how long is to long?

Question

my baby is 10 weeks old and for the past 10 weeks i have either nursed him to sleep or cuddled him to sleep, but now his sleeping pattern is changing, he is sleeping better at night but during the day he stays up for an hour then goes back to sleep for an hour and it is really making my day completly upside down. I have been told to just put him down and let him cry himself to sleep, but nobody seems to say how long i should let him cry for, and how long this will last for, I am open to any suggestions that could be helpful

Answer 1

I have 4 children under age 6, and I breastfed all of them for 9-10 months, except for my youngest son of course since he is only 6 months old. I nursed them all to sleep until they were 9-10 months old, I could not stand to let them cry it out!! You don't have to if you feel it is not right, it will only be a few more months, and your baby will be little for only a short time, enjoy the bonding now. We have all been there! My son sleeps 12 hours straight, ll my kids did at 8 weeks or so, and barely nap, if they did only for 30 mins literally in my arms. Best wishes to you, sorry I could not help more! Just don't let your baby feel "abandoned to cry" or else he may cry more and be irritible due to frustion and confusion?

Answer 2

Before you let him cry it out, keep in mind that he's only 10 weeks old he's still to young to really know the difference between night and day and trust me he will change quite a few more times before he sets into a routine. If you decide to let him cry it out, make sure all of his needs have been met he's been fed, changed, burped and know the difference between him crying in pain, hunger, or when he's lonely. I could never stand letting my son cry it out it was too hard listening to him of course he was a severely colicky baby so this made it difficult. Then as he got to be about five months old we bought him his first crib and he slept through the night. I thought whew I sure am glad that he's sleeping through the night and awake more during the day. Well, then he began teething and it was back to up early in the morning so like I said he will change quite a few times before he establishes his own routine. Do what is best for you, if you let him cry it out walk in occasionally to let him know you are there and it's time for sleep. Wait outside the door for a while and every 10 minutes or so just check on him this should only take a couple of weeks then he should adjusts just fine. But like i said it depends on the baby. I wouldn't let him cry no more than 30 minutes at most.

Answer 3

The "just let them cry" method only works for some babies. While it's good to let him learn to self-soothe, there are many different options. Read up on "ferberizing". It's a parenting method where you let him cry for a few minutes before you go to him. You would only talk to him, not pick him up. You gradually increase the length of time between your visits. That's the shortened version, and it's only one of many approaches. At 10 weeks, I let my daughter find her own sleep rhythm. She's been sleeping through the night and taking two 3hr naps since she was 2 months old. Just be patient.

Answer 4

don't lay him down and let him cry, he is a baby and he is just used to being around you for 9 straight months. It is okay to let him cry a mintue if you put him down to go pee, get a bottle, warm up some food, get a blanket or something like that- not for an extended period of time.

He is so little and when he cries that is how he tells you he needs you or something. He cannot do anything on his own, so he needs you to do it for him. Give it some time, although it can get frustrating, enjoy him at this stage and all his stages as he goes through them.. You are going to wish he wants you to cuddle with him one day when he is much older..

Answer 5

Don't let your baby cry himself to sleep! Try Elizabeth pantley's "The No Cry Sleep Solution" for a more gentle aproach that will teach positive sleep assosiations instead of lonliness and abandonement.
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/04.09/ChildrenNeedTou.html
How would you like to have to scream to sleep every night?

Check out what Dr. Sears has to say on the subject.

Answer 6

10 weeks is still to young to let them cry themselves to sleep. The first 3 months are spent TEACHING them HOW to sleep, and setting up a good routine and schedule.

You can start teaching him how to sleep without nursing first, by rocking him or bouncing with him until he drifts off, but only when you know he's already good and tired.

If you're going to let him cry it out, you do it progressively. Get him good and tired, until he's almost alseep, put him down in his crib and let him fall asleep on his own. You let him cry until he sleeps. You can sit there with him and from time to time just shhshh him, or pat his back when he gets out of control. But its easier to just leave the room.

You learn to tell when they are beside themselves, and when theyre just upset and crying crazy. I would go in and get my son and settle him down a little and lay him back down when he was SO upset that he was gagging or not slowing at all. Usually it takes about 15-30 minutes for them to cry themselves to sleep in the beginning. And it lasts for a few days. There are times when it starts all over again.

But its best not to start that routine until he has a solid sleep schedule and can fall asleep by rocking or something other than nursing.

Answer 7

Nice name, its mine too. Well I have 3 children and my suggestion would be let the baby cry to sleep a few times it will get better.

Answer 8

I never let them cry much while my husband always
said let them cry its good for their lungs.ya right
so anyway it will get easier around months 3-4
so hang in there enjoy the fact babys sleep 14 hours
a day right now later you're gonna have other worries
do what you feel is right mothers instinct.
good luck congratulations....

Answer 9

It is true you should try to get him on a normal sleeping pattern and letting him cry is OK but if he is absolutely screaming for more than about ten mins then you should go get him. Then once you get him try to rock him to sleep or also a pacifier might work well too. Once you get him on a sleeping pattern your life will be less hectic.

Answer 10

That is hard. I 'd let my baby cry a few minutes, (You will have to judge how much you can take.) then pick him up , play with him, them put him down again and play music for him. a( C D) I can't play any thing. then gradually started introducing toys . It Helped.