falling asleep

Sue-Anne - posted on 02/16/2010

The important thing is to try lots of options and see what works for you and your child. One of my kids had very short sleep needs and she was best to fall asleep on my husband's or my lap. I was told I was not doing the right thing but then we found out months later she had ear infections that noone knew about! Our second child slept lots more and would fall asleep anywhere, even when she was 10yrs old ! Every child is an individual, just as every Mum is and every family is. Don't stress about it and it will all work out eventually.

Mom Mom - posted on 02/16/2010

At two months let sleep where ever she sleeps. SHe is too young to know wehre she's sleeping. She is just an eating, sleeping. pooping machine right now. Once she starts staying wake longer thorughout the day you can start to develope habits that she get use to. I have been babysitting my 5 month old grandaughter since she was two months old every day. Like I said she slept where ever. Now at 5 months when she dozes off in the morning after breakfast, usually for about an hour I let her sleep in the pack and play or bobby or swing. But after lunch we eat, we play about 30 minutes then it's quiet time, No TV no music, just rocking,lullabys, reading astory book. She falls asleep with in 5-10 minutes I lay her in her room in the crib and she sleeps a good 3 hours. We all need quiet time. I also did this with my three children. I carreid it over to bed time as well. Of course little onces bedtimes can be a bit later then toddlers becasue they sleep more. I don't know if I helped but I hope so. Good luck/

Gloria - posted on 02/13/2010

Did you just mean she falls asleep on her boppy while nursing? I wasn't sure what you meant by "fall asleep in her boppy," which is a safety hazard.

I do remember the first six weeks with all three of mine seeming like they just could not sleep on their own, especially in the bassinet. I remember lots of nights my husband would put soft music on and kind of dance them to sleep, gradually slowing gown until he could be still and then put them down.

Renae - posted on 02/12/2010

At 2 months most babies need 14-16 hours sleep out of 24 hours and are tired after 1-1.5 hours of being awake. What time your baby goes to bed isn't so important just yet, but it never hurts to establish a bedtime, only because it gets her little body used to the difference between day and night and that bedtime is time to sleep for longer. She is sleeping a 5 hour stretch overnight, then feeding and going back to sleep for a few hours, which is perfectly normal. What is most important at this early age is that she is getting enough overall sleep, and that her one long stretch of sleep is happening at night and not during the day.

Jennifer - posted on 02/11/2010

ok my DD is 2 months old and what time is a good time she normally doesnt go to sleep for the night until is 10-1130 and doesnt wake up til like 4-5 and then sleeps til like 8 but i have seen parents put their baby to sleep at 8 and thats normally when she has been awake for an hour or so...

Amanda - posted on 02/11/2010

Oh yeah and yes bed time routine is key!!

Amanda - posted on 02/11/2010

My son is 5 months now and I have rocked him the whole time but hes just to heavy now and its hard. What I have been doing is laying him on his stomach he fusses a bit I dont let him cry if hes close ill pick him up and rock him a bit then lay him down again and he has been falling asleep in his crib on his own. I do give him his soother sometimes which they say is bad but it works.

Amanda - posted on 02/11/2010

My son wouldn't go to sleep without being swaddled. I found swaddling blankets at Target and Babies r Us that velcro closed so they won't come unwrapped.

Renae - posted on 02/11/2010

PS - sorry I should have said, before doing anything, establish a bedtime routine. Make the routine up of things that normally happen before bed anyway (put on pj's, wash face, have bath, say goodnight, read story etc etc) so that the routine can easily be adapted as she gets older.

Renae - posted on 02/11/2010

The doctor says that because most sleep problems are related to the baby being unable to go to sleep on their own without help from a parent. Doctor's tend to be hard and fast when it comes to infant sleep and in my experience are generally not very well educated about it.



So, remember that 75% of babies will not have sleep problems and will nap normally and naturally sleep through the night when they are ready without any intervention from parents, regardless of how they go to sleep. It is only the other 25% who do have sleep problems where how they go to sleep becomes an issue.



Having said that, teaching your baby to go to sleep on her own will help to avoid being one of the ones that have sleep problems and will avoid having to spend ages rocking or bouncing to sleep as your baby gets older.



There are a few gentle methods that are suitable for any baby, with sleep problems or not, to teach them to sleep on their own. The method most commonly used by sleep consultants is gradual withdrawal (it's worth noting most doctors wont have ever even heard of this, unless that doctor happens to be a psychologist),



Here is what you do:

1. Get her used to being put in her cot relaxed but awake and pat or jiggle her until she is fast asleep.

2. After a few days (up to a week as I dont know the age of your baby) when she is used to going to sleep this way, stop patting a little bit sooner, just after she goes to sleep.

3. After a few more days, stop patting just after she closes her eyes but is not asleep.

4. Then just as she is about to close her eyes.

5. Then when she looks really sleepy.

6. At this point time how long you are patting for (probably 10 minutes) and reduce the time by 1 minute every couple of days until you just put her down and walk away and she goes to sleep without crying.

7. If you stop and try to leave the room and she cries (which will happen especially in the first week), pick her up, calm her down, put her back in the cot and start again. You may have to start again up to 5 times the first few days.

8. Wait until she completely masters each step (2-3 days) before moving on to the next step. The whole process will take 2-4 weeks. Be consistent every time she goes to sleep, day and night.



You are welcome to contact me with any questions or about alternate methods.

Maggie - posted on 02/11/2010

how old is your baby? i'm assuming in a bassient she is still quite young. while it is important for children to learn to fall asleep on their own, first they need to feel safe and secure so enjoy the snuggle time and put her down when she is dozing off, opposed to wide awake or right asleep. move on from this transition period when you and her are both ready. as you can see i am also anti-CIO.

Sandra - posted on 02/11/2010

my daughter will not nap easily..she fights her naps like no tomorrow. and she used to be this way with bedtime, until she got used to her routine. I would give her a bath with the lavender stuff and massage her with lavender lotion (i use Aveeno, calming lotion with lavender and vanilla, because the johnsons one gave her really dry skin) put her pjs on and then she eats. When she is finished i put her into her crib, and she falls asleep on her own.



at first for about 2 weeks I would do the bath, lotion and feed routine but I would rock her to sleep, so she understood it is bedtime.



After 2 weeks i started to put her in her crib to fall asleep on her own. I do not believe in CIO. It was not easy for the first 3 days, she would fuss a bit, and I would rub her belly until she fell asleep. After that she learned to fall asleep on her own. Now she is 4 months old and still struggles with naps but once she gets out of her bath she knows its bedtime.



I know every baby is different, so try what works for you, good luck.