i know you have all heard this before...but please help!!?

Question

Alright...my daughter is almost 6 months old and my husband and I have created a monster...okay maybe not a monster, but ever since she was born we have let her sleep with us whenever she wakes up at like 4am for her midnight feedings, because it takes too long to put her back to sleep. Or sometimes she will wake up right as we are laying down so we just put her in wih us and out she goes...Well now she has gotten smart. Every time we go to put her in her bassinette when she is sleeping she wakes right up and starts crying. It breaks my heart. To all you mothers out there, how did or do you cope with breaking your babys heart for the first few times? I know I need to do something, but is there anything else you can suggest to get her sleeping by herself again? Im not looking for any rude answers, just worried about having to break my daughters heart...thanks

Answer 1

Sweetie I did the same thing with my daughter and it took me a long time but you have to keep on trying to put her down to sleep by herself and dont give in, I dont mean let her cry but keep at it. Remember don't ever give in to putting her back into the bed with you unless you wanna. Good luck to the both of you.

Answer 2

This will be hard but it will be ok. Put a radio in her room with nature sounds and a small night light. Give her her feedings and put her right back to bed.If she cries just let her cry. She will learn that she has her own bed to sleep in. Even during the day do not put her in bed with you to nap this will prolong the seperation process. Also since she is 6 months old you may want to consider a crib instead of a bassinette (she will learn to climb from that).
Good luck. Dont give in to her or things could get worse.

Answer 3

I had the same problem/habit to break. My daughter also needed to fall asleep in my arms first. I started with day time naps to put her to sleep awake and cry for a few min.. I would return to rub her back or head but Not pick her up, just comfort then leave again. Let her cry longer and longer. Then started the same pattern at night. They start beleiving that if they cry...something will happen(eg get picked up) So its important not to pick her up. If the cry gets distressed (you know the difference) then thats different. She needs to learn to fall asleep on her own. And she is Not too young to LEARN. Give her reassurance that you will be there when she wakes up. And dont worry, you are not breaking her heart sweetie! Crying doesnt hurt her. hang in there. You are a wonderful mother

Answer 4

Ahhhh....the parenting sacrafises start so young. Park the most comfortable chair you have next to the bassinett and when she is asleep put her in. Go to bed, if and when she wakes up crying, go to her, don't pick her up, just sit in the chair next to her and hang over the edge, talk to her softly, rub her back, so she knows you're there and she will start feeling secure again, this may take a few days, or even weeks, but she will be ok, and get used to it. Then you will notice the fits will get fewer and fewer. Good luck and Congrats.

Answer 5

It helped one of mine to have my pillowcase or the t shirt I had slept in the night before to snuggle with. I guess because it smelled like me. But you basically have to teach her that crying just for not being in your bed won't work anymore if you don't want her there. It is a hard habbit to break for both of you. Eventually some morning when she wakes up you will want to go back to sleep and she won't but if you put her in your bed she will so it's easy to get it started again. (that's where I am with my 4th child right now, she's 4!) For me it's worth the extra sleep. My husband used to always hate it too. I guess after 4 he has mellowed out some but if it's before about 5 am he still doesn't like it. Good luck

Answer 6

aw it's so cute.congrats for Ur baby. hey look i am not a mother but i have studied parenting and i am sure i will be a good mother one day. what i learnt was when you are putting the baby to sleep just sit or stand beside where she is for about 5 min and let her sleep and then leave quietly. it's hard i know because i ahve baby sister and she did that but now she doesn't cry any more. good luck for her.

Answer 7

As with all bad habits, there's no easy way to break it. You will have to let her cry it out in her own bed. As long as you know she's not hurting, hungry or wet, you can attribute the crying to temper.

Better get use to being a little hard nosed with temper crying. You will hear LOTS of it over the next few years. Might as well start being the parent now. the longer you delay the inevitable move to sleeping in her own space, the harder it will be.

Answer 8

My first daughter slept with me until she was SEVEN. lol. I smartened up with my second daughter and didn't even start. There is nothing worse then their little crying faces. She is a little young yet to teach her anything. When she is about 2 and ready for a bed you can let her pick out a big girl bed and big girl sheets.....Most people of the old school say "let her cry it out." They are the same people that say "bite her back" when they start biting. I never listened to them. The problem is that it is dangerous to sleep with her in your bed. Especially since can she can roll over. If you do decide to let her cry it out - console yourself with the thought that you or your partner could roll on her during the night and smother her. It has happened. THAT would be worse. I'm not sure if this helps, but it's my 2 cents....

Answer 9

I had this same issue. I had to start by putting her in her bed for naps and still with me at night and after about 4 days of being very diligent she started to sleep a little longer everytime and when I started putting her in there for bed time. it starts slow and let her cry for a few seconds before you pick her up and start maing the time before you pick her up longer and longer. it is very hard and heart breaking but you have to be diligent about it and keep the same boundaries up otherwise she will keep on wanting in bed with you.

Answer 10

I always put classical music on to put my daughter to sleep-you can also try putting a picture of you in her crib and maybe a piece of cloth with your perfume on it if you wear any. You may have to let her cry for a little while but the little reminders of you could help ease her into sleeping solo.