Ian told me on Tuesday that he didn't want to be swaddled at naptime anymore. I was a little skeptical at first, thinking that he would change his mind as soon as his scratchy little fingernails started investigating his sleepy face. But the real hang-up was actually the sneaky fingers that kept plucking the pacifier from his mouth just as he was drifting off to sleep. His droopy eyelids would pop wide open in irritation everytime it happened, as if those naughty little fingers were not connected to the same consciousness. SO funny.
After watching those little "thieves" for 10 minutes, and replacing the binkie myself each time, I started guiding Ian's fingers to a blanket his Great Mamma (Great Grandma Searles) made for him, hoping the pacifier would be left alone. Sure enough, after 10 minutes of that, Ian's need to be swaddled had been overcome. We haven't swaddled him since, at naptime, or during the night.
I am actually feeling a little bit sad about this -- it is an unmistakable sign that he is growing up. However, I recognize that the swaddling was getting out of hand -- though he insisted on being tightly wrapped, he would usually work his hands free before you could even turn your back. And then he would cry. So, no more swaddling is a good thing.
After watching those little "thieves" for 10 minutes, and replacing the binkie myself each time, I started guiding Ian's fingers to a blanket his Great Mamma (Great Grandma Searles) made for him, hoping the pacifier would be left alone. Sure enough, after 10 minutes of that, Ian's need to be swaddled had been overcome. We haven't swaddled him since, at naptime, or during the night.
I am actually feeling a little bit sad about this -- it is an unmistakable sign that he is growing up. However, I recognize that the swaddling was getting out of hand -- though he insisted on being tightly wrapped, he would usually work his hands free before you could even turn your back. And then he would cry. So, no more swaddling is a good thing.
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7 comments:
My kids couldn't stand to be swaddled. I guess they just enjoyed their freedom.
Awww Ian is so big already!!! I cannot even believe it. Connor had the opposite problem... he stopped being swaddled because he would spit his pacifier out and then not be able to be put it back in. As soon as we stopped swaddling him (and put all of his millions of pacifiers in the crib within grabbing distance) he slept so much better.
That totally cracked me up Les, Kirk could hear me laughing and said.. "what's so funny." I told him the story and that I think it will be so fun to have kids, just for the sheer entertainment of it all.
Ian is SOOO cute, I think he is a good mix of you two. And getting so big. We miss you guys here in happy valley.
Hope you are great!
My kids loved being swaddled until they were 5-6 months old! It's so nice when they finally figure out how to put themselves to sleep without you and without being wrapped up tight. They get big too fast though!
Rees is just getting to a point where sometimes he will fall asleep without being swaddled. Ian looks like he is getting older, and cuter too. I'm not just saying that, I really think so.
This is a test. I'm having a problem posting. greatmama
Well, I wonder what made that one work??? I wanted to say that I didn't really swaddle my little ones in a blanket. I mostly used my arms and a rocking chair to cuddle in for hours. No, it didn't spoil them. I still hug every time I can get my arms around them. Even the 43 to 51 age group know the rules. And I can't wait to get my arms around our precious Ian (and his mom, and his dad, and his grandma etc, etc, etc. Love, greatmama
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