how do i get my 17 month old son to sleep in his crib at night?

Question

I have a 17 month old son that i just got off the breast last week and I need him to sleep in his crib at night not in mommy and daddy bed. His crib is in our room since we have a 2 bedroom apartment and our other 2 older boys sleep on the other room. I would like to put the crib in his brothers room but i know my 5 year old won't let him sleep, I need to find a way for him to he sleep in his crib in our room without crying for us to get him . My son hates the crib even when i put him in there for a nap he screams and crys till i come in and pick him up. I would like for him to sleep in his crib at night and nap time too. My husband and i would like our bed back. help!!!!

Answer 1

You may have to put up with the crying and not give in. When he cries for you if you come get him he will learn to keep crying until you come no matter how long it takes. Since you have already trained him to cry until you get him out he will take much longer to teach that it won't work.
You need to be consistent and firm. Sit next to him so he doesn't get lonely but don't pick him up. Read to him, let him play with toys but don't pick him up. He is big enough to know who is in charge and so far it is him. Tell him you will stay and read him stories if he is quiet but if he cries you will turn off the lights and leave him alone, then do it. If he is tried and alone he will cry himself to sleep soon. Peek in when he is quiet.

Answer 2

This is what I did for my breastfeeding daughter when she was that age. I first started out slowly, I know you want it to happen over night like all of us (~: but just take your time. Start out by taking off the rail that goes up and down on the crib completely and then putting it right next to your bed. Make sure that the mattress in the crib and your bed are the same level and make sure the crib wont move from the bed (perhaps put the crib by the wall and then the bed next to the crib? ).
At night or at naps let the baby fall asleep with you in your bed till he is fully asleep and then gently put him over into the crib. Try that for a week or two to get him use to his new bed and still be near you. Secondly, when he seems to stay in the bed move the crib (with rail put back on) further and further away from the bed till its across the room (if possible). If your son starts to object, just lay him down and sit in a chair next to the bed and sit there with him until he falls asleep. If he gets up just lay him, down and say, night-night or good night or something to that effect.
Over the next, few weeks, gradually move the chair away from bed and if he sleeps then great, if not just keep laying him down and don't give him any kind of attention other than saying goodnight and tucking him back in.
Thirdly, when he is sleeping soundly in the crib move the bed into the new room and hopefully it should be fine. Just remember that everyone, even little babies like to sleep with somebody. You probably like sleeping next to your husband and wouldn't want them to sleep in another room. Babies are the same way so it takes some time and maneuvering. I hope all goes well and good luck!!!

Answer 3

It takes about 4 days of serious pain and agony. Well Not of the physical type. Start a bed time ritual, bath teeth and a book. Then lay baby down in crib say good night and leave the room. Expalin to the boys ahead of time what you are attempting, and get your husband on board too. And the baby will scream and cry. Your job the first few nights in go back in the room far enough where baby can see you. Say calmly I love you it is time to go night night. Walk out of the room. Space the intervals at like 5 - 7 minutes the 1st hour. Yes I said 1st hour. This could take hourS. But the goal is to assure your baby that you are still there and that he is not alone. After the first hour increase the time to like 10 - 15 minutes or more. Key is to remain calm, don't seem upset or frustrated when you come in to say good night. It certainly helps to have hubby take turns with you. It really does seem hard and I admit it is. But after you have the first breakthru, you will see how worth it the time and energy was. It helps baby to feel safe, to have boundries, and to know what to expect. Never ever pick up the baby once you have said goodnight. This is backwards progress. Any question contact me. This truely does work I have done it with 3 kids.

Answer 4

I went though this. I tried (for 4 days) putting him in there and sitting by the crib and the whole bit. He screamed for HOURS. It was the worse thing I've ever gone through. I found he just wasn't ready. We got a toddler bed at 21 months and with a little adjustment, he now actually likes sleeping in his bed.
I don't believe in the "cry-it-out" method. I think if my son is crying, I should answer the call - it is my job and duty. Now, that doesn't mean I run to him at every whimper, but if he is actually crying for 10 minutes or so, I go comfort him.
Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 5

Maybe you could try putting the crib right next to the bed so he sees you. Other than that, I think there's going to have to be some tough love here. Crying it out ... that sort of thing, until he realizes that the crib is where he'll have to sleep and that is the end of it. We used to give our girls 10 minutes to cry it out. If at the end of the 10 minutes they were still crying we'd go in there, soothe them, and start again. Most of the time within the 10 minutes they were asleep. I hope that helps.

Answer 6

Sorry to say this but you're gonna have to let him cry. When it's time for a feeding put him in there and if he starts then just leave him there and go away and do something else. Even if he isn't hungry @ the time try to put him in his crib with a few toys to entertain him. Stay in the room for a little bit to see what he does. Just don't pick him up even if you can't stand seeing him cry.

Answer 7

that what u are doing wrong u don't go and pick him up at all when he's fussing for u to come get him. Put him in his crib tell him nit nit and leave the room. Wait 3 minutes and then go check on him don't pick him up lay him down pat him,rub his head a lil then leave the room again. This time wait 5 minutes and so on like u did the first time. Gradually add more time until he falls to sleep. Look at this web site it might help u with a lot of things: http://www.babycenter.com/400_what-should-i-do-if-my-daughter-wont-sleep-in-her-crib_500597_1000.bc

Answer 8

Letting a child sleep in your bed to start with will cause this kind of problem, and it a hard habit to break. Put a screen between you and him it might work. But you need a bigger place so he can have his own room, it would go smoother if he were not in the same room. Good Luck

Answer 9

Lack of sleep in children can cause serious
health problems.If parents follow some simple
techniques for making their children sleep,
it can be avoided. I found useful information
at http://nosleep.in/sleepchildren.html