Countries who do not swaddle: how do you handle moro reflex?
Since people from countries who don’t typically swaddle their babies are hell-bent on telling me it’s only a practice in the United States (still wrong about that; that’s a very West hemisphere-centric thing to say IMO) I’m wondering if you could let me know how you handle the moro reflex when setting your baby down to sleep.
My 8 week old has fully transitioned to sleep sacks and it’s an ordeal getting him to sleep. Right now, we very gently hold his arms (really provide a floating barrier between his arms and the open air) for the first few startles and usually he has a pacifier. But this doesn’t always work. Especially now that he knows about his hands (otherwise I’m happy about this, his hands use to be his biggest ops) and sucks on them constantly, when the paci falls out he’s ready to wake himself with his hands. Honestly, I’m happy to keep doing this but it kills my back. We get him to sleep, fully mouth wide open and making his little “yip” noises. But he wakes himself up 50 percent of the time.
Other than alternative sleep positions that could be unsafe, what are your methods to get them to sleep through startling?
ETA: It sounds like my baby has a very sensitive moro reflex! Go figure. I had no idea since I had no frame of reference. He basically won’t go to sleep without his arms being weighted or restrained even a little bit. I guess I feel a bit better knowing it will decrease over time.