Houdini has been beat!

Until yesterday Everly hadn't met a swaddle that she couldn't beat. One of her new nicknames is Houdini because every time we swaddle her with a blanket or one of the Swaddle Me wraps or Halo sleep sacks she finds a way to bust out of the top or bottom of the wrap.

Even though many of the experts agree that swaddling is best for newborn babies because it simulates the living conditions in the womb, Miss Everly does not like to have her arms confined down by her side and as a result she fights the swaddle until she successfully breaks free. I can't even count how many times Danny and I have stood over her crib and giggled as we watched her perform her escape act. It is actually quite a sight to see. She really kicks up a fuss when she is trying to find a way out of the swaddle. She grunts, kicks her feet, shimmies her body, wiggles her head from side to side, and flails her arms until she finds a way to bust out of it. After she breaks free the loose fabric from the blanket or swaddle wrap presents a suffocation hazard which terrifies me to no end. I am constantly going in to check on her while she is sleeping to make sure she is ok.

Trying to wrap her in a swaddle is a completely separate battle within itself. Little Everly is strong and she fights with all her might when we try to swaddle her. This always makes her extra fussy when we try to lay her down for a nap. Not a good combination for parents or babies who need sleep!

Most people would probably say, "Well don't swaddle her then. She clearly doesn't like it." However, we have found that if we don't swaddle her then she constantly wakes herself up with her flailing arms. Either way it is a lose lose situation.

In an attempt to find a solution I started searching the Internet for other alternatives to swaddling and that is when I discovered the Woombie! The Woombie is the answer to my prayers. Basically the Woombie is like a sleep sack that does not have arm holes. It zips up and is made of a spandex like material that allows for movement and stretching while sleeping. We have been using it for the past 24 hours and I have seen a noticeable difference in the amount of time Everly sleeps during her naps and at night. She also does not fuss when we put her in it and it does not matter how much she wiggles and squirms there is no way for her to break free. Most importantly it allows her to have her arms in a position that is most comfortable for her and there is no way for the material to get close to her mouth or nose while she is sleeping.

Score after Day 1 of using the Woombie:

Woombie: 8 - Everly: 0

Horray for the Woombie!