how do i get my 4mnth old to fall asleep on her own???

Question

the only way that she will fall asleep is if i rock her or feed her to sleep at night.

Answer 1

This can be the most precious time of your life and hers. Don't be in a rush to put her down. She'll grow up so fast.

When my son was born I bought a needlework kit with the intention of stitching it to hang over the rocking chair. I never had time to make it, but perhaps that's because I took its message to heart. It said, "Cooking and cleaning can wait for tomorrow, for children grow up we have learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."

My son is now grown with a daughter of his own. I'll probably pull that kit out now and stitch it for him. It's an important thing to remember. I never regretted one minute I spent rocking my babies to sleep. I cherish the memories.

Answer 2

This is not going to be easy. But, I have a set of twins who are now a year old. There was no way that I could feed or rock them to sleep after I stopped nursing(which by the way I did the first few months). I was crazy.If I did it, you can too! At this point your child associates sleep with rocking and/or eating. You must begin slowly by feeding her, then allow wake time/play time. Do this during the day. Try everything to keep her awake for at least 15 mins after feeding, then increase the wake time in 5 min. intervals as needed. Undress her, sing to her, whatever. Stop the rocking. ( I know we mothers really like to rock, but if you want to change her pattern do it for now and later you can rock her occasionally) Once you have done this pattern for a week, she should start to get better. At that time you will have to put her in the bed and let her cry herself to sleep. Allow this in 10-15 mins intervals, she cries for this amount of time, go in check on her rub her back, let her know you are there and leave once again. She will stop crying eventually. You may want to try music in her room when you put her to bed, just try to start a new association with sleep over time. You will not believe how quickly she will change. But it may take you crying with her a couple nights and that is ok. As she starts eating more solid foods you can then work on scheduling milk feedings for after nap time-I do that now with my boys.Good Luck!

Answer 3

Keep rocking her, nursing her, or otherwise soothing her to sleep! She will fall asleep on her own when she is developmentally ready to do so.

From http://askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp -

8 INFANT SLEEP FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

NIGHTTIME PARENTING LESSON #1:
Babies need to be parented to sleep, not just put to sleep. Some babies can be put down while drowsy yet still awake and drift others need parental help by being rocked or nursed to sleep.

The reason is that while adults can usually go directly into the state of deep sleep, infants in the early months enter sleep through an initial period of light sleep. After twenty minutes or more they gradually enter deep sleep, from which they are not so easily aroused. As you probably know from experience, if you try to rush your baby to bed while she is still in the initial light sleep period, she will usually awaken. Many parents tell me: "My baby has to be fully asleep before I can put her down." In later months, some babies can enter deep sleep more quickly, bypassing the lengthy light sleep stage. Learn to recognize your baby's sleep stages. Wait until your baby is in a deep sleep stage before transitioning her from one sleeping place to another, such as from your bed to a crib or from carseat to bed or crib.

Answer 4

If you enjoy putting her to sleep this way everynight keep doing it, Otherwise you have to let her cry.
When my daughter was 4 months she used a pacifier. I would just put her in the crib with a pacifier and her blankie and she would just go right to sleep.
I'm sure it took a while of letting her cry to get to this point.
Trust your instincts.

Answer 5

it's hard but it works...she may be just a little early for this but you can try. usually the sooner you do it the faster it works and then you can just let her lay there and she will fall off on her own. lay her down and pat her to sleep, she may cry but you just have to be strong. don't say anything or she will learn that noise means reward. repeat nightly until she settles quickly... if she whines a bit give her time to calm down on her own. She needs to learn this or you all will be miserable. after about 5 min go in and settle her and then leave to allow her that time to try again on her own.

Answer 6

yep