My 11 mth old needs me to rock him to sleep. Any tips to help him learn to fall asleep w/o "crying it out?"

Question

The "cry it out method" or Ferber Method is something I will not do with my baby. I have already tried it and it is an approach I am not comfortable with.

Answer 1

Hiya

We didnt do crying it out, but used the baby whisperer technique (do you have her in America?)

She has a technique called pick up/ put down or PUPD. Basically when the baby cries you lift them up, comfort them for a short time and when they get calmer lay them down again. You then repeat this as long as is needed, making sure they are back in the cot in between each time. The concept is that you comfort them, never lave them to cry, but that they fall asleep in their beds not your arms.

The first few night it takes AGES - about 50 mins and 40 odd PUPD, but it gets better after that. Now DS goes to bed alone and awake and falls asleep on his own very happily.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Even Ferber now believes that what works for the family works in the end. I rocked my babies to sleep until they were ready for a bed of their own, and we had a family bed before that. Babies need to be comforted and cuddled, they are not little forever.

Answer 3

I would never Ferberize my children either. I know several moms who say they have had great success in using the techniques outlined in The No-Cry Sleep Solution. I haven't read it yet, but they swear by it. Good luck!

Answer 4

Have you considered that the reason you have to rock him is because you won't let him "cry it out"? It might be blasphemous, but I used the Baby Wise technique and my son slept through the night at 7 weeks. We had a couple of long nights, but the reward is a son whom I can lay in his crib, turn out the light, leave the room and be done with it. No crying or fussiness, because he can soothe HIMSELF to sleep. Right now, your son uses YOU to soothe himself to sleep. I don't see any other option besides putting your foot down.

Answer 5

Good for you!! Crying is *not* good for babies.

However, rocking to sleep *is* a good way to help him learn to fall asleep. By rocking, nursing, singing to him, or walking with him, you are physically helping him to relax. This *is* teaching him to fall asleep--the message you are sending is "when it's time to fall asleep, relax, and you will drop off gently". (As opposed to crying--"the best way to fall asleep is to get stressed out, scream your head off, and eventually drop of pure exhaustion".)

You can expect to have to help him to sleep for another year or maybe longer. Just like it would be unreasonable to expect him to go into the kitchen and prepare his own food, it isn't reasonable to expect him to fall asleep without help, either.

Answer 6

1st, set up a routine, bath,bottle,bed or whatever. And stick to it

2nd When he first cries go up and stroke his head and say soothing things.

3rd When he cries again, lgo to him and stroke his head but say less and stay for less time

4th When he cries again, go to him, stroke his head, say nothing and stay for an even shorter time.

5th If he cries again, lay him back down, walk out of the room, repeat

This will work! Just be patient and persistent.

Good luck

Answer 7

What's so bad about rocking them to sleep. Worse things than that have happened. They have a short time to be rocked to sleep and a lifetime to do it themselves.

Answer 8

regrettably, sure. I genuinely have yet to discover a woman which will publish with all my strange habit and weirdness, that may not circulate determining the door the 1st day of residing with me. it is no longer relaxing slumbering on my own.

Answer 9

See a doctor.

Answer 10

i cried till i was about 3, *lol* but my mom said it worked to put me on a running dryer, that always worked.