baby freaks when tired......?

Question

he is a very happy and pleasant baby but gets hysterical when tired and takes him so long to fall asleep even though he's exhausted..i feed and rock him...sometimes it's no help...everyone says let him cry it out..is this truly a good idea?

he is 6 months old.

Answer 1

I have three kids and have had this problem with all of them.

With my first one I had to learn his tired signs. I would then lay him down at the FIRST sign of being tired and gently rock his crib, this seemed to help.

With my second one it seemed that no matter what I did the only way she'd fall asleep was being held on my chest while I rocked her in the glider chair. THen I would slip her into her crib hand hope not to wake her up.

With my littlest one I found that he likes "white noise" I turn a fan on and face it away from his crib so he doesn't get cold. He loves the noise. My back yard faces a semi busy street so sometimes my hubby takes him to our bedroom window and lets him watch the cars go by and that seems to lul him...then we put him in his room in the crib.

I too found that rubbing thier little foreheads does WONDERS in getting them to sleep. It soothes them and makes them feel loved.

I sort of believe in the cry it out method. I never tried it till my kids reached 6 months old though. I never go more than 5 minutes at a time. If he cries for 5 minutes straight I go in and rub his belly or back then try to leave again....if he continues after another 5 minutes I pick him up and rub his little back. Some people say that if you let a baby under the age of 6 months cry it out they feel worthless and unloved. I too agree with that.... under 6 months it's just mean. But they can understand you more as they get older. Just tell him it's nap time/bed time and start a little routine like the other people have said. A routine will be a nice way for the two of you to bond and unwind.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes it will not hurt the baby to let it cry. I would try getting your baby to sleep before the hysterical crying comes on. It could be gas also. It is so hard having a newborn with all your hormones getting back together. I am sure you are doing a great job sometimes you just have to try different things until you you find what works for your little one. I went through that with my baby for a little while and just with any kid if they get over tired they freak out. So try to see if there is a pattern like a time frame that it is happening and get the baby nice and full and try to get the baby to sleep before the crying spells.

Answer 3

You don't mention how old your baby is...but I never believed in the 'just let them cry it out'.

What I tried to do was write down about what time every day my son began his "tired warning signs" and then when he'd get so exhausted he'd cry and cry because he was past the stage of knowing how to fall asleep. He just didn't know what was wrong.

After a couple of days of this, I began to put on a CD that I played each time I would lay him down and play it softly. I would lay him on my bed or the couch (depending on how old he was) and sit next to him and gently rub his back, a light massage. I'd also keep telling him it was nap time and time to close your eyes and rest. In the beginning he'd keep popping his head up and fighting to keep his eyes open, but after awhile, he started welcoming it.

He'd grab his blanket and pull it up while I'd rub his back and he'd close his eyes right away. Sometimes if I'd stop too soon, he'd lift his head up, then I would do it a little longer. I'd always put on the same music though. I had to "burn" another copy of the CD for fear something would happen to this one! LOL

It sounds like you son is just getting too tired and over-stimulated before his nap and you need to figure somekind of "routine" so he knows it's time for a nap and do it before he reaches that hysterical stage.

Good luck...too bad there are no books that cover every child and what to do! I know I've thought about it and would be a multi-millionaire if we could get the books to come out with the babies!

Answer 4

He's fighting sleep and thats why he's getting so cranky.
When its getting to be near his bedtime and he hasn't reached the fussing stage yet, wipe him down with a warm wash rag, dim the lights and put on some soft music in a quiet room.

Think about what relaxes you after a long day, warm bath, soft lights, soft music, its the same concept. Either rock and feed him if thats what he's used to while the soft music is playing and the lights are low, or lay him on his belly in the crib and rub his back, paccy okay if he uses one, but bottles really don't belong in the bed.
Use your own judgement on that one.

Anyhow that should help him to relax and fall asleep without fighting it.

Answer 5

It really depends on the baby's age and situation. Is it possible that your baby is over tired and/or stimulated. Try changing the environment your putting your little one down it. Take him to his room, dim the lights put on white noise (ocean, rain, etc.) instead of music or singing, try walking him instead of rocking or even just sitting there. When mine were little, they couldn't fight when I ran my fingers along their eye brows. Naturally their eye would close when my finger went over that brow and within minutes they would be asleep. Also running my hands over their little cheeks when they were weened, gave them the close feeling of nursing and was soothing.

If your baby is getting older and starting to sleep through the night, then you might be able to lay him down and just pat his back or bottom until he falls alseep. Don't fret if your little one won't lay down long enough for you to do this....just go for the other method but lay him in his bed before he's sound asleep. Gradually (over a few weeks) shorten the holding time before you lay him down and with any luck at all...he'll soon be self-soothing to sleep!

Of course....ideally, this would work, but kids don't give a rat about ideals. We acutally did let our kids cry it out and it took three FULL days of crying before it worked. It was hell and miserable so we refused to do it with the second, and you know what....he learned to fall asleep himself too (without tramatizing the family!)

Good luck and hold that little baby as long as he'll let you!

Answer 6

My baby gets like that quite often, seems to think he will miss something if he falls asleep or something. If rocking and singing to him don't work I take him for a ride in the car, puts him right to sleep.

Answer 7

When he gets to the point of exhaustion, he fights even harder to stay awake. My son is 5 and still does that. I used to lay him in his crib and rub his back (don't touch to lightly or it will tickle instead and keep him awake). If he started quieted down, i would slow down and slip out of the room. If he didn't go to sleep I would get him back up and hold him. Rubbing his head or feet always worked real good too. Contrary to "old time" beliefs, holding and comforting your baby won't ruin him. It shows him he can depend on you and your comfort.

Answer 8

Some people believe in CIO, others do not. Personally, I don't ever let a baby cry for over 5 minutes.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 9

My 4 month is the same way, I can't stand crying so I hold him until he falls asleep, that works for me, now you just have to find what works for you.

Answer 10

he's a baby. he just doesn't understand why he feels like this. when he cries for you,that's the only way he knows ---comfort. until he learns to speak or sign,he needs & depends on you. it will get better in time. be patient & enjoy this time w/ him,now. they grow fast!
it was too hard for me to let my daughter cry it out. go by --how you feel about it,not what others say.