My son is having a growth spurt and is teething, screaming all of the time & moving his arms & legs up and down. It takes forever to calm him unless he is swaddled. What should I do?

It may be that your son is not ready to be weaned from the swaddle and he is being extremely “fussy” because of it. Not all babies are ready to be weaned from swaddling at 6 months of age, it may be that your son needs it longer. Many babies benefit from swaddling for 8, 9, even 10 months of age, but rarely longer.

You will have an easier time weaning the swaddle if you play our Super-Soothing Sleep Sounds CD of white noise. Dr. Karp recommends parents use it for the first year, especially during the period of teething, which you mentioned your son is experiencing now. Dr. Karp suggests playing tracks 3, 4 or 5 at the sound level of a shower and play continuously throughout his naps and nighttime sleeps.

After a few nights of continuously playing white noise for your son, try swaddling him with one arm out of the swaddle as described on page 218 of The Happiest Baby on the Block book.