Don't know what to do!

Jacey - posted on 02/12/2009

I agree with Chelsea.  Swadding does work (although my LO can't do it anymore) and it is okay to let them cry.  I know it is difficult and sometimes my husband has to hold me back from having to go soothe her.  Crying is how a baby tires themselves out and how they releave stress.  I recommend "BabyWise".  It has truly been a miracle.  My LO now can soother herself to sleep and if she does cry now, it is usually for very little time (about 3-8 or so minutes).  She is an amazing sleeper and I owe all the credit to the book.  I loved the guidelines it gave me on how to let them cry.  Before I used the techniques she was all over the place, now it is 100 times better.  The book also stresses the need for a routine that works for your situation.  I also don't overcomplicate her bedtime routine.  It is bottle (or nursing), bath, bed.  I or my husband rock her for a few minutes and lay her down awake.  I don't use a soothing cd so she doesn't get dependent on it.  Now when we travel, I don't have to have tote a cd player along with everthing else.  It is also great because normal noises don't bother her and she either sleeps through them or will go back to sleep quickly without any soothing from me.  This is extremely important when we are in a hotel or a new house.  Hang in there.

Danielle - posted on 02/12/2009

I have the exact same problem. what I did was put a few little blankies under my sons crib sheet to soften it up a little. The first part of the night he sleeps in his swing, he loves sleeping in it. Then after he gets up I feed him his bottle and put him in his crib. I have one of those aquariums that makes soft music and water bulles and it lights uo. I put him in his crib and turn it on and rub his head. sometimes it works and he goes to sleep in his own bed, other times I have to give up and stick him in bed with me. my husband also works insane hours, so I try not to have to do that.  I thnk the key is making them comfty and reassured that sleeping in their own bed is a good thing, even though at this age they barely get it.  you could also try a rocking chair in her nursery for those nights she just wont sleep, that usually helps make you both comfty when youre trying to figure out sleeping. As for napping, I just have Johnny nap in his swing. good luck!

Chelsey - posted on 02/11/2009

Are you still swaddling her? My little never sleeps very well unless he is swaddled nice and tight. When my son started that I did everything I could to see that there was nothing obviously wrong (wet diaper, hungry etc.)  and then let him cry, However he only cried for about a half hour then he was out.

One other thing, maybe just over tired? Alex can get pretty wound up if he doesn't  nap and it takes awhile to settle by rocking and\or singing to him. Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 02/11/2009

Yeah I just found a routine that seemed to flow naturally for us ... and since I started feeding her solid foods at night, she usually could use a bath afterward so it all just flowed together. Find what works for you guys and try to be as consistent about it as you can (Carissa KNOWS her routine and if it's off .... she'll let us know lol!)
Do you have some sort of "lullabies" cd or something that you can play every night? I start her CD while nursing and then I let it play til it is done. If she happens to wake up shortly after being laid down, I will go back in and turn on the CD, give her her binky, and pat her. I think hearing the same thing every night as she goes to sleep triggers something too.
But yeah ... if she is being satisfied with nursing/bottle alone... don't worry about the solids yet (my lil porkster was eating every 1 1/2 -3 hours and not being completely satisfied, trying to grab our food and getting ticked off when we don't give it to her, so we finally introduced solid food and she does wonderful with it).

On another note ... does"Dad" sleep hard enough to where you could maybe start nursing her and move into the bedroom quietly and nurse her to sleep there? My dear,dear husband manages to sleep through everything haha so I don't tiptoe around him lol (and if I woke him up, I would just say, "yes well she's your daughter too"lol!)

Good luck to you! let us know how it works out!

Judith - posted on 02/11/2009

We have a routine, but not quite as detailed as yours.  I like the idea of bathing and reading her nightly.  I haven't started solids yet, maybe in a few weeks. She nurses/has a bottle of milk 5-6 times a day and doesn't seem hungry, so, once it's not enough, I'll add solids.  Sometimes i can't bathe her because she's too wiggly to bathe alone and dad works nights sometimes, so he's asleep.  But, I'll try a massage w/ baby lavender lotion and a book.  Maybe a more solid routine will help....thanks!

Melissa - posted on 02/11/2009

Do you have a bedtime routine?
My daughter used to be all over the board with when she would go to bed and staying asleep etc. But we just recently implemented a nighttime routine that really works quite well, and she has started sleeping 12 hours since I did this.
Our routine looks something like this:
6pm- "Dinner" (solid food), then bath time (we used to Johnson's Bedtime body wash), then I give her a lotion "massage" (with the Johnson's Bedtime lotion). We get her dressed, then read a book together (we usually end up reading the same book each night because she is very familiar with that book and likes it so it helps add to the consistency of our routine). After her book, I turn off the overhead light and turn on a small lamp in the nursery, turn on her "Lullabies" CD and nurse her in the rocking chair. And then continue to rock her until she is asleep. (She is usually asleep between 7:30 and 8.)
Since we have started this, she has also become a little more routine about day time naps.

One other thought is, how do you lay him down at night?
The only way my little one will stay asleep is on her belly. Wakes up as soon as I lay her on her back.

Anita - posted on 02/10/2009

My son will only stay asleep if after I feed him I put him on the coach beside me for about half hour then move him to his crib. I think it's because by that time his in a deeper sleep and does not awake a easy.