How do I get my nine month old to sleep in her own bed?

Question

My daughter refuses to sleep in her crib. I have let her scream for an hour. Checking on her of course. I nurse her and she thinks she has to be close to me at all times. I let her fall asleep with me and then I lay her in her bed but as soon as she hits her bed she wakes up and screams. I have tryed sitting next to her and touching her with my hand but she just stands up and screams mom mom! If you have any suggestions please let me know the secrets! I have alsodone the bath massage and then nurse her to sleep but when she hits that bed like I said she pops those little eyes open and it is over from there.

Answer 1

Do you watch Nanny 911. just put her in bed and let her cry. i know it sounds horrible but if you continue to giv ein to her when she cries you will have a 12 year old sleeping in your bed soon!!


If she can get out of bed just continue to put her back in it. Do not go check on her if she can hear or see you. Invest in a monitor if you are wanting to watch her.

She will fall asleep! You may have to start earlier and it may take longer than putting her in your bed and giving in but if you fix it now it will save you later!! Be strong! It is hadr to hear your child cry for you and to do nothing about it, but know she is fed, changed and there is nothing she really needs!

Good luck!!

Answer 2

I know how you feel - I went through this too. I didnt start a routine where I stopped rocking him to sleep until after he was 1. I was ready then. My husband and I would both get together and hug him say a night time prayer and put him in his crib. Then I would sit by his bed for sometimes 1 1/2 hours and waited for him to go to sleep on his own, after about a week, I moved a little further away from the bed. Finally I was out the door - it takes time dont expect miracles, shes used to having you there. Take your time and dont force her. I couldnt listen to him scream either.

Answer 3

be persistant in whatever you try! have a steady bedtime routine. i'm going through the same thing. and it's been hard, but it's getting better. the first night, my son screamed for 2 1/2 hours before he finally gave up, the next night was only 45 minutes! feed your daughter in a dark, quite room, in a rocking chair or something. then put her in crib give her a security object, kiss her good night and close the door. let her cry for as long as you feel comfortable. just check on periodically, you know. go in every 15 minutes or so and just lay her down, say it's time for bed, goodnight i love you. extend the time in between check ups by 5 minutes everytime and after about 3 times, don't say anything after that. just go in lay her down and walk back out. good luck cry if you need too, be strong you're in charge. if you don't stop it now it will only be harder.

Answer 4

Ever watch Super Nanny? Try her bedtime technique - it worked for me. You do your regular bedtime routine, if you don't have one, establish it now and then when it's bedtime just be firm and stick to it. You lay your child down and say it's bedtime and give her a kiss. Then you sit next to the crib and don't look at your child. (Your child will scream.) Then after a while, get back up and just say, "Bedtime" and lay her back down. Then sit back down in your spot and don't give your child eye contact or say anything. And while it may take awhile, just keep sitting there without saying anything or looking at her. Then when she has calmed down a bit, every once in a while move closer and closer to the door, still sitting and not looking at her. It seems like a hassel but I only had to do it once with my daughter. And because your's is so young, she might respond better to this than to leaving her alone. This works because she gets used to falling asleep on her own, but knows that you are there and is comforted by that. Just stick to your guns and be consistent! Hope this helps...

Answer 5

As bad as this may sound, you are going to have to allow her to cry. I have gone down the same path, although, I just could NOT allow myself to do it with our firstborn child and she ended up sleeping with us until she was 4. Big mistake. Our second child came along and I was bound and determined not to make the same mistake. So, we put both of them in their beds at the same time. We went through the screaming and the crying (all of us were crying!) BUT, after a week of it, it FINALLY stopped! It is great. They go to bed with no problems! I was so excited to finally go to sleep without foggy contacts from crying so much.

You have to be strong. There are several times that I actually went outside because I could not handle it. BUT, it is something that I am glad that I did. Now, we take baths, read a book, say our prayers and it is lights out! It is wonderful to have such a routine.

Good luck. It is a hard thing!

Answer 6

My son was an early walker an walked at nine months. So dont try this until she can walk. My son had a fire truck shaped toddler bed and crawled in it one night and I thought he was way to young for a toddler bed but he ended up loving his bed. He hated his crib I think it was because of the hard mattress and the feeling of being trapped. He started sleeping all threw the night in his own bed. You can also try putting the crib next to your bed so that your baby can see you at night. Good Luck

Answer 7

When you are ready to lie her down place the shirt/blouse you're weaing in the crib with her while she's awake and lie her down. Little ones become comfortable with the comforting scent of the momma. If she still refuses to lie down on her own you might want to consider letting her cry, it hurts but in the long run she will learn that momma means what she says,.

Answer 8

Boy, this is bringing back memories!

We "Ferberized" our kids, and it was successful for us. If you haven't heard of this, do a search for Dr. Richard Ferber. We worked his method and now we have two children with no sleep issues. They are now 5 & 6. Even the babysitter comments on how easy it is to get them to bed.

I highly recommend his book. Even if you don't use his method. He has a lot of great advice in there about routines, schedules, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Yeah, I agree with Valarie C, you have to let her cry it out. And you CANNOT give up, no matter how long it takes ( and it WILL take long, she's little older, too bad you didn't start doing this earlier). But just be patient, put some headphones on and wait it out, it'll get better.

Answer 10

she's only 9 months old, just cosleep for now. Don't have her cry it out, that will harm her. Most of the babies in my family (including one of my own) sleep with their parents until around age 2. They move onto their own beds when they are ready. She needs you right now, follow your instincts.