Granted she is 1 month old, I want her to feel safe and secure, but I want her to start getting used to self soothing and being comfortable being by herself to sleep. She has slept with me or in my arms up until now. When I put her in her crib she cries. When I put her down when she has already fallen asleep in my arms she'll wake up in a matter of minutes and cry. I think she feels abandoned. She stops crying if I go in the room and rub her head and talk to her but as soon as I leave she cries. I cant even put her down to take a shower, shes not even content alone in her swing. Is this a phase? I know shes still just a tiny baby. But I dont want her to develop any bad habits.
2007-12-07 02:06:28 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The good thing is that babies at this age can't be spoiled. They don't know how to self-soothe until they are about 3-4 months old when their brains are developed/mature enough to calm themselves down. Your baby probably cries because she loves the closeness with you! I'm sure it's difficult to get things done. My suggestion would be to put her in a sling and carry her with you. She won't get spoiled and it will leave her feeling very secure. At 2 1/2 months, I started getting my daughter on a schedule during the night. I would give her a bath, read her a very short story and nurse her. After she was done nursing, I would lay her down and she would be asleep in a matter of minutes. You must make sure that you aren't putting her to sleep when she is overly tired or she may not fall asleep easily for you. Hope this helps!
2007-12-07 02:16:55 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Mama 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DO NOT let your baby cry it out. She is 4 weeks old, not that I think any time is ok to do that to your child. Firstly create a bedtime routine. Nice and relaxing..take nappy off and relax on mat while you run bath. Bath. Jammies on. Cuddle with mum/sing songs etc. Bottle/Breast feed. Then bed. When my baby was little I followed that routine and she was great. It just took lots of practice. Once you follow the routine and she has her last feed, gently place her in her crib and pat her tummy and shush her until she goes to sleep. If you do this consistently she should get used to it. At 1 month, they are still working things out and getting used to being in this world. Just be consistent and it'll work out. Things get easier so just take it a day at a time. Good luck xx
2016-05-22 00:09:08 · answer #2 · answered by nydia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something I did with all of my children was start them out in a bassinet. Now, if that's not an option for you, then put your baby in the crib, swaddle her and then place rolled up blankets around her. For some reason being in a great big crib after having spent nine months in the womb is scary for a baby, or at least uncomfortable. The blankets take up space and help her feel more comfortable. Worked like a charm every time with my kids.
2007-12-07 02:12:58 · answer #3 · answered by socmum16 ♪ 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The only thing I can suggest is to get a bassenit and set it right next your bed and mabye try rocking her to sleep, and if you have to take a shower when my oldest was young I would put her in her bouncy chair and she would just sit there and watch me. In a month or so you can put her in her crib and she will cry a little bit but she will get over it and she will sleep in her own bed. I know it is hard to let them just sit there and cry but it is what is best for the both of you.
2007-12-07 02:39:51 · answer #4 · answered by Kim B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
With all three of my kids I made it a slow transition to their own bed.
The first week home, they slept on my chest, the next week or two they sleep next to me in bed, then I move them to a port-a-crib/co-sleeper right next to my bed to slowly get them used to not being right against my body and used to sleeping without hearing my heartbeat and feeling my warmth. At this stage you can easily reach over and soothe them with petting or soft words because they are plenty close so you can catch their restlessness before they wake up too much.
Once they can sleep without me touching them to soothe them all the time at night, I start moving the crib further from my bed, a little bit each night, so they can slowly wean away from hearing your breathing and shifting at night. By about three months they were in the crib in their own room.
It is an infant's instinct to cry when it feels like it's far away from mother, so you need to teach your baby that you are not far away (despite her not being able to physically detect you) by being able to respond to her before she gets scared. They soon learn that even though they can't hear, feel or smell you, you are still nearby and there is no need to cry.
You should do this same sort of weaning when you are doing things around the house. Set her in a Boppy or in a car seat and just keep her near you, not always, but every once in a while so she learns that you are not abandoning her, pet her and talk to her as soon as she looks upset by the separation. She needs to learn that everything is fine, you are just not holding her right now.... she is still OK. First do this for a few minutes each day then you can gradually stretch it out to long enough time for you to shower.
It's something that just takes time, if you want your kids to feel secure in your absence and learn to sleep well. Getting used to being separated from you (and the new sleeping arrangements, outside of your body) is a tough transition. Be patient and you will be rewarded with many years of good sleeping habits as well as confident, independent children.
My kids are now 10, 6, and 3.... never had any of them climb back in bed with us for any reason... and never had to peel them off my leg to get them to go to school or play with friends, because they are comfortable on their own and have always felt safe knowing I am still not far away.
Good luck!
2007-12-07 02:37:32 · answer #5 · answered by mutherwulf 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well... my baby is only 7 weeks old but this has worked for us. i let her fall asleep in my arms and then slowwwwly lower her into her crib to sleep. then she wakes up in her crib and is happy :) then, to break the need to be held to sleep, try letting her fuss for a few minutes. i think she's too young to let her just sit there and cry and cry, but you know that if she has been fed, her diaper is clean, and she's happy in your arms that nothing is wrong. set her in her swing while you shower and let her just cry a little. my baby was crying every time i set her down and i would go straight away and pick her up again, then my husband said, lets just see how long she cries for and if she starts getting really worked up we'll pick her up. so i did that and you know she only cried for a minute and a half, so all those times i'd picked her up she probably would have calmed down.
try to put her in her swing and sit there next to her playing with her hands or her feet to help her calm down and just try to do it slowly.
2007-12-07 02:19:15 · answer #6 · answered by carcar 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I know this may be frustrating when you want a little time to yourself, but she is just 4 weeks old. This is most likely something that she will grow out of. Going into her room and talking to her and rubbing her head is a great thing your doing to make her feel comfortable, keep it up. Eventually she will go to sleep for longer periods of time.
Being a mother to a 6year old and a 1 year old, I can tell you that they grow soo fast and so you will be begging to hold them and sit with them, but they will be too busy exploring the world around them. Just give it time and no need to worry, your baby just loves you and wants to be close all the time. The being close all tht time will pass. Good luck:)
2007-12-07 02:15:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Right before nap/bedtime when you see her getting drowsy ( only when she is about to doze off) take her in there and lie her down on her back. Have one of those mobile that play's soft music and gently rub her back ( even close your eyes and lean down with her for a min) do this for a few min then slowly walk out of the room.wait by the door and if she is still in her drowsy stage then she will fall asleep. This way She see's she is in her crib while still awake. and it will become routine. I'm not saying this will work for sure because everyone is different. But give it a try it worked for me with both of my girls. Good luck.
2007-12-07 02:20:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Swaddle (burrito wrap) her so she feels safe and comforted
My son is 2 1/2 months and I still have to. Otherwise he jerks his arms and wakes himself up.
You never prop up a bottle!!! >>> Pugluv77
2007-12-07 02:25:11 · answer #9 · answered by T J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Put one of your used (smells like you a lot) shirts near her in the crib.
Put the crib in your room.
good luck
2007-12-07 02:36:01 · answer #10 · answered by ke_lucha 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋