My 7month old son won't sleep in his crib for the whole night. Any advice?

Jodene - posted on 06/09/2009

haha who cares just let him sleep with yoou :)

Kayla - posted on 06/09/2009

thank you ladies:) im going to try some of your tips tonight. thank you for all the help

Amanda - posted on 06/08/2009

my 2 older kids just did not like the crib and after a while our bed just got too crowded, so we bought a mattress for them to sleep on. after a week or so of going to bed with them, and slowly getting to the point where you could sit beside their bed to sitting in a chair in the same room, they both realized that we were still there and they could fall asleep. and if they woke up and we were not in the room with them, they knew we would come right away. it'll be a rough week or so, but after that, it should start getting better, at least it did for us.

Ana - posted on 06/08/2009

That is a mistake that all of us make at the begining, let the baby sleep with you is a BIG mistake. That creates dependency on your baby and create unsecure childs, but you are on time to fix the problem! Wear a gown for a few hours that collect your smell and at bed time put the gown close to your baby. He will fill your smell and feel secure! That works for me 27 years ago! Good luck!

Mary - posted on 06/08/2009

Awwe Kayla, Ben did the same thing when he got his bottom teeth and has stared again, but this time I can see his top ones coming in so I know why. If you`re okay with giving tylenol I found it really helps, also gripe water seemed to help him relax too (the alchohol free one, though i`ve heard the regular one really knocks em out :P) . Hope this helps hun..

Stephanie - posted on 06/08/2009

Is his crib in his own room with the lights off??? It may sound silly, but around that same age my daughter kept getting up in the night and my husband and I started leaving a lamp on in her room and never heard her again. The shirt thing is smart too. I was going to say something along those lines, but if that doesn't work, try a night light, and maybe putting a little cereal in his bottle at night to make sure he is full.

Lucy - posted on 06/08/2009

If I were a baby and given the choice - cot or sleeping with mum, I would choose mum easily! So, I would go to sleep in mums arms, nice safe warm arms, and wake up in a different place, in my cot! I can't go back to sleep because I'm not in mums arms, I don't have the right cues, I don't know how to go back to sleep by myself! So I cry, mums comes in, takes me back to that warm place and I fall asleep again. Meanwhile, mum can't get any sleep herself, not good!! I spose what I'm trying to say is, as horrible as it sounds, you give your baby a choice and of course they'd prefer to be with you.

Put your baby down in the cot when she is awake. Put him to sleep however you like, but make sure he falls asleep in his cot. THis way when he wakes up he's more likely to put himself back to sleep because that's where he went to sleep in the first place.

You can try controlled crying (I don't like to call it that, I call it sleep training) if you like. This way they are not using you as a cue to fall asleep therefore not needing you to fall back asleep when they wake up. My sleep doctor has a website that might help: http://www.silentnights.org/

It's tough I know. Now I am at the point when I can put my 5 month old down in his cot and he can put himself to sleep without a fuss (most of the time) ;)

Good Luck, and remember your baby is as consistent as you are!

Vernita - posted on 06/08/2009

haha i know Kat! now i do let him sleep with a blanket he does just fine... but i meant to shirt idea its actually what i had to do with my dog when i brought him home from the hospital she was soo jealous ashes gotten better but still fights for attention :)

Kat - posted on 06/08/2009

Quoting patricia:

well i use to have the same problem, i guess try puttin him to sleep and get a shirt with ur scent or apillow that smells like you and when he goes to sleep put him in his crib and then put the shirt next to him so he will think your still holdin him or hes sleepin next to you. try that and let me know.

please do not put your infant in a crib with a pillow or other soft item.

this can increase the risk of SIDS :-(

Kat - posted on 06/08/2009

i kept my daughter sleeping with me until she was about 22 months,
at that point i told her it was time to be a big girl and sleep in a big girl bed!

at this age they want to be comforted, and i dont care what baby books say... you dont have to let your baby cry.

trust your instincts, if you dont think the two of you are ready let him sleep with you...
if you think its time to move him... do what you think will work for you.

YOU are the best judge of what is best for the two of you :-)

Vernita - posted on 06/08/2009

im having the same problem with my 8 month old, some nights he'll sleep through the night then others after a few hours hes up and crying a crry no mom should hear and it breaks my heart and i go grab him and put him in bed with me. My point is..sorry :) i was watching a special on tv and this women was having the same problem we are she was told to put him in bed as you would your nightly routine and let the baby cry( she did for atleast twenty mins) then you can comfort BUT not pick the child up when the baby stops crying leave out again and do this all night, it said it took her a week she recorded it and everything she cried(as i would) but it worked for her..im actually trying it now let you know how it goes.i think im going to try Patricia's idea tomm night lol sounds alot caring and less bootcamp like

Patricia - posted on 06/08/2009

well i use to have the same problem, i guess try puttin him to sleep and get a shirt with ur scent or apillow that smells like you and when he goes to sleep put him in his crib and then put the shirt next to him so he will think your still holdin him or hes sleepin next to you. try that and let me know.