It is truly amazing what we as parents are willing to do for more sleep. Whether it be a swaddle, expensive bassinet, multiple types of pacifiers, or any other claim to fame aiding in more sleep for one’s baby.
Well, at least I will do just about anything! I have to say neither of my boys are great sleepers, especially as babies. Even with all the tried and tested claim to fame products.
Beginning With Grayson’s Sleep Habits
Grayson’s sleep improved when we found out he had a milk allergy and changed his formula to Similac Alimentum. As well as when he was diagnosed with reflux and given medication.
I never really swaddled Grayson and it was never really pushed at the time. At the hospital is really the only time I can recall him being swaddled.
Grayson’s current sleep routine has become somewhat of a part-time job! Though I can’t complain too much because he is still taking one nap during the day.
I know some two and a half year old’s stop napping altogether. Heavens help their moms. He is also sleeping through the night. I suppose you take the good with the bad. Right?
Beginning Of The Sleep Struggle
Since No Sleep = True Nightmares
When Mason was waking up every 2 hours AND not napping, I was desperate to change his sleeping course. I brought it up at pretty much every well check-up.
Which the doctor attributed it to his startle reflex being extremely prominent. As well as his feeding issues we were having.
Doctors Suggestion
Our pediatrician suggested that we swaddle Mason and that should solve the sleeping problem. If not solve he thought it would at least help some. I tried to explain to him that Mason wasn’t a huge fan of the swaddle.
I had tried but Mason really didn’t like to have his hands restrained. Which his retort was Mason would eventually get used to it and it was what would stop him from waking himself up. Pretty much telling me,
“Hey lady, he doesn’t have a choice strap him down and stop complaining”, in nicer words of course!
Rolling And The Sleep Sack
Since I read that this is an absolute, No-No!
Mason had also started rolling from his back to his belly right before he was four months old.
This made me somewhat nervous that he would roll at night and not be able to roll back over because he was swaddled.
All the horrible “Mom” thoughts/fears would flood into my mind, dramatic but true.
Mason was still sleeping in our room at the time and I was able to see him at all times. Even so, it still made me nervous.
The doctor ensured me that if he was strong enough to roll from his back to his belly that he would be able to roll to a position where he could breathe. Even if his arms were restrained in the swaddle.
He said the swaddle would also deter him from rolling altogether. Since of course, they say “back is best”.
Changing Up The Swaddle
There are lots of swaddle options available for a reason. Right?
I had been using the SwaddleMe Original Swaddle and decided that maybe a different swaddle would be better.
Throw some money at the situation and see if that fixes it. Well, at least that’s what my husband says my solution is sometimes!
I probably would have found this retort funny if I had slept more, I’m sure! Humor is not my forte when sleep deprived!
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The Halo Sleep Sack
I went out and bought a Halo sleep sack that had the option to have arms in or out. I would say that it helped for a few nights. Or it could have just been a coincidence.
Either way, I continued to use it through gritted teeth while Mason would fuss and squirm to get free when you initially put him in it.
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No Sleep For Anyone
Which meant we were one fun bunch, let me tell you!
No one was sleeping well during this time because Mason would wake at most all noises. Grayson’s nightly routine involved watching a show in our room while cuddling in our bed with us. Which was not conducive to Mason sleeping while this was occurring.
Add to that the fact that my husband would snore while Mason was 6 feet from our bed. I would of course kick him repeatedly urging him to roll over before he woke the baby. Adding in the threat that he would be the one getting up if he woke him.
Time For Change
Because at some point, something has to give.
This cycle felt like a bad rerun that continued night after night never cessing to change. So when Mason was about four months old we decided to transition him into his own room to sleep. We hoped that maybe a quieter sleep environment would aid in him sleeping better.
Related: Pink & Brown To Beige And Blue – Mason’s Bedroom Makeover
New Perspective Bodes New Hope
At Least The Suggestions Of New Things To Try. My Throw Money At It Solution Again.
So at his next well check, which was with the Nurse Practitioner this time, I yet again brought of the issue of sleeping. She told me about some other swaddles that I could try.
I felt like she related a little better to my situation. She had a baby a couple of months older than Mason and two other kids. Obviously needing her sleep as well because she was working on top of being a Mom.
The NP suggested I try the Baby Merlin and the Nested Bean Sleepsack. From her own experience and others, she instilled hope in my sleep disaster.
There were also some helpful tips on sleep training that she gave me. Because sometimes you need reassurance in what you are doing.
Having that vote of confidence that you are indeed doing everything you should, ignites a new wave of confidence to power through.
I, of course, immediately went out and bought both sleep sacks that she recommended. Sleep-deprived for me equals desperate.
I had heard about both of them before but never really looked into them too deep. Probably because I didn’t really feel that Mason liked to be swaddled.
Magic Merlin
It sadly wasn’t magical for Mason.
Well, I will tell you the Magic Merlin, though hilarious looking since it made poor Mason look like the Michelin Man, was a big N-O. It didn’t even last “nap” time.
He was so mad that he couldn’t roll onto his belly to sleep in the puffy yellow suit. It quickly became obvious it would not be something that comforted him but rather made him cry more. It was more like a weep sack for Mason, not a sleep sack.
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Next The Nested Bean
Which is a somewhat strange name to me but anything nested and rested sounds a-okay with me!
So my next hope was the Nested Bean. Since Mason was now rolling and preferred to sleep on his tummy I felt this might actually work for him. I put it on him so that the weighted egg rested on his back.
I do feel like the Nested Bean sleep sack helped. Probably because it allowed him to have his hands. Along with allowing him to roll and applying pressure to his back since he was now a tummy sleeper.
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The Right Combination
Or Magic Because Both Are Possible, Right?
Between the Nested Bean, Mason sleeping in his own room, and finding the right formula the combination allowed Mason to sleep longer stretches through the night!
Related: Baby Formula: One Nightmare After Another
Eventually, I stopped the swaddling and using the sleep sacks all together and he did just fine. Well not before I bought the next size up of the Halo Swaddle and a Burt’s Bee’s Sleep Sack which I never ended up using!
I would say I would hold on to them maybe for the next one. I’m pretty sure after Mason, Kevin will say we won’t be going for another! Even though I would love a little girl.
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The Jury’s Still Out
Since there was no instant fix and TIME really was the healer of this sleep deprivation!
I really can’t say whether the sleep sacks aided in my gaining of sleep or not. You could have swaddled me in any of them and I would have slept for days but it’s not about me, I know!
It could have just been the time we were in, the fourth trimester as I’ve heard it called. Which I would say is quite fitting of a description. Or it could have been the other changes we made.
But I will say out of all the ones I tried the Nested Bean was the one we saw the most improvement with. Though none gave us the dream of a full night’s sleep. Every extra minute gained counts, right!
