How can I get my 7 week old to fall asleep on his own?

Katrina - posted on 02/23/2010

I also think it is too young to let him cry. I am trying to make things easier for my parents since I also have a 2 year old they will be watching. I don't have a problem with him being rocked to sleep I just had problems with my oldest. She got so used to it and I can't control what my parents do while they are watching them and I am not there that they kept rocking and holding her until she was a year and a 1/2 and it was hard for us on the weekends to get her to take a nap. Both my kids are wonderful to put down at night, it is only for naps that I struggled with. I will keep trying and give it time if it doesn't work. If he doesn't fall asleep on his own yet he just isn't ready. Thanks for your advice.

Becky - posted on 02/22/2010

He is way too young to leave him to cry it out!
Do you swaddle him? My cousin's little guy is 3 months old, and she swaddles him tightly - she uses one of those special swaddle blankets that he can't get out of, pops his pacifier in his mouth and he's out in minutes. I have to admit, I'm very jealous of that! My 5 month old has hated being swaddled since birth and won't take a paci!
You could also try a white noise machine, soft music, or one of those stuffed animals that make the womb or heartbeat sounds.

Minnie - posted on 02/22/2010

Why is being rocked and cuddled to sleep a problem? Can your parents not do this too? Our little ones are young for such a short time- why force them to do something before they're ready?



Do NOT let a newborn cry alone!

Kati - posted on 02/22/2010

i know some people dont like them but have you triyed a dummy they worked brilliantly for my 3 children especcialy if he/she keeps waking up when you first put them down. or do the controlled crying because he wants you to keep picking him up if you leave him for about 5 mins or trying one of those vibrating bouncers or a dream show that projects thing up to the celing that hepled me you can buy them in any baby store ie mothercare/ toys rus etc worth a try.

Katrina - posted on 02/22/2010

I do feel I should wait a little longer for the tough love but it did work with my oldest who will be 2 next month. My parents will not mind rocking him but the problem we ran into with my daughter is that for naps she would need to be held or rocked until just a few months ago and that was not easy to break. I was hoping to get him a little used to sleeping on his own and sleeping in his pack n play/crib for naps, he does fine at night but it is during the day where I have a hard time. I do have the take a long swing, it is great. Maybe that will work for a while for my parents rather than holding him the whole time. Thanks everyone for the great tips, I am sure I will use all of them at some point.

Kim - posted on 02/22/2010

I think 7 wks is way too young to expect him to go to sleep on his own. Will your parents mine rocking him? That is a nice way for him to fall asleep instead of crying wondering where someone is. Remember at this stage they are still making bonds and learning trust. They trust that you or someone will be there to take care of them. You can try a pacifier, a Fisher Price Aquarium is a nice thing to lay and watch, something he can do until he falls asleep or you really want him to fall asleep in the crib you could rub his back while he is in the crib, hard when he is suppose to be sleeping on his back though or rub his forehead around the eyes, that can get sleepy babies to sleep faster. I would not try CIO until he is a lot older.

Kathleen - posted on 02/22/2010

A small baby swing will most likely soothe baby right into napping. Fisher Price makes one called the Aquarium Take-a-long Swing. It plays very soft music and has soft lights as well. It can support up to 2o punds I think. It collapses for storage in a corner when not in use. My babies loved it and was a Godsend for may parents when they cared for my little one. It is small enough that you can carry it back and forth with you if you need to. It is relatively inexpensive compared to full size swings. Chcek our this link....

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/All_Aboa...

Suzanne - posted on 02/22/2010

Sandra...are we talkin' 31 months or years? I agree with the snuggling them and singing...Clio responds well to that. She used to wake up crying when she was 2-4 years old. I snuggled her back down and she was fine after that!

Sandra - posted on 02/22/2010

I think seven weeks is too young for tough love! I held mine until they went to sleep. Sometimes, just holding for a short time and lay them in the crib and pat their back and talk softly to them and they will fall asleep. My oldest son slept through nap and all night right from the start, a dry diaper, a full tummy and he was all set, my second son, NEVER slept all night, and he is 31 now and he still gets up once or twice a night.

Tabitha - posted on 02/22/2010

My personal suggestion is 1 try to lay with him till he falls asleep rather than holdin him to be put to sleep, that way he sees feels and smells you, pay his back hum or sing and if in time that does not work than lay him in a dark room so he can know it is night time to sleep. When sleepin in your arms they usually cuddle to the pits where it is dark. If a few of those methods dont work,i agree on the tough love at 1 month or 1yr. You can NOT revolve your life on only holding your child and rocking him to sleep for you have other children to attend to. My daughter will only take her naps in her vibrating bed and chair and lately will only fall asleep with me in my bed (in which i move RIGHT when she falls asleep)I wish you the best, just work with him cause what works for us may not work for you.

Suzanne - posted on 02/22/2010

Every baby develops at his own rate, including when he sleeps through the night. I used to nurse my babies just before laying them down. They drifted off, then I laid them down. My oldest slept through the night after 7 or 8 months; my youngest, after 1 month. I do not believe that tough love is appropriate at this stage. They need basic things, including being held. It helps them feel more secure. I used to swaddle them before putting them down also.

Katelyn - posted on 02/22/2010

Doctors suggest you shouldn't let a child cry it out til 9 months so tough love is not the way to go. My daughter loved to fall asleep in my arms but now has gotten used to a pacifier and a good tight swaddle.

Angie - posted on 02/22/2010

I would not let your baby cry it out he isn't even 2 months old. Try swaddling him tightly and give him a binkie. If that doesn't work try putting him in a swing.

Lea - posted on 02/22/2010

I doubt he will for a while because newborns have a reflex that causes them to startle when put down. My son didn't stop waking up until he was much older. Trying to put him down was about a 6 month ordeal. Good luck.

Vanessa - posted on 02/22/2010

sooo, here's my answer. I have a 6 1/2 month old.
Babies know what they want, but they don't necessarily NEED it.
A baby will be naturally happy with you holding them, and when you put them down, they are angry. You need to find a set bedtime as well. I know for my son, I put him down the same time every night, 7:30. Sometimes he cries it out, and sometimes he falls asleep. You just need to put your baby down and let him cry it out, peroid. Also, answering to every cry means he's got you wrapped around his finger. unless he's hungry or has a dirty diaper, he's crying cuz he's prob tired. My rule of thub for how long to let a baby cry in bed is about 15 min. If still crying, pick him up and talk to him. A lot of the time, mine is sleeping by then. Hope this helps. Just need to be consistant

Kristin - posted on 02/22/2010

Lacey is right its hard but tough love is the best way, it will make it better when he is older and that way you are not fighting a two year old everynight to go to bed.

Helen - posted on 02/22/2010

Would have to agree on the tough love approach, if your not apposed to a dummy it might help your baby to drift off,I used to hum lightly to my baby for the first few minutes and then leave the room quietly also i always gave my baby a bottle just before a nap so there was no question of hunger been the problem,hope some of these suggestions help :~)

Lacey - posted on 02/22/2010

I hate to say it but sometimes they just have to work it out themselves and I think its the tough love approach that worked for me. Try letting him cry for a little bit. If he doesn't quiet down after about 15 minutes then you can try a baby swing or some soft music. Its helped me :)