Need Advice on Getting 7 Mo Old to Sleep in His Crib

This happened to me with my first daughter. I tried so many things until i was ready to pull my hair out but was too tired. I finally pushed her crib in my room and stuck it out until she started sleeping better. Then every night or two after that I would push her bed a couple of feet closer to the door towards her room. It took a while but it worked. Hope you have some luck.

The No Cry Sleep Solution - by Elizabeth Pantley I LOVE THIS BOOK !!!

I just went through this with my 6 month old. He used to sleep really good, then when the teething began he started waking up every hour or two. Just like your baby, he's also just started rice cereal, so I wondered if that was the problem. I asked for help on this site and got a lot of good advice. What worked best for us was to feed him cereal at 8:30 or 9 at night (we started mixing the cereal with apple juice instead of formula and that was easier on his tummy). Right after he's done eating we give him mylicon to make sure he digests his food well, then it's straight to bath and into jammies and then we give him some infant motrin. This was the best advice I got from other moms on this site. If you're giving tylenol for the teething, this can have stimulating effect with some kids. So we switched to motrin cause it has ibuprofen instead of acetominophen(which is what tylenol has). So after a dose of motrin he goes straight into his bed and we let him cry it out after that. We just started this a couple days ago and the first night he woke up 3 times, crying for 15min each. Then last night he only cried 5 min each, so it seems to be working well. We did the crying it out thing with our first son too and it worked great! He only did it for 3 days and he's slept thru the night every since.

I really do feel your pain, as I said, we just did this for the second time literally days ago. It is so hard to let your kid cry it out, but believe me you'll be so glad you did it in the long run. Your baby is definitely old enough to not have to eat during the night anymore, just make sure he/she is nice and full when it's time for bed. We did this whole thing with our two year old and we're so glad we did!
--Like I said, the best thing for us was switching from tylenol to motrin!!!!!!
Good luck! This WILL end eventually just like all other phases!

Both my kids had trouble sleeping at these ages (One is still at this age, so I feel your pain). They both slept through the night by 6 weeks, then boom teeth, solid food, and crawling happened. They both started to get up several times a night. It only lasted for a few months. I think their bodies adjusted to all the changes, then they could sleep again. Just stick to your guns, make sure he's warm and well fed, then don't worry.

My doctor said that this is the age when it's okay to let them cry it out. Don't go in for every whimper. My daughter "talks/yells in her sleep," so I wait in bed to see if it continues. I'll give her a good ten minutes to see if she's really waking up. Sometimes we jump up, get in there, and pick them up (Therein, waking them up further). We don't realize it in our groggy state but we're training them to wake up repeatedly at night. Try to get him up as few times as possible. Lying in bed awake while training him to put himself back to sleep is still hard, but you get as much sleep when you were up holding him. It's a no lose situation for you. You might even gain from it.

My husband and I have had similar troubles with getting our 8 month old son to sleep through the night-- or at least most of it! Our pediatrician recommended the book "Good Night Sleep Tight" by Kim West. I purchased it just a few weeks ago, and I have to say, our little man is doing much better. Not only is he sleeping almost completely through the night now, but he is able to soothe himself when he does wake up. I rarely have to go into his room now in the middle of the night. So, the author's strategies really seem to be working well, at least for our little guy! You may want to give it a try. It is a more "gentle approach" compared to some of the others out there.

I went through a similar situation with my oldest (now 3), he teethed really early (1st teeth at 3 mo) and he never slept well again. I also co-slept with him, but at 6 mo I decided he needed to sleep in his crib. So I went through a lot of frustration trying to do it (I would not do cry-it-out...too cruel IMO). Finally, I gave up a just started thinking in terms of everyone getting as much sleep as possible and believing that everything would work itself out...and eventually it did. The only thing I did do was to put him down in his crib for naps and at bedtime. Then when he woke up at about 10 when I was ready for bed, I would just bring him into bed with me at that point. So we never had to go through the big transition to his room as he got older...he just started sleeping longer and longer stretches as he got older until he wasn't coming into our bed until early in the morning. Now...I will say you have to be willing to go with the flow, b/c my son was almost 3 before he regularly slept in his room through the night, but we actually miss him sleeping with us now. It worked for us and was a lot less frustrating and stressful for everyone. The funny thing is my 7 mo son sleeps straight through the night (12hrs) is his crib with no problems.

P.S. I tried all sorts of tricks to get him to sleep in his crib (i.e. heating pad on the mattress so it would be warm), none of it worked. I think it is hardwired for baby to want to sleep with mom and dad. I don't like sleeping alone either.

I second the teething tablets (by Hyland's: ask your pharmacist at Wal-Mart; they are over the counter).

Try putting a shirt or night gown that you have worn (or even your pillowcase that you slept on) into the crib as a comfort to your son. Babies can sense if you are there by your scent. The article will give him the sense that you are in the crib with him and he should sleep longer without you there. Just lay it close to his nose.

Another idea is to drown out any of the night time "house noises". You can do this by:

1. Running an oscilating fan in the room (the hum hum is soothing too).
2. Play a CD of lullabies on continuous play at night.

Both of my boys STILL have music and a fan (ages: 11 and 8).

I hope it helps. :o)

Blessings,

P. <><

He's just in the habit of sleeping with mom now and he likes it! I think most parents go through this at one time or another if they ever allow their child in their bed. I would just put him to sleep in his crib and when he wakes and starts to cry, go in and try to soothe him back to sleep. I'm not one for letting a baby cry, so I'd probably do the wrong thing like rock him back to sleep or give up and let him sleep with me until he was in K. I'm sure you'll figure out what is right for you all. Good luck!!

If his mouth is hurting from teething you should try some teething tablets they just melt away and they worked wonders with my two boys. I never think its a good idea to start letting a baby sleep in the bed with you mainly because it's not safe for the baby and because I've witnessed with my best friend it's a very hard habit to break. The pediatrition would probably tell you to let him cry it out in his crib just go check on him every once in a while and calm him without picking him up and eventually it'll get easier and easier. Good luck.

A.,

As a mom of 6 ages 17-5mos old they all slept with me when they were babies and they all but my 5 month old sleep in their own beds. When they are babies they are secure next to you. There is a reason you love to have him close to you. If it is not an issue for you and your husband, then let him stay and get some sleep. They do grow out of it.

I also recommend the Hyland teething tablets. They work great.
Hope this helps. Good Luck and many blessings.

E.

We had the exact same situation with my daughter and, to be honest, I ended up just finding it easier to keep her in bed with us (She always went to sleep in her crib at night but I would bring her into our bed at some poin in the night) until she weaned at about a year. At that time I started transistioning her to a "lovey" (a stuffed lamb)and keeping her in her own bed for longer and longer periods of time and, much to my surprise, she had NO problem transitioning back to her crib and now sleeps 12 hours a night with only a occasional night waking.
LOts of people will give you the cry it out advice etc. and if that worked for then than that is fine, no judgement on it or anything, but you need to do what feels right to you. Cry it out NEVER worked for my daughter and I read about three books about it and followed every rule. IT was torture for all involved. My husband and I both truly loved having our daughter in bed with us and I LOVED getting the sleep. I was a nicer person and a better mother for it and my daughter got the closeness that she clearly needed to feel safe and secure and is now an incredibly well adjusted, self sleeping toddler! Good luck!!

Maybe flannel sheets for him will keep him warm, and the sheets get cold, just a suggestion, and if he wakes, just pat him, comfort him with words etc. but don't put him in bed, or he will expcet it. He may cry a bit, but a couple three nights of this and he should fall back to sleep with your just patting him or singing to him. You and your husband need to get a good night sleep, and even be able to cuddle, and you can't with a baby there. He has to learn to be in his bed sometime.

Hi A.,
He likes being close to you! He likes your warmth, and even your smell. Try fitting a tshirt you have worn around his mattress, over the crib sheet, until his crib is familiar to him again. Also, make sure he is dressed comfortably so he isn't getting chilly during the night. I just put socks back on my little one last night while he was sleeping even though he has slept in footless pjs all summer long. Good luck!

Hi A.- Yes- you need to let them cry it out for a bit- when it gets to a real bad point- go in and reposition him but dont talk and cause any stimulation - walk right back out- may take a few tiems- but it will work- butletting him cry a bit b4 rushing in - totally ok- I know its hard for a new mom- but it will be wellworth it and you do need your sleep- Also- try putting something with your scenton it in there- maybe sleep with his blanky one night to get your Mom scent on it. Hate to say it but- maybe he needs a pacifier- my son loved his and it helped him thru some rough nites- and he gave itup just fine-

By the way I love the sleep time too- my son's 17 and he pops in every now and then for a back scratch from mom- the cuddle time just takes on a different tone-lol

Good luck!
D.

I have a 4 month old who has one tooth coming in. When he started teething he started getting really cranky and there was nothing that I could do to sooth him. I ended up just putting him in his crib and letting him cry. He eventually fell asleep. It was really hard to do the first few times because I'm used to rocking him to sleep and then putting him down.

Now, anytime he starts getting fussy, I'll give him a teething tablet and then lay him down and he falls asleep on his own, most the time without screaming/crying.

I really do recommend the "cry it out" method because it works very well. Also, maybe if he seems to be hurting throughout the night because of teething try giving him a bit of tylonol before he goes to bed and see if that helps.

He sleeps better with you because you're his mama! He was inside of you for 9 months, and he likes the closeness. My daughter is 10 months old and we co-sleep part of the time. She starts out in her crib, and moves to our bed when she wakes up in the night to nurse. I know a lot of people say this isn't good, isn't safe, and will be detrimental to her in the future, but I disagree on all points. It's the norm in most cultures to share a bed with your baby. People in the US put too much stress on independence at such a young age - my daughter will sleep in her own bed when she's ready.
Teething is a rough time for them, especially when it's their top teeth coming in. Couple that with learning all kinds of new things, still adjusting to this big world, and then not being around your main source of comfort during the night, and it's no wonder why babies like to sleep with their parents!
Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.