How do I get my 3 month baby to sleep without rocking her?

Question

We have to wake up and rock her back to sleep several times during the night because she cannot fall asleep without being rocked. As soon as I put her down she starts cying and won't stop.

Answer 1

my daughter is 6 1/2 months and falls asleep on her own. when I see her rubbing her eyes I just lay her in her crib and she falls asleep. I made the mistake with my first daughter holding and rocking her all the time so she would not fall asleep without it. it was a pain and I promised myself I would not do it this time. its not too late for you to start though, but you will probably have to put up with alot of crying until she gets use to it. during the day, when it is time for her nap or you know she is sleepy, lay her down and leave the room. let her cry for 5 min. then go and pick her up and sooth her for a minute and put her back down, let her cry 5 min, next time you go in her room dont pick her up just pat or rub her back and so on. this will not be an overnight thing so have patience and dont give up or get frustrated or else it wont work and you will be back to rocking her.

Answer 2

Try caresses, that seems to work for me. Picking her up and rocking her is a quicker solution and it may take some patience but she will get there in the end. If she gets into a real state, it's better to pick her up and calm her before trying again. The most important thing is to persevere.

I've been lucky, my little girl has from birth been willing (though not all the time) to fall asleep alone, although someone has to be in the room with her. About a month ago I realised that I was letting her sleep in my arms a little too much and I had to struggle a bit to get her off on her own again, but it's worth it.

Try different things. I believe it's a good idea not to get them stuck into any one habit, mixing it up makes them more flexible.

Another poster mentioned 'The Baby Whisperer' by Tracy Hogg. I agree she had some real top ideas. Go for 'The Baby Whisperer solves all your problems'

Good luck

V

Answer 3

Leaving the room and letting her cry and coming back in so she knows your there every so often is a good idea but from experience is extremely hard to do, especially at night and if you sleep in the same room. If you are going to use this method start during the day with her first nap and she will eventually end up falling asleep from being so tired from crying. I've read other answers and I would not recommend buying something that will rock her, she needs to be able to sleep without this and when she outgrows it you will be back with the same problem. Also giving her milk is a very bad idea which I also know from experience. You baby will then get the idea that a full belly or sucking on a bottle is soothing and will then get attached to that. Also she needs to sleep on her own or you will have her in your bed for the next couple years when she outgrows her crib and then wants to sleep with you. Just be sure you are not teaching her any bad habits you will later have to break her of all over again. Luckily for you, it's still very early and you have time to find what works for you and your situation.

Answer 4

Go to this website:

www.thebabywhisperer.com

The woman is amazing. There are loads of hints and tips on these sorts of things.

That said....

I still lie with my son to get him off to sleep and he is almost 2. it's hard, as I'm a single aprent and have to do all the night wakes. Having said that, he is a happy and settled little boy.

I can't get my head round controlled crying. I cannot let him cry and I htink that the only thing a baby learns from this is that no one comes if they cry. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but trying methods like Pick up/Put down and shush pat as described by Tracy Hogg ( the baby whisperer) seems much kinder to me.

I hope at least some of that makes sense

x

Answer 5

My 6 month old baby also wakes often throughout the night. He normally just needs his dummy putting back in and re-wrapping up in his blanket (he sleeps wrapped up like an Egyptian Mummy).

I also keep a bottle of water in his room just in case he is thirsty, but he normally doesn't want it in the night.

It is hard to cope with the night-time wakes, if your baby still won't settle just take her out for a small hug 1-2 mins but try not to make eye contact otherwise she will think it is time to be awake.

Babies are strange creatures, you will find a way that works soon!

Answer 6

You could try laying the baby on its side.That helped my sisters and my best friends baby.If u hold the baby to much u will spoil it and then it wants 2 be held and like u said rocked 2 sleep.It will not hurt the baby if u let it cry that is good 4 them because it builds up there ammune system.Do not pick the baby up 2 much when it crys and u won't have any trouble.

Answer 7

My boy is 4 months old & he was like that on his 3rd month also. What i did was, I tried getting a carrier- the one that you manually rocks. I placed him there & when he's already half-asleep, I put him to bed while patting him to sleep. I did this for 3 consecutive days & luckily for me, he got used to it! He now sleeps on his own during the night w/o being rocked. I hope it works for you too.

Answer 8

You need to sort this out now otherwise you'll still be doing it when she's 2, like me!!! She needs to learn to fall asleep on her own, when she's getting tired lie her down in her cot and believe me, she will cry - just keep going back to her every minute or so and then come away, and eventually she will sleep.... the next time you put her down she won't cry so much, and then in a couple of days she will just go to sleep on her own. My little boy was 2 and still waking 5 or 6 times in the night, the only way i could get him back to sleep was to breastfeed him. However about 6 weeks ago I just decided it had to stop - enough was enough - so when he woke up first I went in to him and lay him back down.....well he screamed his head off! he was crying for over an hour but he did go to sleep eventually. he woke again at 5.30 and I just lay him down again, and he cried for about 5 minutes. The next night he woke once and I just lay him down and he went back to sleep straight away. now he sleeps through the night no problem and it's heaven. It was hard hearing him cry, and I cried with him, but he's much happier because he's sleeping so much better. Be strong and remember, your baby will benefit from this, not just you.
good luck

Answer 9

First, comprehend that you nonetheless have a tiny toddler, and they choose a lot love and care. maximum father and mom of children are sleep deprived. It does get more effective useful, in spite of the undeniable fact that it takes time. A three hundred and sixty 5 days from now your toddler will probable sleep quite oftentimes by way of the nighttime. yet for now, you want to carry close in there and do the suitable you are able to by way of her. And going to mattress at 8:30 to make up for lost sleep is an staggering theory, it doesn't sound loopy in any respect. lower back, it really is basically no longer continually. honestly, your toddler's sleep conduct sound extremely commonplace. you're honestly fortunate that she sleeps for 3 or 4 hours. a good number of children are nonetheless waking up more effective than that. i comprehend, it isn't hassle-free to experience fortunate even as your so drained. carry close in there. and do not, please do not attempt to let her cry any more effective. She needs to devour numerous cases a nighttime as we communicate, and he or she needs you to help figure her lower back to sleep. basically carry close in there, you're doing large!

Answer 10

we all love to sit there rocking our baby but you need to try the pick up put down calm baby down when crying then put baby back down when calm try wrapping baby up in a blanket they like to feel secure don't let baby fall asleep on you. Good luck
its not easy but persevere