Swaddling
Swaddling can be a great thing to do for your baby, that I highly reccomend. It helps them stay asleep longer. It helps them fall asleep without startling themselves awake. And it’s similar to their position in the womb.
Some babies won't swaddle, some babies don’t like to be swaddle, but once swaddled, they settle down and go to sleep. And then others love to be swaddle. If you have one that wont swaddle, which means, they break out of it immediately or within the first hour, then this baby will most likely have to do more crying to self soothe then others. If you say, “my baby doesn’t like to be swaddle”, because you as the parent feel like you are suffocating the baby or its too claustrophobic for the baby, swaddle that baby! Those are your fears, not the babies fears. Even though your baby may cry or kick and scream while being swaddle, this is normal and it doesn’t mean your baby doesn’t like to be swaddled. Try swaddling your baby and see after a few minutes, your baby should calm down with shhhing and patting, while swaddled. If your baby doesn’t calm down, it’s probably due to something else, not the swaddle.
Around 3 to 4 months or earlier, you will stop swaddling. This is because babies start to learn to control their limbs and the sudden movements don’t startle them anymore, and wake them up. During 2-4 months, they gain better motor control and soon, some, will be able to pick up a pacifier and put it back in their mouth. Others will find their thumb or finger to help self soothe. Give swaddling a chance!