My 8 month old wouldn't take a nap today at daycare. As a result, he was SO cranky tonight. He finally crawled under the dining room table with a stuffed toy and cried himself to sleep in a matter of minutes I feel awful; he never does that. I tried to cuddle him and rock him to sleep earlier and he wouldn't unwind. Was I just an awful mother?
2006-08-14 11:51:03 · 19 answers · asked by BasketChick 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I did try his bed, and that didn't do it. Yes, I'm a first timer and don't want to totally screw up my kid in one night : ) And no, I'm not a teenager - not by far!
2006-08-14 12:00:03 · update #1
It is funny you should mention this, because this same scenario happened with my 8 month old daughter just last night. We were at the beach all day, and even though she napped in the car, she was so overwrought by the nightime. We did all of her before bed routine things (bath, bottle, book, etc.) but she couldn't seem to settle down and doze off. I finally put her into her crib with her pacifier, which she usually falls asleep with. She kept rolling and standing up in the crib and crying. She never cries. We finally took her out of the crib and tried holding her and she kepts arching and wouldn't let us hold her. We finally put her on our bed and let her cry a bit while I rubbed her tummy. She finally conked out at 9:40 (regular bedtime is 8). So, don't feel bad, sometimes kids get so overtired that they cannot be soothed-they just have to do it themselves.
2006-08-14 15:16:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Of course you're not a horrible mother. children have days when they play so hard, that they are ready for that afternoon nap, and then night time comes and they are fast asleep and sleep through the entire night. Those same children and bound to have days that they refuse to nap, so by the time night rolls around they are cranky and irritable beyond belief. Sometimes the only thing you can do is let them wind down in their own time, and if they fall asleep on the kitchen floor, so be it. When they are in a good deep sleep you can move them to their bed, or you can always join them under the table. Mom's need their sleep too.
2006-08-14 19:02:00 · answer #2 · answered by Cynthia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They say when a baby hits 6 or 7 months you can let your baby self sooth. Ive been trying it. It really does work. You cant sit there and hold him all day. I thought if I comforted him all the time he would be better but he wasn't! He wanted to cry all the time if he wasn't being held. Just make sure hes been feed, changed, and hes not hurt. Your not an awful mother for doing this you need a break too.
2006-08-14 22:02:51 · answer #3 · answered by greyheart 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You didn't just abandon your child. When little ones miss naps they get fussy. They don't know what they want. You tried to hold and rock your baby. He also fell asleep in a few minutes, you didn't leave him to cry for an hour, so no you are/were not an awful mother. The main reason you are not is that you are worried that youa re. The awful mothers are the ones that don't care.
2006-08-14 18:59:59 · answer #4 · answered by ushabug 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not a horrible mother, but he obviously needed some time alone to wind down. It is a good idea to put a baby this age down to bed when they are sleepy so they learn to go to sleep on their own, as opposed to rocking them. He did what he needed to do for himself, and this is no way reflects badly on your parenting. He needed to unwind, and just as many adults don't like to be cuddled or talked to when they are very tired, most infants this age don't either. Relax and enjoy the rest of your evening.
2006-08-14 18:59:38 · answer #5 · answered by alone1with3 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It happens...when they get on a proper schedule, you will find it a lot easier. My son started daycare for 3 days a week when he was one...I started a schedule right away that matched daycare. So he naps at home at the same time...eats lunch and snacks...makes it a lot easier on everybody. You are not an awful mother.
2006-08-14 19:11:38 · answer #6 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no you are not a bad mother it depend on how long he was crying it would not be good if he cried himself to sleep every night but i am almost sure you would not allow that to happen
try bringing him for a drive in the car that would put him to sleep so you are not horrible you are just tired
2006-08-14 19:18:50 · answer #7 · answered by kerryman 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HECK NO! my mother owns an in-home daycare and that kind of thing is quite common with fussy, cranky, or perhaps spoiled babies. don't feel bad if u didnt neglect him. i mean if you were watching tv or something and just ignoring it that is another story, but what you did is common. sometimes a baby is just agitated, and just can't b helped. if u tried everything but nothing works, he/she needs to figure it out themselves, or there a tad spoiled... :)
2006-08-14 18:59:28 · answer #8 · answered by nathaniel_ward 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son will headbutt you if you try and cuddle him when hes tired.Sometimes crying isnt so bad only nerve racking.Your not a bad momfor doing that.My son lays on a great big tellitubby and crashes anywhere he can.Your just being a mom and hes just being a baby.
2006-08-14 18:59:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think to a point letting them cry it out is wrong, but, I also think rocking or cuddling them to sleep is wrong to a certain point too. What he needs to do is to learn how to put himself to sleep. If crying is what that takes, then let him do it. Here's my advice: Put him in his crib and stand next to his crib and stroke his back for awhile. Eventually sit next to the crib (if you have a chair) and just sshh him softly or sing to him to soothe him. But, don't pick him up no matter how much he cries. Just leave him in his crib and stand/sit next to him until he falls asleep. Good luck :)
2006-08-14 18:55:20 · answer #10 · answered by BeeFree 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋