Single ma w/ a 10 wk old son that doesnt want to sleep in the crib, just wants to be held by me..Is there a way to keep him entertained during the day so he sleeps better @ night? His toys only work 4 10 minutes... Than he wants me and falls asleep. Someone please help!
2007-02-02 07:16:56 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I asked this same question nearly months ago. IThis is the life of a newborn. They want to be held. A lot. They want to eat. A lot. They do not like to be put down. Their attention spans are minute. As much as I feel your pain, I really do buy the advice: do you what you need to do to survive. This isn't the age to do CIO, though there is no harm in putting him down so that you can go pee, etc. But do what you need to do to survive. I'm not for cosleeping but in the newborn stage my husband slept on the couch and my daughter slept next to me, on me, in her car seat. Whatever it took. He will probably not 'sleep better at night' until he is closer to three months old when feedings won't be such an issue. Some babies start to sleep through at 8 weeks, others (read: alot) don't. There is truth in Karp's theory that newborns still can't think of themselves outside of you, so you have to do whatever it takes to accomodate them. Eventually (as in four months and up..an eternity when you are sleep deprived), they 'come online' and start to realize the world and their place in it, and then things get better. Their attention is longer, and can developmentally be able to sleep better. Hang in there.
PPS: try using the sling rider, it was how we survived for three months. my daughter fell asleep instantly in it. all babies have something that makes them calm and induces sleep, it is up to us to find it. also, the miracle blanket was a miracle as swaddling helped my daughter right on up to six months.
2007-02-02 07:32:18 · answer #1 · answered by MomofOneSpnkyGrl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's still very little and may just not want to be away from you. Try putting the crib or a portable crib in your bedroom so he can sense you're there and smell you, but not have to be in your bed. Also, try putting your worn shirt in the crib with him. It'll smell like you and may soothe him. But he's just a little guy and it may be a month or so more before he sleeps through the night. My daughter was up almost every hour or 2 for the first 5 months. UGH! But she's 18 months now and since she was 6 moths old she sleeps from 7pm-7am every day without ever waking up. Hang in there, it'll get better.
2007-02-02 07:30:48 · answer #2 · answered by Jilli Bean 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes there is a draft over baby crib. Get a light weight blanket and drape over the crib. That helped me with my son. Make sure there are a couple of soft toys for him to play with when he wakes up. Let him learn that he can play in the crib. Don't run to him if he cries. Let him cry for 5 - 10 minutes before going to him and then, don't pick him up, just lay him back down and pat his behind gently. Sing softly or put on some soft soothing music. Bathe him just before bed and really play with him then to wear him out, and after bath, play some more. Get him into a routine and stick to it. Good Luck!
2007-02-02 07:25:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What we did with my niece was get one of those music boxes that fits on the side of the crib. It was bright, musical, colorful and the baby liked it. There was alot less fussing by the baby after we put that in there. Contrary to what the "experts" say, you can spoil a baby by holding it much. It gets so use to that it depends on it. Another thing we did for one of my daughters was rocked her a bit before we put her in her crib. A mobil hanging above the crib can help. Talk to him even if he's sitting in like a stroller, or a baby seat. Doesn't matter what you say to him, just talk. It will keep his interest, he hears mom, and then when bedtime comes he'll be ready.
2007-02-02 07:25:09 · answer #4 · answered by Melanie A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I completely understand where you are coming from. I don't have any answers yet but thank you for the question because it has helped give me some hope. My daughter is just under 5 months old and has to be in my bed with me and still wakes me up about every 3 hours or so. I have been told by all that it gets better at about 6 months so hang in there.
2007-02-02 08:35:37 · answer #5 · answered by lilbri724 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is sooooooo normal, sweetie. Your baby has to learn to self-sooth, and it's not an easy thing for either of you.
Try this.......lay him down, and no matter how much he cries (and he will), let him stay there. If he hasn't settled down within 10 minutes, go get him.
Gradually increase the amount of time by 3 minute increments until you find the amount of time needed for him to fall asleep on his own in bed. Eventually, he will begin to play when he's in there, and the crying will lessen......then fall asleep.
2007-02-02 07:23:01 · answer #6 · answered by Critter Lady 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
we tried but it sucked.....he cried and cried and I couldn't do it. we all slept together, until he got to about 2 1/2. now we just put him to sleep in his bed, lay with him and read a bit then go to our own room.
I felt that our child never did anything wrong, that he didn't deserved to be locked up like a dog or criminal like he couldn't be trusted or was being punished....it just felt wrong or me and our child. some adapt pretty well but our boy did not.
donated the crib, which we bough second hand, to the thrift store down the street where we got it in the first place.....but all we used it for was to hold his baby cloths and stuffed animals;)))
Good Luck, in about a year none of this will matter, just hang in there .....plus they need to sleep when they are young, the key is that you need to nap when he does so you can be up later when he is so you can get stuff done and take care of him!
2007-02-02 07:21:07 · answer #7 · answered by rooster2381 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Immediately go buy How to become Baby Wise. It's a miracle and you will owe me big time once you apply it. We have a 1 year old and our baby slept through the night in his own crib from the beginning.
It's all a matter of how you train him/her. They only know what you teach them. And since he/she's already 10 weeks old, you need to run to the book store, not walk!
2007-02-02 07:19:25 · answer #8 · answered by stranger2ooo 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Swaddle him in a blanket this will help him from feeling too "free" while he's in his crib. Don't' put anything in the crib that may smother him! SIDS...
2007-02-02 07:23:25 · answer #9 · answered by Curious J. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be that the crib is too big. Babies like to be snug. Have you tried a bassinet? My son slept in one of those until he got too big for it.
2007-02-02 07:20:41 · answer #10 · answered by mark my words 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋