how do u put babies to sleep???

Question

ima single dad...18 yrs old...baby is 5 months...AND SHE WON'T GO TO SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

need to put her to sleep now...or im gna cry

Answer 1

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I believe I had success with the warm milk at feeding time; then I would sit on the couch and hum a lullaby. My mother always said if you rock the baby, it will cause the baby to have to be rocked all the time.

Answer 2

The obvious suggestions should work. But drive around for only ten minutes and I'm sure that will work. No car, then take her/him for a walk in there pram somewhere quiet.

Small babies can't communicate very well, but there sense is very strong. If your getting stressed leave the room, even if the babies crying. Go and calm down. Some people even think that babies can sense peoples moods straight off, obviously your missing his/her mother through whatever curcumstance. You may have allot of guilt, bitterness, loss maybe depression. Go and see your doctor, i know us men don't go often. Only once a year if i have to. I have 5 children and I'm easily stressed but you learn to switch that stress into love and calm thoughts, then you deal better with the situation. One last thought they dont get easy until about 8, but then theres the teens, mine aren't there yet .

Answer 3

When you feel overwhelmed, just put your baby in her crib and walk away for a little while. Take a 5 minute break, look in on her and take another 5'er if you need it. Breath deeply and remember that the moment will pass. Never shake or jerk your child, it can brain damage or kill her.

5 months and can't sleep - first feed her, give her a warm bath, dress her in appropriate clothes (not too hot, not too cold), take her into a darkened room that doesn't have distractions like toys in it, sing and rock her while patting on her back. If this doesn't work, sing and rock her while standing, then try singing and rocking while walking around. You need to pick a bed time and stick to a routine, over time it makes it easier since she'll get tired at the same time everynight...eventually.

Me? I feed my son, dress him and then at 8 o'clock we lay down together. It takes 5 minutes to an hour for him to actually go to sleep. But he doesn't cry this way. I pushed my bed up against the wall. He crawls all over me and he crawls and pulls up on the headboard and he tries to crawl for the edge of the bed and he may make frustrated sounds but no all -out crying.

Some people would suggest just letting your baby cry herself to sleep. I think they are wrong to do this.

Answer 4

I have answered a question from you once today and I think you need help. Do you not have anyone you can turn to for help? mum? grandma? Put the baby in her buggy-well wrapped up and take her out for a walk-yes in the dark we have all done it. She must be exhausted by now if she hasn't slept. Has a doc had a look at her?? You sound really wound up she will pick up on this. Put her somewhere safe, dark and quiet and leave her for a bit-whatever you do don't get frantic. Does she have a temperature?
Have you been through the checklist some people gave you today? Wish I could come and help yopu I know its hard. Best of luck.

Answer 5

At the risk of pulling kelly simmons into a pacifier war. If that hasn't been mentioned, yes it could help. Put a bit of peppermint on it and that might soothe her a little more.

I personally never had a lot of luck getting my babies to take a pacifier, but I wish they had.

Don't let any one fool you into thinking that finger sucking is better. Yes, they always travel with their finger and it won't get lost, but when it comes time to get rid of it, it can't be put in the drawer.

And I don't care what the dentists say I have two children who are in orthodontia (braces), because of finger sucking.

Pacifiers are less expensive than braces in the long run. I really don't like them, but sometimes they are necessary to your sanity.

In fact, since she is not nursing if she hasn't got a pacifier, sucking maybe part of her problem. Part of the reason babies suck is because it is soothing. When a mother nurses a baby. The baby isn't always just getting milk. But attention, cuddling, and sucking. So you will need to hold her often. Even when she's not eating and is just sucking her fingers or a pacifier. I don't know what the pyscological value of sucking is, but I think it must be important or babies wouldn't continually do it.

Assuming she does not have a paci.
Get her a pacifier that is one piece. They are the safest and easiest on the mouth. They are green and Walmart has them. I think they maybe the cheapest too.

Till you get one take her thumb and put it in her mouth for now. But don't let her get attached too it. Get the paci as soon as possible.

If she is teething she will cram her whole fist in her mouth, You can hold an ice cube and let her suck/chew on it. Don't leave her with it.
I didn't realize she was five months old. So teething maybe an issue for sure. A teething toy you can chill or some teething gel. Or peppermint or clove oil rubbed on the gums. Be carefull it's not to strong to burn. You could cut it with olive oil.

If she is that fussy at that age it's either her teeth or there's something like reflux, like I said in my post on one of your other questions.

Take her to the doctor again and ask about it if none of the rest of everybodies else's good advice dosen't work.

This is what babies are all about trial and more trial, and work and more work. Get you some help. Sweetie, you really need it.

You have a lot of people here pulling for you. Mommies and Daddies too. You will find other's in your community who will too.You really are not alone. And we care.

Answer 6

Well, some people have already mentioned the golden rules....

1. Making sure there's nothing wrong or bothering the baby.
2. Feeding them.
3. Staying calm. And....most important......
4. BEING PATIENT. Many times the things the other guys have advised work....but after trying for a while. Babies have a sort of 6th sense, and they notice if you're getting annoyed or desperate. This only scares them and thus.....the problem gets worse.

I think yours is still too young for cammomile....but it could be a good option. Not a good idea to accustom them to artificially induced sleeping. Nor to carrying them all the time. Otherwise, you'll become their slave. Good luck....and remember.....

LOTS OF PATIENCE!!! You were there once too!!!

Answer 7

Have you tried any repeated actions like rubbing their forehead in a circular motion? I used to be a nursery nurse and put 30 children to sleep a day with this method.

You can also try tapping the baby's back fairly firmly bit not hard, quite fast at first for a few minutes, then slow it right down, it needs to be a very rythmic tapping, the baby focuses on this feeling and it is almost like a meditation, dropping their brain waves from an alpha state - alert, to a theta state - relaxed, sleep state.

PS NO HONEY ! Honey can contain bacterial spores that cause Infant Botulism-a rare but very serious disease.

AND GUYS... with the greatest respect to you all, this guy does not appear to have close family to turn to, check out his previous postings. xxx

Answer 8

I'm a 29 year old dad to a 5 year old but when my daughter was only a few months old i'd hold her in my arms and walk around for a little bit with VERY gentle pats on her back .. sometimes they refuse to go to sleep because they have gas in their tummies in which case do a up and down motion rub on their backs as it forces gas out of their tummies .. ANOTHER option if diaper has been changed and baby has been fed etc is you can take baby out for a stroll in the stroller since falling asleep beside them doesn't always work .. oh and don't feed them to try to make them asleep that's how they get seriously sick good luck!

Answer 9

Putting a baby in the car and driving around the neighborhood can work wonders. Also, rocking chairs are good if you don't have one. The swings that hang from the ceiling are good sometimes, too. Different strokes for different little folks, just try different things until something works. Usually, most babies like some kind of motion though. Hope this helps...blessing to you.

Answer 10

Make the obvious checks first:

1. Does she have a dirty nappy?
2. Is she hungry?
3. Is she hot / cold?
4. Does she have wind?

Once you made sure all those are fine, then maybe just cuddling her and walking around with her while just softly talking nonsense to her (she won't understand anyway, it's just the tone of your voice that helps)

Whatever you do, don't get stressed and annoyed - babies pick up on this and she will just get worse!

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Just noticed your previous questions, she could also be missing the company of her Mum, she's not used to you, which doesn't help. Just remain calm and try the suggestions of others too mate. I know it's hard, I've been there - you can do it. Good Luck.

Answer 11

Have you tried any repeated actions like rubbing their forehead in a circular motion? I used to be a nursery nurse and put 30 children to sleep a day with this method.

You can also try tapping the baby's back fairly firmly bit not hard, quite fast at first for a few minutes, then slow it right down, it needs to be a very rythmic tapping, the baby focuses on this feeling and it is almost like a meditation, dropping their brain waves from an alpha state - alert, to a theta state - relaxed, sleep state.

PS NO HONEY ! Honey can contain bacterial spores that cause Infant Botulism-a rare but very serious disease.

AND GUYS... with the greatest respect to you all, this guy does not appear to have close family to turn to, check out his previous postings. xxx