How do I get my baby to sleep in her crib ALL night?

Keri - posted on 07/10/2011

The problem is, you give in. I wish I would have stood my ground a little more often because now I have a 4.5 year old who won't go to sleep in his own room. We are working on getting him a "big boy" bed (we have the lifetime crib and it's currently in daybed form but we are saving for a few weeks to get him a full-size mattress to fit the regular bed. He's been helping in the search for his new mattress - usually by bouncing on the few that we pick out at the store while we talk to the salesperson.) Does she have any crib toys - like the Firsher Price "acquarium" or anything else to help put her in a trance state and settle again? Yes, you don't want to overload the crib with a bunch of stuffed animals, but this has straps to strap it to the crib slats - the dim lights and soft sounds used to put my son to sleep when he was little.

Janessa - posted on 07/09/2011

Like others have said it depends on what you want. You have to take care of it now while she is little, or it will be harder when she's older. From the time they are born I make sure the only time they are in bed with me is when I am nursing them, and then I put them back to bed, at first it takes some sleepless nights because especially when they are little they don't like to be laid down by themselves, but I know if I let it continue it will, and I will have a child in my bed with me and my husband for a very long time, unless I suffer for a couple of nights. If you don't want her in bed with you, then just keep putting her back. If she falls asleep while you are rocking her, put her in bed and if she wakes up when you do that just leave her there. Things I have done is rock the cradle, or if that isn't an option, I'll rub their heads, sing to them, give them a pacifier, but I do not get them out. Sometimes I'll step out of the room for a little bit and let them cry, then go back and try soothing them, but again I do not take them out. It has worked for all 4 of mine, My 2 1/2 month old right now does really well in her cradle, in fact once my kids get it down they actually sleep better in their own beds than with me. As they get older I just lay them down and they go to sleep without any soothing. But decide what you want and go with it.

Ashley - posted on 07/09/2011

my daughter is now 2 1/2 and she used to do the same thing. i would rock her and then she would wake up as soon asi put her down. the only thing i found that works is to let her cry it out. i would rock her and then wait a while to make sure she was really sleeping before i put her to bed or i would let her fal asleep in my bed then put her in hers. she eventually stayed asleep but i was exhauseted in the morning, and now i struggle to put her to bed on her own. she always wants us to sit with her until she is asleep. it is hard on us. so i would suggest to put her in her bed and let he fall asleep on her own. i know that she is so young my son is 2 1/2 months and i put him in the play pen in our room and walk away and he eventually falls asleep because it is dark. letting her cry it out will help in the long run. i never wanted to do that because i felt mean, but now i wish i would have because then iwouldnt have to do it now when she is 2 1/2 years old.

Amanda - posted on 07/08/2011

I usually don't pick her up or go to her unless she starts to make noise like she is awake. Then I will get up and go get her. I am thinking that I will gradually break her of this by putting her next to me so that she can fall completely back asleep and then put her back in bed... just going to try different things until I figure out what works for her. Thanks again to everyone who has replied!

Brittney - posted on 07/08/2011

She's getting into the habit of you getting up with her. But considering she's only 3 1/2 months old, I'd still get up, but don't take her out of bed. If she isn't crying I'd just leave her in there and maybe she'll go back to sleep on her own.

Tina - posted on 07/08/2011

you can't give in to her....I had the same problem with my daughter, but consistency paid off. Even tho there were a few sleepless nights, she will eventually give in to the routine your trying to create. Gd Luck

Serinitee - posted on 07/08/2011

I'd also like to add, go with your instincts. When I feel something is wrong, I stop. I was unable to let my son cry, I had always taken care of his needs promptly before and I felt that stopping cold turkey would be quite traumatic. Other parents are able to and they probably have it easier in the long run, whether it's right or wrong, who's to say? Google Primal Parenting. Pretty interesting stuff. Or check out this website: http://www.drmomma.org/2011/06/primal-pa... Hope this helps!

Amanda - posted on 07/08/2011

Yes I did mean 3 1/2 months. I tried feeding her and still do from time to time, but I end up making a bottle and she doesn't eat it. As soon as it's in her mouth, she falls asleep. Haha. It's like she just wants it as her pacifier, which she does have. I will have to start trying to feed her again. She did well last night. I do let her cry it out sometimes. If she becomes really fussy, I will put her in her crib and let her cry it out. Only took 5 minutes last night! Thank you to everyone for their responses! I appreciate it so much!

Jodi - posted on 07/08/2011

I was thinking the same as Emma. If she is 3 1/2 months, chances are she is waking for a feed. You didn't mention that you feed her, just that you rock her back to sleep. Is it possible she is hungry? it is normal for a 3 1/2 month old not to sleep through the night without a feed.

Elaine - posted on 07/08/2011

I am having the same issue and my daughter is almost one! If you don't break it at her age it wont stop lol I got her used to coming into bed with me whenever she woke up in the middle of the night but maybe on the weekend I would say to let her cry a bit and see if she goes to sleep on her own after 3 days of letting her cry. She needs to learn to put herself to sleep. I wish I would have done this back then because now its a lot harder because she knows when mommy isn't there. Good luck and be strong! Kids are so minipulative it's crazy.

Stifler's - posted on 07/08/2011

Do you mean 3 1/2 months or 13 1/2 months? If you meant 3 1/3... maybe she's hungry. Growth spurts usually happen around 4 months.

Serinitee - posted on 07/07/2011

My son is a bit older at 10 months. We co-slept for a while since my husband's away and I'm nursing and therefore didn't have the energy it takes to get up 4-6 times a night. I've recently decided that it's time for him to be in his own crib. The first night I tried the cry it out thing and -I- didn't last 5 minutes :D. I couldn't hang. So I decided to modify it.



I put him down and said "I love you. Good night." When he got up, I did it again. I continued this over and over until I decided to leave the room every time he got up, and press his glowing musical worm every time he laid down for 5 seconds or more ;). The first night it took me 4 hours to get him to bed with plenty of crying. The second night it took me 45 minutes with still quite a bit of crying. Tonight (after about a week of being not-so-consistent) I laid him down and said "I love you, goodnight," and he didn't cry, he just waited a while and went to sleep.



I do feel that consistency is important, but I don't beat myself up when I give in, as long as they get the picture, it will happen when it happens. Keep trying, be patient, love your child, remember why you are doing what you are doing and don't let it turn into a power struggle. (One night, before we finally got down to business I was up till 5am with him when I realized that it had turned into just that, a sick sort of game that he was determined to win :) and so I let him, and we went to bed - sleep at last.)



I also felt that it was important that I put him in bed awake but sleepy so that in the future he would know how to put himself to sleep, but although it will probably be soon, that's another task for another day. :)

Beth - posted on 07/07/2011

If you do not want to co-sleep, try very hard to get yourself out of this pattern now. Once it is started it is very difficult pattern to get out of. They tend to feel more comfortable when with mommy and that would be why she is sleeping soundly next to you. If you want her to sleep in her crib, be persistent. Try to relax though if you are agitated so will she be. When you rock her back to sleep, wait till she feels like "dead weight" before trying to move her back to the crib, and also try putting a thin blanket between you and her before she falls back asleep to help you transition her back to the crib.

Rebecca - posted on 07/07/2011

Both of my little ones did this and I discovered that I was trying to lay them down too soon after them going back to sleep. I relaxed and just enjoyed holding them close for a little while and then tried to put them back to bed. My son was more difficult because of medical issues but it still worked very well. My daughter has adjusted well with me doing that and now will put herself back to sleep without me even picking her up.



Just remember if you get uptight so will she and then she will be more resistant to being put back in her own bed. I learned that the hard way :)

Amanda - posted on 07/07/2011

Unfortunately we don't want to do the co-sleeping. The only thing that is driving me crazy is that I get her to sleep and then as soon as her body touches the mattress she wakes up... Thank you for your advice.

Carolee - posted on 07/07/2011

It really depends on if you want to do the co-sleeping thing. If you don't, then it's going to take you staying up all night repeatedly putting her to sleep and bed every single time she wakes up. Eventually, she will exhaust herself and sleep. Unfortunately, you will be just as exhausted, if not more. It takes a whole lot of determination on your part. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.