Does anyone's baby get very cranky when sleepy?

Question

My little girl throws a fit when she gets sleepy, she won't take a bottle, pacifier, rocked to sleep. Nothing. She usually cries the whole time till she falls asleep. I walk around with her, put her in her crib. Any advice? When she gets sleepy I would like to put her in the crib and let her fall asleep, but she will start screaming. She is 5 months old.

She usually only takes 3 naps a day for about 30 min. each.

Answer 1

Actually, EVERYBODY'S baby gets cranky when they are sleepy.. it's how babies 'fight' sleep.
they're new, they're afraid they'll 'miss' something.. even though they don't know what they might 'miss'..
When I was caring for my granddaughter, and she was about a month old, I would sit up on my bed, put a pillow between my crossed legs, put a reading pillow behind me to support my back, and give her a bottle.. and, though she was breastfed, she would take the bottle, cause that's what she knew she would get from me. and, she would generally go to sleep.. if not, and she wanted to play a little, or was restless.. I'd turn her lengthwise, and move her little legs back and forth till she dropped back off.. then I'd change her diaper and put her back in her crib..
By the way, keep the lights low and sounds to a minimum, when it's time for her bedtime.. let the cues be right for her to go to sleep..

Answer 2

My daughter is 5 months old also and she is just starting to get better at going to sleep. What my saving grace has been is trying to keep a schedule. I don't go by the clock, but I make sure that she gets fed about every 3 hours and has a nap about every 2 hours. At night, we have a relaxing bath at about 7:30, feed at 8, to bed by 8:30 or 9. It's a little late for a baby, but that's the routine that works best for both of us.

She still requires a little bit of rocking for naps and bedtime, but her fussing before she falls asleep has gone from full out temper tantrums for 1/2 hour to just a little grumping for a couple of minutes. I have to catch her at the exact right time because if I'm trying to get her to go to sleep too early, she doesn't want to go and gets mad that I'm 'making' her go to sleep. And if I wait too long, than she is overtired.

Maybe try starting a schedule. At 5 months old a nap every 2 hours is about average, while it varies from child to child. Once your daughter gets into a routine, she'll come to expect and accept what's coming. And you'll be able to read her cues because you'll know what she needs according to the time.

Answer 3

My little one has been like that lately and he's 6 months old. One thing is that he's teething, the other thing is that he wants to be comforted. He screams at the top of his lungs like he is in serious pain but then stops instantly as soon as we pick him up --so we know that nothing is really hurting him.
I have had to put him on his tummy on the floor on one of his crib blankets with a couple of toys. I get where I can see him but he can't see me and I let him cry until he falls asleep. It sounds cruel and it hurts me to hear him, but as long as I can see that he is safe I know he just needs to get it out. He will scream but then get distracted for a little bit with the toys and fall asleep.
He used to fall asleep so easy with a bottle or a bath or just rocking and singing to him but lately he just fights us. Since we have found there's just no consoling him, this has been our only solution.
Good luck!

Answer 4

my baby has been doing the same thing, three nights ago i put him down in his crib to get a short break, got something to drink, picked up my husbands clothes on the floor, etc, for about 10-15 min he screamed and then i noticed that he got quieter so i left him be, 5-10 min after that he was asleep. the time in between him screaming and sleeping has gotten shorter. Maybe if you try letting her scream for a few she'll sleep on her own. it's difficult to do so try to keep busy durning that time.

Answer 5

My baby girl is almost 3 months old and she cries like someone is beating her everytime she gets sleepy. I usually lie her against my chest and pat her butt. I also put her on a flat pillow on the sofa, on her stomach and pat her butt slowly and she falls asleep really quick. If you want to put her in the crib, put a pillow behind her or next to her - so she thinks someone is there with her... that works too. Good luck!

Answer 6

My baby did the same..
she is more then likely overtired. Work on getting her on a good schedule for napping. This is talked about in this book
The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley and William Sears
Good Luck!

Answer 7

Usually if she is getting to the point she is so overtired she is *that* cranky then she isn't sleeping enough. Does she have scheduled naps? That would help a lot in keeping her happy more during the day. If that's not it, I would say it's something other than just being overtired. Teething perhaps?

Answer 8

Take her for a drive. Put on some very soft lullaby music. If she cries, just hold her tiny hand and whisper to her. Talk about anything to her. Overally, remain calm. Good luck!

Answer 9

if she gets sleepy at the same time every day try putting her down just a little bit before that time. it may take a little work at first but it will get better.

Answer 10

attempt infant tylenol or motrin or perhaps a bath to assuage him. at present all you could do is convenience him, detrimental infant. you're probably going to have a lengthy nighttime. keep checking to make remedy he don't have a temp. The drs. say that a gentle temp is fantastic yet when it receives too severe to call them. good success