Am I the only one still rocking their child to sleep?

Jessdanrod

So I rock my LO to sleep every night, even though this task may take almost 40 minutes. I got rid of the night bottle, she has her milk at dinner. But how do I start the process of her going to bed and falling asleep on her own? If I put her in her crib awake she screams and I'm a sucker and can't do it. Are there steps for this instead of simply leaving the room and having her cry it out? She doesn't necessarily hate her crib, it's just me leaving the room is when she freaks. So I sing her to sleep sometimes next to the crib but that requires me singing for an hour. I am a single mom and can't get much done from doing this every night. Please help!

LimaD

   Honestly I don't know how you've done it this long! My DD used to require a lot of rocking/bouncing/swaying to go to sleep and any time she woke up I'd have to start all over again. It was exhausting.
   Your LO should be able to go to sleep on her own.  We did the Ferber method and it only took her 1 night to get it (she was 7 months old at the time).  Her sleep improved drastically after that.  It isn't just leaving her to cry until she falls asleep. It's a progressive waiting approach. First you go in after 3 min, then 5, 7, etc. I'd suggest reading the book if you plan on going that route.  
   There are other options like the No Cry Sleep Solution, and something where you start off sitting by her crib and gradually move closer and closer to the door until you are able to just walk right out of the room after laying her down.  I don't know what that method is called or the specifics.  But you should definitely find something and do it. And stay consistent. GL!!

LisaLisa1980

DS is 12.5 months & the past 2 nights he's been able to go down by just my H rubbing his back while putting him in his crib. I refused to do any sleep training because I feel like they'll get there on their own. I would say to make sure you have the correct bedtime (not too early, not too late), and to be sure they are in a good mood. It may take time, but if they aren't ready, then don't force it. How old is your child? It's tough, I know

KristinKWashington

Lucy is almost 2.  I don't rock her to sleep, but we rock.  I sort of review the day.  All the cool things she did.  Sort of to wind her down.  It's a 5 minutes process.  Then ask for a kiss and lay her down.

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PhieryBFly

We do. I used to nurse her to sleep but shes so fast now that it doesn't always work. Usually, nursing and rocking only take 15 to 20 mins tops and work so well that I'm not going to mess with it for quite awhile!

KyMommy86

I still let my son lay with me on the couch to fall asleep at night but he goes straight in his crib for naptime. He does really well with that and soon I will be putting him in his crib to sooth himself for bedtime as well. I'm not super worried about rushing it because I did the same with my daughter and she eventually figured out that we sleep in beds and it sort of worked itself out. She was almost 3 before she would consistently fall asleep in her bed with only a lullaby and a bedtime story from me. Now (at 6) she doesn't even need the story, though she still gets it, and only needs "good night sleep tight don't let the frostbite bite" (it used to be bedbugs until Frozen came out) if we are late getting to bed and don't have time for a story.

mb314

DS is 20 months, and I still rock him to sleep.  We just weaned, and I think putting himself to sleep is going to be the next hurdle we tackle.  But honestly, I like the quiet time alone with DS.  I work full time, and I really do like spending those 20 minutes with him, singing or whatever.  Sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes, but usually it is 20. 

we have #2 coming in November, so I do need DS to get used to going to sleep on his own in the next couple of months. 

Jessdanrod

Thanks everyone for your responses. Perhaps I should limit the rocking to 15/20 minutes and then put her in her crib and rub her back to sleep. Sometimes it works to rub her back during nap time to go back to sleep, but not sure about night. Sometimes she gets up and crys, do I just keep laying her back down and rub her back till she gets the hint that I cant pick her back up? Being a single mom this is difficult, considering the father lets her flip flop in his bed till she falls asleep and it will be as late as 1030/11. Ugh! I will try this and if this doesnt work maybe I well try that ferber method.

littlemurphy2912

I still rock my DD who is 21 months old and have been doing it for the past few months. I will always follow suit to her bed time routine and I will rock her and sing to her. It usually takes about 15/20 minutes to get her really relaxed and almost to sleep. When I say almost I mean her eyes are shut and when I stand up to put her in her crib she tends to move her arms around and when I lay her in her crib she will roll around till she gets comfy and then she's out. There have been times where she's objected going to sleep and tried to get me to postpone her going to bed but I would talk to her about it to the point she understood what I was saying and I have had to put her in her crib and walk out and she has cried but only up till I got downstairs and then she was out for the night. It's hard to hear them cry out especially when they call for you but I know she is tired and needs to relax and go to sleep.

Kissty

I still rock and sing DS to sleep most every night.  When he is having a hard time getting comfy on me I will ask if he is ready to lay down in his bed, and if so off we go.  If that is the case I will usually have to stand by his bed for a few minutes until he drifts off.  He can and has put himself to sleep on many occasions.  I will continue like this until he will no longer let me.  But I don't take issue with it.  It sounds like you are ready to be done with that.  I read the No Cry Sleep Solution, consistency is the key.  Get LO to where they are very drowsy.  I can't tell how old your LO is, it may take some time for it to happen as this will be new to them.  Good luck and stay consistent.

byrne15

I don't have any advice since I still rock my 21 month old to sleep for nap and bed.  I personally don't mind it though, so I'm not looking for a fix. 

Good luck...and know that you aren't the only one rocking!

Angela814

How old is she? I still nurse my 14 month old to sleep every night. Then I make sure to rock her until she's completely out and carefully lay her in her crib.

I was still nursing/rocking DD2 at 18 months, and a couple months later she started pointing at her crib, so I just laid her down. Sometimes I rubbed her back, and sometimes she wanted me to sit next to her and hold her hand. When she was ready to go to sleep on her own, she just did.

skibunny59

How old is your LO?  My DD just turned 2 in March and we rocked her to sleep up until she was 20 months or so.  At 20 months, we transitioned her to a toddler bed and instead of rocking, we would lay down next to her and hold her hand until she falls asleep.  I know it takes a lot of time but I work all day so I enjoy this quiet time with her. 

SLGILL1978

No! My daughter is 15 months and I still rock her to sleep every night. It's part of our nightly routine.

ThatWasAHoot

I've read a method where you sit by the crib in a chair and each night, move a little bit closer to the door until you are outside, etc.  Maybe look into this after rubbing her back?

jillybean7582

My DS is 22 months and we still rock him to sleep. He gets a sippy of milk and we rock while reading a book or two. When he finishes his milk he is usually asleep within 5-10mins. He does just go right into his crib for naptime without rocking though.

acbfreire

I still nurse to sleep for naps and nighttime. DD is an awful sleeper! I am not in a position to change it yet, so I am rolling with it.