How do I get my baby to sleep in her crib instead of in bed with me?

Question

I have to put her in bed with me at night so she will fall asleep and stay asleep. Sometimes I can't even move her into her crib after she falls asleep. I need some suggestions on what I should try. She also has only slept through the night 5 times and is almost a year old.

Answer 1

You have to learn that a baby crying does not ALWAYS mean it is in trouble. Babies can be emotionally manipulative. Albeit, not intentionally, but they have their wants, which do not always coincide with yours. My advice? Put her in her crib. Let her cry. If it lasts more than 15 mins. go get her. Do it again tomorrow. My experience with both my daughters was that they adjusted within two - three nights. DON'T do this until they are 6-8 months or so.

Answer 2

This is soooo hard isn't it? I wish there was a magic trick that would work without having to go through the heartbreak of listening to them cry. Unfortunately, you really need to set some boundaries so your baby knows who's "in charge". First of all, develop a night-time ritual where after she's bathed and fed, you have a loving cuddle with her and read her a story (even infants enjoy this), then take her into her room and settle her in her crib. Stay calm and don't talk to her too much - this will only stimulate her - just simply say "time for bed" or something like that. Tuck her in then walk out and ignore the crying. Leave her for five minutes, then go in, lie her back down,give her a rub and tell her "time for sleep". Then leave the room. This time, ignore her for about 10 minutes. When/if you go in again, just lie her down gently and leave without talking. Each time, leave it longer before you go in. This way, she won't feel abandoned, but she will learn that you mean business! It should only be a few nights before she starts to sleep on her own. If she wakes in the night, try the same technique. Good luck.

Answer 3

I saw this on 20/20. 20/20 stayed with a family for a week, Dr., cameras and all. The baby would only fall asleep on the father's chest with Lionel Richie's music on. As soon as they put the baby in the crib, it cried. The Dr. would not let the parents pick the baby up. It wasn't easy at all for the parents. To make a long story short, the baby didn't win the battle. If you pick up your baby as soon as she cries she knows she's got you beat. You have to be strong and ignore her cry. Before the week was over, the baby slept in the crib with no problem. If you let your baby cry, it doesn't mean you're bad parents. You just need a little (or alot) of patience. Good luck. If you try this, I hope it works.

Answer 4

Ok, as a mom of 2 and one of which had collic FOREVER. I have to say , Honey you need to stick it out and put her in the crib and let her cry it out till she falls asleep. I know it sounds harsh but you did it to yourself by not putting her in a bassinet or crib from the first day you brought her home. Also if you go into the room to check on her, which you should do every 10-15 min. unless she is getting quiet, for gods sake, DO NOT PICK HER UP! I promise, you will have a week or two of hell but she Will get . Also that woman who has a two year old and says it's mean to leave a little guy in there all alone no matter what the books say, is crazy and that's why her son is two and just started to sleep.

Answer 5

All kids are different at sleeping through the night. It just takes time. As for the going to sleep thing. Put her there at bed time and it might be hard but she's gonna cry and that tells her that she cannot come sleep with you. Eventually she will fall asleep. keep doing this and she'll sleep no prob in her crib.

Answer 6

Here's what finally worked for me -- put the baby in her crib and see if she'll fall asleep on her own. You don't know it won't work until you give it a fair try. Don't leave her in there forever to cry and cry. Even the doctor who originally suggested that (Ferber) now says it's bad.

If she still won't sleep, try staying in there with her until she starts to settle down. If you're there and you can talk calmly to her without picking her up, eventually she'll fall asleep. Sooner or later she'll get the idea and you'll be able to leave earlier and earlier until she's all right being in there without you.

Next time start right away -- it's a LOT easier to put them in the crib from the beginning than it is to get them back there.

Answer 7

I know they say don't have pillows in the crib when the babies are in there, but if the child is almost one, then they aren't that small. So here's what you do, when she's in your bed going to sleep, put her to sleep on a pillow and when she's asleep move the pillow and her into the crib, position the pillow so that it feels like your in the bed with her, a stuffed animal may be used as well. I did this with my daughter, neices and nephews. When you lay her down, she may whine a little, but pat the pillow to pat her back to sleep, and then when she's in a deep enough sleep, you can move the pillow.

Answer 8

I had the same problem! I put her baby bed right beside mine with the side rail taken off. That way she thought she was in my bed and I laid my arm near her so she could smell and feel me. As she started to be comfortable in her crib and go to sleep on her own. I put the rail back on (but still beside my bed). Then gradually put the rail up and pushed the bed away from mine. Then she finally slept in her own crib. It takes some time but it has worked on 2 of mine and I have 4 kids. Good luck I hope this helps.

Answer 9

put her in the crib and you fall asleep next to her in a bed. In the middle of the night go to your bed.

Answer 10

well sadly you have trained her to only feel secure when she is in bed with you. it will be hard but you have to be firm for several nights continue to keep putting her in her crib, she will obviously cry bloody murder, but after a few minutes go and and comfort her and then leave again, Gradually increase the time between each visit in to see her with less and less contact but still reassurance. in time through exhaustion she will fall asleep on her own, after a few nights of this she will realize that she no longer has the power.