Why Are Parents So Anti-Swaddling?

[crazydaycarelady]

Yes, I agree. You can find "proof" to support just about any opinion when it comes to parenting. I think companies and new fangled inventions are making things harder too. Because of Pull-Ups we now have kids walking around in soaking "diapers" until they are 3 1/2. Kids can't use silverware because they are only used to sucking from pouch. I have a 9mo that can't sit up (just got him) unless he is in a Bumbo. These new things aren't helping kids. I keep getting kids that have all kinds of issues like these that I never used to see.

[preschoolteacher]

Kids can't use silverware because they are only used to sucking from pouch.

^^^^^This!!^^^^

It's just a pet peeve of mine! I know of some kids who get something like two meals a day from a pouch. Ugh!

I admit I throw an applesauce pouch into my diaper bag on occasion when I'm going out on a long walk with my son near snacktime. But the child certainly doesn't need to suck on a pouch every time he's in a shopping cart/car seat/stroller or when I'm too lazy to put together a real meal!

[Scout]

I swaddled DS2 until like 6 or 7 mos! I think that it really did make his development slower because his legs were so constricted. I know it helped him sleep well, gosh, he slept so good. But, I was terrified of the thought of having to get him to sleep well without it. I panicked knowing that my sleep would get interupted and he'd be in distress trying to sleep without that swaddle. I went to a one arm swaddle and then a sleepsack-which I LOVED! What a great way to keep baby warm without the worry of a blanket. The short end would be I guess I agree with BC also...it would've been much easier for me to get him self soothing at a few weeks old before I went back to work than to wait until he was much older and I had to get up before 5 am!

[Familycare71]

I guess I'm a softie! I feel bad for babies - they come from this warm, tight, dark, rocking, white noise filled place to a loud, bright, cold, hard environment. Everything is new, loud and startling- I guess I feel like if I can take some of that from them I want to. I don't mind slowly letting them adjust to this harsh world. If I have a full time infant by the time they are 4-6 months they don't need anything to sleep but maybe a pacifier (depends on home).
I also try to wear infants as much as I can until they are about 2-2.5 months old (except sleep but then I swaddle)...

[Angelsj]

Yes, I agree. You can find "proof" to support just about any opinion when it comes to parenting. I think companies and new fangled inventions are making things harder too. Because of Pull-Ups we now have kids walking around in soaking "diapers" until they are 3 1/2. Kids can't use silverware because they are only used to sucking from pouch. I have a 9mo that can't sit up (just got him) unless he is in a Bumbo. These new things aren't helping kids. I keep getting kids that have all kinds of issues like these that I never used to see.

This is so true!! However, they suck directly from those things??!!! Ok, I admit to being an old fart here. I just assumed they were a non glass means of storing the baby food (which I do not use.) Interesting. Learn something new every day!

[Angelsj]

I guess I'm a softie! I feel bad for babies - they come from this warm, tight, dark, rocking, white noise filled place to a loud, bright, cold, hard environment. Everything is new, loud and startling- I guess I feel like if I can take some of that from them I want to. I don't mind slowly letting them adjust to this harsh world. If I have a full time infant by the time they are 4-6 months they don't need anything to sleep but maybe a pacifier (depends on home).
I also try to wear infants as much as I can until they are about 2-2.5 months old (except sleep but then I swaddle)...

I agree. I don't fault those who teach the babies to sleep well or the providers who want them to do so, but I am more comfortable wearing little ones. And I do wear them while they sleep, and probably through 8-9 months depending on the activity level of the child. Some sleep better in a PNP by more around 4-5 months. Others don't like it until 8-9 months.
I don't swaddle though. Our regs do not permit it. Also no swings for sleeping. That would have killed one of my older boys. Only way the kid EVER slept was in the swing.

[Blackcat31]

This is so true!! However, they suck directly from those things??!!! Ok, I admit to being an old fart here. I just assumed they were a non glass means of storing the baby food (which I do not use.) Interesting. Learn something new every day!

I used to think that too! Then one of my 5 yr olds showed up with one. They had "sucked" it dry and were trying to re-inflate it. When I asked what it was, I got a lesson on fruit pouches...

I made a comment about how I thought it was just eco-friendly packaging for baby food....mom got kind of huffy.....like I was implying her child was a baby...

Well I wasn't but my other 5 yr olds eat actual pears not pureed....sooooo

I have also been told they make little plastic spoons that screw onto the pouches so you can just squeeze how ever much you want into the spoon to feed baby.

Guess you learn some thing new every day.

[Familycare71]

I agree. I don't fault those who teach the babies to sleep well or the providers who want them to do so, but I am more comfortable wearing little ones. And I do wear them while they sleep, and probably through 8-9 months depending on the activity level of the child. Some sleep better in a PNP by more around 4-5 months. Others don't like it until 8-9 months.
I don't swaddle though. Our regs do not permit it. Also no swings for sleeping. That would have killed one of my older boys. Only way the kid EVER slept was in the swing.

I don't fault anyone either! . Learning to put yourself to sleep is a huge skill! I just can't make myself do it before 4-6 months and I try not to hold for sleep time
Yes- the no sleeping in swings would have wrecked some of my past dck! But it is what it is now...

[Lavender]

I swaddled my oldest child for a long time because he needed to feel contained to sleep well. My middle child didn't care one way or another. My youngest hated swaddling. I think it is one tool among many tools that can be used for different children depending on their needs.

Regarding those pouches, I thought it was just a new way of packaging baby food too. I just squeeze them out into bowls and spoon feed like normal. I saw some kids sucking on them at the grocery store and was confused. I've ended up finding out that at least one of the babies in my class is very used to feeding herself from a pouch. I think that's sad as I think the parent-child interaction during feeding times is important.

[Angelsj]

I used to think that too! Then one of my 5 yr olds showed up with one. They had "sucked" it dry and were trying to re-inflate it. When I asked what it was, I got a lesson on fruit pouches...

I made a comment about how I thought it was just eco-friendly packaging for baby food....mom got kind of huffy.....like I was implying her child was a baby...

Well I wasn't but my other 5 yr olds eat actual pears not pureed....sooooo

I have also been told they make little plastic spoons that screw onto the pouches so you can just squeeze how ever much you want into the spoon to feed baby.

Guess you learn some thing new every day.

Exactly. Why are we feeding our children over processed garbage anyway? What is wrong with a pear? Comes in its own convenient biodegradable package? Sigh.

And little spoons? I suppose that might be nice while traveling so you have something you know your baby could eat, but for standard use? :confused: