Hello everyone!
I'm a mother of 3 (4y 2y and 5 m)... My first 2 were good sleepers and I thought I was doing well with this one but with storm sandy, a family trip and a bought of the flu, I feel like we spoiled him and now he cannot put himself to sleep. Since I am not new to this, I know how important it is that he learn to self soothe. I do breast feed and need to know if I let him cry 5-10 minutes, is that too much for a 5 mon old? I do have to add that he cries hysterically and doesn't not seem to know how to calm himself. Its so sad to watch. The bad habits Im doing are..rocking him to sleep for naps, breast feeding him at night ( at 2am and then again at 7), I haven't. Let him cry it out because he gets so worked up that it looks painful. I am at a crossroad...I'm exhausted during the day, losing patience with the other 2 which isn't fair, and just know he needs to sleep....I appreciate your advice!
Why are those considered bad habits? I've never understood why rocking an infant, and feeding them when they are hungry is a bad habit.
I'm a mom of 8, never used CIO, rocked most of them up to a year old if they wanted, not all of them did. Fed on demand, and have perfectly healthy children who did learn to self soothe when they were emotionaly and physically ready.
I still BFed at night at that age. To get out of rocking to sleep for naps I would put them in their crib at naptime and then, turn down light, turn on music machine or mobile, then do something in the room like fold laundry. They started drifting off to sleep. If they started crying I would pat their head or back till they calmed and tried again. So basically I was in the room but teaching to self soothe.
Good luck - they can't all be good sleepers :)
If he cries hysterically and stops when you feed him - he is hungry. It is NOT a bad habit to feed a hungry baby. I did NOT do CIO - I think all it teaches a baby is that when they cry (their only method of communication) that no one comes to meet their needs. I also did not 'put my son down' for naps. He napped when he was tired - he simply fell asleep. I do not see why people feel the need to set their baby's sleep schedules when they will set their own schedule based upon their biologic need to sleep on their own.
Have you tried the baby whisperer method? Start with his nap. When he cries, pick him up and help him sooth (rock or pat his back). When he calms, put him down. Repeat until he is able to go to sleep. You could also nurse until drowsy and then put him down, and repeat until asleep.
Also, make sure you pay attention for the window. I know it's hard to watch a baby, but on the second yawn, move into his bedroom and start helping him to relax. I figure I will make a game of watching for yawns with my older kids when the time comes.....
Every child is different. Do what works. My son is almost 6 and doesn't consistently sleep through the night. It's how his system is. Your child is 5 months old. You don't have bad habits - he's an infant and needs the contact and attention. Cut yourself a break, and don't try to force the self soothing thing. He may not be ready to do that yet.
