how do i break this habbit?

Question

my son is 14 weeks old. he is generally a good baby and sleeps thru the nyt, only problem is he can only fall asleep on my breast or with me getting him off by resting him agenst my chest n rocking in my chair. I didnt see this to be a problem until yesturday wen i returned to work for 2 full days(9-5) and he was left with his father all day for the first time. To be honest b.coz h's neva been with any1 els i didnt even realise wot i had done until now! He has dne nothing but cry for 2 days thru being tired! im going back to work permenantly part time in 2 weeks and his nana will be having him for the 4 hours a day. i need to try and break this habbit. I know this is my fault so i dnt need people telling me so, i feel bad unuff as it is. i wud just like a little advise on how to break this habbit please. can i just add incase any1 suggests it that he dsnt hav a dummy and wont take one. Thnx all

Answer 1

This is an easy thing to do with a newborn and I'm sure you didn't realize what was happening. The best thing to do unfortunatly is to put him down and just let him cry (I know...that sucks) but it really is the only way. Another option that my kids loved was to take a nap in their swing. Good Luck :)

Answer 2

I did what you did with my first -- learned with my second baby to put him down in the crib a bit drowsy but not totally asleep. If he was nursing at bedtime, I'd just keep patting his bottom lightly so that he couldn't relax completely. Then when he was done nursing, I'd continue to pat him as I stood up, walked to the crib and placed him down. He was a belly-sleeper as soon as he could turn over, so his bottom was up and I'd pat it a few more times, then cover him and leave.

My older son had my help way too much and it took years for him sleep well. And he still has insomia. But my younger son can fall asleep like nothing I have ever seen. Gone in 60 seconds!

The main thing is to create a transition, like the patting, or humming, or whatever, that can keep your baby a teensy bit awake until they are in the crib and then finally fall completely asleep there instead of in your arms.

Answer 3

first of all your baby doesn't have a bad habbit. Your baby recognizes you by smell and by sound. Try telling your husband to cuddle him without a shirt on... to help ease the crying.. also there are several remedies that can help soothe a baby.. a pacifier is a good one also..they reject it at first.. but mabey you can introduce it with some breast milk on the nipple... You haven't introduced any bad habbits to your baby so don't worry.. Babies feel very insecure when they are that little and the closeness you give them helps them feel safe. Try wrapping him up kind of tight in a blanket ... babies also are used to feeling this when they are in utero.. when they are born they don't have that feeling anymore..... also you could buy a baby swing and gently try rocking him that way .. sometimes the motion soothes too.. hope some of this helps.. congrats on your new baby..take care

Answer 4

Don't feel bad. What you're doing is perfectly natural. The problem is you having to be away from him!

But, because that is a reality, his caretaker is really going to have to work it out on thier own. Theres nothing YOU can do, he won't respond that same way with you.

My son always did well with rocking and music... last ditch effort i would leave his car seat :)

Best of luck, don't worry too much.. he will adjust. I assume your Nana has kids of her own? She will work it out.

Answer 5

Ummm...Why can't the caregiver just rock him too? Its not a bad habit to be comforted to sleep. They can swaddle him, hold him close and give him the conection and security he needs to fall asleep.

My only other suggestion would be to get one of those portable swings and have him fall asleep being rocked by a device. A human touch is NOT a bad habit though.

Answer 6

This weekend or whatever day you and husb are both home, Have husb rock baby to sleep, same chair, blanket, song whatever. Have Nana do it too. Sometimes a walk, stroller ride, dryer ride [ in a baby seat, with you there - the vibrations are soothing ] or car ride will do the trick. Good luck!

Answer 7

I had a similar problem, my daughter would only fall asleep on my husbands chest. She eventually grew out of it. We would let her fall asleep on his chest or mine when she would allow it and then move her to her bassinet. I put a sleep positioner(those little pads that keep them from rolling over) in her bassinet so that she would have the added comfort and closeness. eventually she was able to fall asleep by herself in her bassinet. After she got used to sleeping alone I took the sleep positioner away. Now she sleeps great.

Answer 8

I suggest that you get a babyswing if you dont have one already my 2 month old falls asleep in it a lot.

Answer 9

you know it really doesnt hurt a baby to cry for a little while.

to break our baby from the breast before bed i would lay her down (of course shed cry a litte bit) but if it was just whinning i would go in about every 2 minutes and cuddle her and move back and forth for 2 minutes and then lay her back down...i kid you not not even a week later she would just lay right down and has been doing it for 6 months.

Answer 10

Ummm I had a really hard time reading that. But yeah, it won't hurt your baby to cry a little bit.