. He is also a light sleeper which has been very frustrating. I'm so glad I found something that helps! I think it is turning into where he knows if he is swaddled it is time to sleep. I read about the developmental concerns concerning all swaddling techniques, so I always unswaddle him as soon as he wakes up. I also unswaddle him at night when I feed him. I didn't see anything about the number of hours so I hadn't worried about that until now. I have started leaving the part around his arms loose. Since the rest of the blanket keeps him nice and tight I haven't really felt I needed to use the extra bondage! Maybe you could try that if you think his arms are bothered by it. If only they could talk!

[Southernbelle]

I used the Miracle blanket too.  I think as long as baby is getting stimulation and active time when he's awake there is nothing to worry about.  Also, if Lo is achieving the developmental milestones don't worry about it.  My opinion is that it is actually the niceset thing we can do for them because it allows them good sleep which is needed for brain development.  So when people comment on it as being cruel, just remind yourself that most people do not understand the need for swaddling and they are not the ones who have to live with a poor sleep deprived baby!  I know some women on here kept their Los swaddled up to six months!  Hang in there.  It's hard when it's your mom giving  you a hard time, because we all want our mom's approval in how we raise our babies.  I have had to learn that some things have changed since my mom  had babies and she can learn some things from me too.