3 month old sleeping issues?

Question

Mr. Mom here, our 3 month old little girl currently sleeps in her swing because she needs the motion to get to sleep. We need to get her into her crib but need some help. She doesn't like the crib at all or any place other than her swing or bouncing chair. Is there any hope in site? She will soon out grow her swing and then were stuck up that creek people talk about. Whenever we try the crib she willl be fine for about 5 minutes then starts to go ballistic, she doesn't give up either. She will cry till we give in, settle her down and put her in the swing. We have gone as long as 4 hours and just can't take it. I don't want to hear her that unhappy and I don't think that we're teaching her anything but misery. Is there any hope? Any ideas?

Answer 1

I'm going through the same thing. My son slept in his car seat (cause of the back support) until he was 6 months old. It was a lot easier to move him at that age. Luckily, when he was done eating, he was out and didn't wake during the night.

My daughter is now 7 months old (acid reflux baby), and I'm in the process of moving her. She wakes up throughout the night still, so I have to keep reinforcing the crib. I use the white noise on the swing- ocean waves crashing- and I stroke her head with one hand, while the other is gently lying on her belly. She eventually falls asleep. You could try using a crib wedge so that she's not flat on her back. They also have sleep positioners with attatched wedges that will hold her in place and may comfort her. I think they also sell vibrating mats that go under the mattress, but they're a bit pricey.

It's just going to take time. Don't expect instant results. One of you is going to have to be up all night for a few nights. It's probably best to camp out on the floor. Do anything and everything you can to comfort her: sing, talk, stroke, pat, hug, lay your head on her chest, etc. just don't pick her up. I think 3 months of age is a bit early for her to understand what's going on. She just knows her environment's different and it's causing her insecurity. So if it's not working, you may have to wait a few more months. I thought the swings held at least until 20 pounds.

Answer 2

You should pick up the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It only costs about $15, but will last through your child's adolescent years. And the best part is that his technique really works!

There is nothing wrong with her crying at this age..she is still too young to be able to soothe herself to sleep, so she needs your help. I think what the book might suggest is to try some soothing techniques prior to putting her down, like gentle rocking, or letting her suck something (give her the bottle or pacifier), give her a gentle massage, or try swaddling her. If one of these things work, you should definitely make soothing part of your sleeping/napping routine.

One thing you should do is make sure her crib isn't too stimulating because it could be distracting her from sleep. Are your crib bumpers bright colored and highly patterned? Maybe the mobile bothers her? Make sure the room is dark and quiet (or you could invest in a white noise player). Check if the temperature is just right.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Does your baby have acid reflux?

It sounds like she does. A dead giveaway is that they start howling about 5 to 10 minutes after they have been laying flat on their backs.

She likes the swing because she is up at an angle.
Let me guess: Your wife couldn't breastfeed her easily, and she would actually gnaw on your wife's nipples, making it very stressful to breastfeed? Just a hunch.

Luckily we had a great pediatrician who explained this:

This is what you need to do:
Don't let your daughter lay down for 30 minutes after eating.

Don't bother with prescription antacids (axid).

Prop one end of her crib way up on blocks, or do what you can to make her bed angled up so she isn't flat on her back.

If your crib doesn't vibrate, you might want to find one that does, or a vibrating pad for her mattress.

Don't feel bad about putting her in the swing....we didn't have a crib that could go at an angle, and our daughter spent the first 3 months in a bouncer bassinett.

Also, if you haven't started yet, add 1tablespoon of single grain gerber rice baby cereal flakes to every liquid oz of her breastmilk or formula. Make sure she burps before laying her down(you probably know about that one). If you use bottles, try the Dr. Brown bottles. They help with gas.

Also try similac advance with iron, or the walmart equivalent (half the price).

Just keep her sitting up for at LEAST 1/2 hour...maybe even 45 minutes after feeding her.

It seems like a lot of work, but it will work like a charm.
We did this until she was about 7 months old.

Good luck. I hope I am right.

Answer 4

she has trained herself to sleep in the swing. Every time you have let her cry and then given in has just taught her that she needs to cry until you give in... Children learn through repetition.... She wants what she wants but you as the parent decide what is best. You have to let her cry it out. She will not remember it and it should only take a few days. Only do it if you are fully committed because once you start the process you cant get her and put her in the swing. That is just reinforcing that if she cries long enough you will come. She needs to learn to sleep in her crib.

Answer 5

Have you tried rocking her and having her asleep in your arms, then gently putting her in the crib? They do make playpens that vibrate. Start with that. Then make the transition to the crib. Have you tried attatching a mobile to the crib? That might also work. I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 6

sounds to me like this may be a bigger problem than you think.
ask your pediatrician about gastro-intestinal reflus.
while in an unpwards angle, your baby doesnt get hartburn because gravity keeps the food in place, but with weak muscles, your baby lays down and the milk goes into places it shouldn't be. this causes alot of pain.

try a tablespoon of rice cereal, not in the bottle, but spoon feed a mixture to the baby. this thickens the milk and keeps it in the tummy better. then raise the head of the crib to an angle similar to the swing's angle. wait no less then 15 minutes after the feeding to put her to sleep so that she can digest for a bit. then put her to bed.

Answer 7

both my girls were this way and then i started putting them to sleep on there stomach...it is perfectly fine to do this...to this day my 2 yr old sleeps on her tummy...and my 6mth, it is the only way she will sleep...rock her to sleep and gently turn her and lie her on her tummy in her crib....if your worried just keep checking on her...i hope this helps and i hope u get some sleep soon...Good Luck

Answer 8

take her into bed with you- co-sleeping is the most natural, comfie thing in the world. and that way you all get more sleep.