She will only go to sleep if I rock her. She used to allow me to just put her down in her crib drowsy, but at about 7 months she began becoming more needy, and always wanting to be rocked. I tried the crying thing when she was 7 months, but I couldn't do it. I'm thinking about trying it again now because I am so exhausted! She still wakes during the night also. Sometimes she's up 2 or 3 times! I just feel so bad letting her cry! But, I'm running on empty here and I feel like I spend the majority of my day tending to her sleeping issues. Any opinions?
2007-11-27 08:05:59 · 14 answers · asked by tiredbutwiredlove 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I know how hard it can be when dealing with sleep issues, but I really don't think the cry it out method is necessary. You have to determine why she is unable to fall asleep on her own, besides the rocking. If she was previously able to, you know that she's capable of doing it, and it might be that you are trying to get her to nap or to bed at the wrong time for her. If a baby is not ready for sleep... either undertired or overtired, they can have trouble falling asleep. I found that my daughter's nap times and bedtime moved around quite a bit as she got older and was able to extend the amount of time she could last before getting tired. The whole day needs to be looked at overall to determine the best course of action with any sleep issues.
The rocking obviously plays a roll as well as she's gotten used to that. Though, it's really not fair to take that away from her all at once, since you are the one that created that habit, and let her cry it out. You've been her method of soothing to sleep, and now you have to help her find her own way again. Try rocking her less and less and put her down drowsy again, try to settle her in the crib as much as possible, and only pick her up if she is really crying.
Best of luck!
2007-11-27 08:43:38 · answer #1 · answered by josi 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
There is a good page on the 'cry it out' thing here:
http://www.talaris.org/pdf/research/CIOPoster.pdf
Up to you, but don't, like some of the more pathetic mothers here, go around pretending it's good for the baby or something.
As has already been pointed out, there is no way that when you're old you're going to be thinking "Gosh, what a waste of time all those cuddles were..." Where's Daddy -- can't he give you some relief from all the rocking duties?
She will grow out of it before you know it, so get the cuddles in while you can. You feel bad about hearing her cry for a reason. Does she hush if you sleep with her? If yes, just bring her into bed with you.
2007-11-27 09:10:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it's time. I tried and stopped and now he's 10 months and I tried again at 9. It didn't take long. Maybe 3 nights of not being happy but, then he got the hang of it. Make sure she goes to sleep crying, then when she wakes up she'll just cry for a bit and put herself back to sleep. Well, she should anyways.
After a month he's really good about putting himself to sleep, so I will rock him to sleep now, occasionally, and he will put himself back to sleep if he wakes up during the night. It's very nice.
2007-11-27 08:36:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Oh my! Lots of good and bad suggestions here.
When they are young, they cry because they don't know what else to do.
We made the transition at 4 months old. It took about 4 days to work though it. I felt bad, but as his doctor said, he was just trying to figure out how to soothe himself to sleep.
He is now 13 months old. At bedtime, we do our routine... I lay him down in his crib, give him his stuffed puppy, put his little balnket on him, tell him I love him and tell him good night. He hugs his puppy and quietly lays there until he falls asleep.
And we give lots of hugs and kisses as part of the bedtime routine. It's not like I toss him in bed and tell him to shut up and go to sleep (as some people will try to suggest). Letting them "cry it out" is not as harsh as all that.
And you learn to tell the difference between a cry where they need you (wet the bed, feel sick, etc.) and one where they just are frustrated. And you set your own rules too.. like - there's no way I will let him cry for an hour or anything like that.
There were a few bumps along the way... when he was teething or cranky or going through a growth spurt, but they didn't last too long.
You have to do it sometime... the longer you wait, the harder it will be.
ADDED: My son is a very loving, outgoing, affectionate, curious, thriving, healthy child.
2007-11-27 14:48:29 · answer #4 · answered by Proud Momma 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Why don't you want to rock her to sleep?
I have a 9 month old and 90% of the time he falls asleep in my arms, my husbands arms or Grandma's arms ect.
I don't have a problem with it. I wish I could be cuddled to sleep every night. Why not take advantage of it while you both can.
My son wakes up once in the night any time from 11-3am. I'm still working on that myself!
GOOD LUCK
2007-11-27 08:15:24 · answer #5 · answered by MB-n-KC 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
keep her awake more during the day so she's more sleepy at night, if shes still on a bottle try putting rice or oatmeal in the bottle before bedtime so its heavier on her belly and will make her more tired and she should sleep more through the night, give her a warm bath at night using johnsons bedtime bath to make her sleepy and if she still wont let you just put her in the crib, its fine to let her cry for a little bit, i would say not more than a half hour though... its acually good for her lungs to if that makes you feel any better about doing it lol...
2007-11-27 08:16:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
I'd say yes, but pack your patience. It took about 4 days with my daughter. The first day was really tough, about 1 1/2 hours. I just kept reassuring her but I wouldn't pick her up. The next day was about 45 minutes and then 30 minutes. The last day was about 15-20 minutes and then she slept through the night from thereafter.
2007-11-27 08:12:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
The 20 minute rule.
If she's still crying after 20 min, take her out but don't rock her. bring her back out and let her play for 20 more minutes, than try again. If you rock her after her she'll continue to want to be rocked. Have her do something else.
2007-11-27 08:10:54 · answer #8 · answered by Mamma of 3 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Yes. It only ever takes a few nights to work and is never as bad as you expect. Believe me, I know. I dreaded doing it with my 1st son, but it didn't scar him and he is clearly not afraid of bedtime now. In fact he gets really excited when it's time to cuddle up with all his stuffed animals.
2007-11-27 08:19:37 · answer #9 · answered by mel1026 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
nothing hurts a mother than to hear her child crying.....but think about it this way....crying is normal...its a natural habitat...i think u should put ur baby down before she gets used to you carrying her and that'll be BAD ON YOU..becaus then YOU wont get any sleep .. wont be able to do alot of things because she always wants to be held..good luck!
2007-11-27 08:35:40 · answer #10 · answered by Justin's Mommy 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋