Hello,
I am having trouble at nights putting my 2.5 month old to sleep. I have a 3 year old son, who is great and handling the change of his new little sister wonderfully...However, our situation is a little tough because my husband works nights so I am alone to put the 2 of them to bed. Our daughter had some colic which has resolved (cutting out dairy on my part) but during those 2 weeks she was soothed in my sling and left to sleep there because when we tried putting her down (in bed, swing,etc) she would wake. Because I didn't want her to get overtired, I let her sleep on me in my sling.
Now, a couple weeks later we can get her to sleep wonderfully with a song and rocking, sucking on my boob also is a big part of it!! But the minute we put her down she wakes up. And we can't sustain this because I have my 3 year old to look after as well and bedtime routine is tough for him when she is on my hip or boob, tired and not being able to put her to sleep in her bed. She refuses a pacifier, although she loves to suckle on my breast. We are also co-sleeping which works out great at night because she nurses and goes right back to sleep without a hitch. I am so lucky because we are definately not too sleep deprived....it's just the days of 15 minute naps that are tough!! I'm afraid that because we co-sleep and she was in my sling so close to me that she can only sleep literally ON me!! Can I let her cry it out a bit at this age? I'm a big fan on Dr.Weissbluth and his book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and it helped us with our son to sleep. I am also a huge believer in the better rested a baby, the better for her and all. Which is why I sometimes just give in and let her sleep in my sling or in my arms just so she is rested. But I would really like to put her down (she is sleepy around 7:30) and let her have a nice sleep while I finish my evening putting my son to bed! What can I do? I've always had it in the back of my head that I would wait until 3 or 4 months to let her cry but I am beginning to get desperate and it's really not fair to my son as I can have only one hand to do everything with which is pretty hard!
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance..
I don't have an answer sorry except that the earliest I've heard is ok to let them cry is 5 mos.
My son was quite colicky in the beginning. He naps best at an incline because he has reflux. He naps in his swing or in his little rocker (it looks like a bouncy seat). At night I feed him and let him sleep upright for about 30 minutes in his rocker, then move him to his crib. He sleeps through the night. Once we figured out that he needed to sit upright for 30 minutes after a feeding things worked out much more nicely for us. Your baby needs to feel "safe" I am betting, so swaddling is a great way to do that...as is sleeping in a seat or swing. A big empty crib can freak a newborn out. Good luck!!
First off, try the website, www.drmomma.org
Secondly, try the book "The Vital Touch" by Sharon Heller. Your local library should have a copy or grab one off of Amazon.com
Thirdly, my son was like your daughter when he was small. We did and continue to co-sleep - I'm glad that is working out for you.
I don't think the CIO is a solution to any problem for any child. Instead what I did with my kiddo at nap time was to lie down with him. Then once he was out like a light, I would inch off the bed and leave him sleeping. Barricading him in with pillows and the like...it would work for us and I could get some things done. Try it and see if it works for you. It may be the moving around that wakes her...taking her off of you and placing her down in her crib...that kind of moving is waking her.
Best wishes.
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Try swaddling her, and I really recommend The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. It really helped with my son when he was a newborn. Before the book he was sleeping for 15-30 minutes at a time, afterward we could get 2-4 hours at a stretch, and longer as he got older.
I personally believe in CIO to teach your baby to self-soothe, but I think that your daughter is still too young. I would wait a few more months.
Good luck!
First off I believe she is waaayyy too young to cry it out. I personally do not think that method is appropriate until 7-8 mths or so...and as last ditch effort only. I don't think that should ever be main course of action, last resort only...just my opinion.Babies often change sleep habits so hopefully you will see a change in the near future.
Personally I am not a fan of full time co-sleeping and I nursed both of mine (age 8 yrs & 7 mths-still nursing). Maybe you could start a very bedtime specific ritual, whether you turn all lights low, give her warm wipedown, lotion, read, sing, whatever you want to perform nightly & you can involve your son as well. Everyone in our house just knows it going to get a little quieter & darker when it's time to wind down & lay the baby down. It actually has helped our older son be more ready for bed as well. A routine seemed to be very common advice from the experts & has worked for us. (Although I had to rock #1 each time but he eventually stayed asleep when I put him in his crib.) I do nightly routines w/ our baby now & he goes down great. I don't believe a sling is a safe way for such a young baby to sleep. I understand carrying her in that, but I'm weary of you sleeping as well. Also, with our baby, I realized he slept much better after I moved him out of the bassinet into his own room, in the crib.
I know that getting babies to sleep is the million dollar ? & I'd be rich if I had the one answer! Good luck & be careful w/ the sling!
Oh, and will she sleep in vibrating chair or swing? I learned to sleep while rocking vibrating chair w/ my foot!!!
Hi,
If I were you, I'd pick one or two times a day (when your toddler is occupied and you have the patience) and try to get her to sleep on her own. I understand that when your son needs your attention it is hard to spend the time you need to get your baby to sleep. I have been going through the same thing except for me I'd put my baby to sleep in the swing or buzzing bouncy sleep when I just didn't have the time or emotional strength to get him down in his crib.
What my husband figured out (since he doesn't have boobs to rely on :) is a loud and rythmic shhh, shhh, shhh, shhh and a solid rocking really gets him to sleep (I think from the happiest baby on the block). My son sleeps in a moses basket, so we shush him while bouncing the basket on one end. After 30 seconds or a minute his eyes start to roll in back of his head and he is out. I rarely put him down in the swing or bouncy seat now and I hope to be able to wean him off bouncing soon. A lot of it is about getting the timing right and not missing his nap window. After 90 minutes of awake time I know he'll need a nap soon.
You didn't say what time your son goes to bed, but could you get him ready for bed first and have him read books or watch TV while you put the baby to bed then focus on him. Or if she is going to be fussing and distracting, wear her while you put him down then focus on her. You mention a sling, maybe you just need a better carrier and you won't mind the times she sleeps on you? I love my Beco.
Good luck
I believe in CIO and she's too young. If she's sleeping in the sling while you get your son to bed, he's still getting your undivided attention. I just recomended to someone else the ergo - she'd be really tucked into your chest and basically out of the way. Same thing with naps during the day. I think you should just let it ride until she's about 4 months, and if nothing's changed, think about trying to change things up then. Good luck.
Hi M.,
I have a ten week old too and I have the same issue. She will sleep for 15 minutes and then wake up. I walk around the house with the baby bjorn and I am able to get a few things done. But I am exhausted and it gets frustrating. I too, sleep with the baby wherever she falls asleep because I am so concerned she will wake up because there are only so many times that I can handle. I read to my five year old and tell him stories before bed while rocking the stroller with one foot. My husband goes to bed super early to get up early for work. Anyway, the only solution that I have found that buys me a little more time is that I brought the stroller upstairs and I can rock her a bit and occasionally I can get more sleep time from her during the day. She will sleep well on her stomach but that makes me too nervous. I am thinking of trying to swaddle her again...but under the arms this time. I am interested to hear what the others say because I need help as well. Uggg. Everything I read says to put the baby down while still awake. I have tried this as well and she may sleep yet wakes up again in 15 minutes.
