How to get my baby to sooth herself to sleep.

Lindsey - posted on 04/05/2009

my little boy wunt go t sleep wen he wo in the same room as me n my partner but wen we put him in his own room es away with the faries lol es in bed 4 7 sometimes 7.30 n gets up about 7.30 so e does a good 12 hours i dont rock him t sleep or owt like that coz he will get used t it as many babies wud do if e cries wen hes in his bedroom we just ignore him coz the more times we enter his bedroom e will get used t that aswell so we some times let him av a nap threw the day but that still dint stop him from sleeping on a nite time u just av t b strong about it ur the mother not the kids b strong dont giv in to them

Ally - posted on 04/05/2009

As a nurse i seriously hate babywise...sleep training a young infant is simply rediculous. infants are designed to wake frequently at night..it is a protective mechanism that keeps moms milk supply up and babies alive...why on earth anyone would expect an infant to self soothe is beyond me...there have been so many people advocating against the dangers of using baby wise from the la leche leauge to the american academy of pediatrics. A much better reference is the baby sleep book by dr.sears it tells you all about what is going on developmentally and physically with your newborn and why sleep traing should be avoided and the dangers associated with it. AS for it being an important life skill...we don't even expect adults to self soothe if they are upset or uncomfortable. ...i can't even imagine leaving my one year old to cry herself to sleep...the only thing that teaches her is that mommy wont be there for me when i need her. We cosleep and it has worked wonders for us ...we all get sooo much sleep and have never had one tear at bedtime...she falls asleep in about 2 min and wakes maybe one or two times a night to nurse for about 5 min and i don't even have to open my eyes ...seriously reconsider the babywise advice ...it is a total sham.



http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/aneyaap.htm

http://drbenkim.com/articles-attachment-...

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100...

Sherree - posted on 04/04/2009

I think 2 months is too early to expect this, from my experience with my one baby. She has just started being able to go to sleep by herself (but using music or a mobile to watch) at 5 1/2 months. And some nights she can't so I still breastfeed her and hold her a bit longer before trying to put her down. We also wait until we see her nodding off on the couch and that makes it easier. But some nights she doesn't get calm and drowsy, she gets cranky and then the only way I can calm her is by breastfeeding to sleep or at least to a state of almost-sleep.

Tara - posted on 04/03/2009

I read the book "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child" and it was wonderful but it also doesn't recommend any type of CIO methods until at least 4 months. I also agree that she is still a little young.

I started my son on this when he was 4 1/2 months old. He took to it well and fast however his naps at first were only about 30 mins as well but after a while he started napping longer so now his naps range from 1 hour - 2 1/2 hours. 

All the best!

Laura - posted on 04/03/2009

I had this problem with my daughter. I did let my daughter cry herself to sleep at 2 months and she did okay. But she did a lot better when we had put a stuffed puppy that my son had made for her in the corner of her pack n play and she did awesome. I think she felt kind of alone and the puppy made her feel comforted. She is now 15 months and ever since then she has been going to bed without a peep. It all depends on the baby. Some babies start sleeping better right away and others it takes a lil bit longer. I think my daughters problem was was that she felt a lil alone even though we were in the same room with her, but I don't think she realized it. And when we put that puppy in with her it made her feel more comfortable and made her feel like she wasn't alone. And some babies do need a lil bit more comfort than others and there's nothing wrong with that. For right now I would say do what's working right now. And then later on try something else. I hope this helps. Good luck

Emily - posted on 04/03/2009

Even the author of Babywise doesn't recomend it until 6 months old, though. She must not have learned to self-sooth or she'd be taking longer naps. She is sooooo incredibly young you'll need to take it really slowly. Give her lots of love and lots to eat. Rock her if that is what she needs. Put her to bed full, clean and drowsly sometimes she may put herself to sleep. If she calls for you respond appropriately by picking her up, comforting, soothing, nursing whatever she tells you she needs. After a bit of this putting her to bed drowsy she will start falling asleep on her own a little better. Maybe looking at a mobile would help.