Wearing baby down

catie333

LO is almost 5 months old and I have created a habit of wearing him down to sleep and for naps in the Ergo. I love it and have no issue with it. I wasted alot of time and frustrating fussy nights trying different methods that I thought I had to do. I will never CIO but I tried most of the other gentle methods. Some sort of worked but wearing him down takes 5 minutes and he transitions to his crib fine. Some nights we still bedshare and he transitions to my bed from the Ergo just fine. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, I do not have to wear him, he self soothes with his thumb or I pat him for a few seconds.

My point is- at some point he will be too big to wear down. And maybe I am setting myself up for a future battle?

Right now, I actually love that time with him but I was wondering if any of mommas did this and what the outcome was down the road....

lovekissedmama

While every baby is different, you might have to continue wearing your LO to put him to sleep until he doesn't need it anymore or until you no longer want to. I put DD in the ergo every day for both of her naps and walk around the house until she falls asleep then transfer her to the bed. Her personality does not let her calm down enough to go to sleep without being contained. She has been okay with crawling around before bed until she tires and then will nurse to sleep - no ergo required. I plan to continue wearing her down until it is too much for me or grows out of the need. She weighs 23lbs btw.

kristinmme

Thanks for posting this! I don't have any advice because I am in the same boat. Catie3333, I'm another July mama! My LO will only go to sleep if nursed or in the Ergo. I'm sick of all the drowsy but awake advise - does not work with my girl!

I was thinking about using the Ergo more often for naps because she really only naps in there when we are out. This would help because DH could do it, too. I'm curious how you both transfer LO out of the Ergo without waking them up.

glasgow_girl

I still wear my DD to sleep at night - used to for naps as well, but she has started to transition to laying down in arms for naps (no rocking, just snuggling), so hopefully we can transition from wearing down at night, to holding, to laying next to etc etc.

Sometimes it feels like it's going to last forever, but it really isn't, and like PP, she cannot keep herself still enough to allow sleep to happen. 

There are plenty of sleep "programs" out there - you just have to find one that you are comfortable with, and go from there.  For what it's worth, I love the little kisses that I get on the back of my neck, and I know that will not last forever, but these memories will.

 Good luck!

tchubirubi

kristinmme:

Thanks for posting this! I don't have any advice because I am in the same boat. Catie3333, I'm another July mama! My LO will only go to sleep if nursed or in the Ergo. I'm sick of all the drowsy but awake advise - does not work with my girl!

I was thinking about using the Ergo more often for naps because she really only naps in there when we are out. This would help because DH could do it, too. I'm curious how you both transfer LO out of the Ergo without waking them up.

Same here - especially the bolded part.

lovekissedmama

I wear DD on my front. Once she is asleep I kneel on our bed (mattress on the floor), unsnap the strap across shoulders and gently take out both arms and then lay her down on her back. Sometimes she stirs but I will quickly lay down and nurse her. HTH!

catie333

kristinmme:

Thanks for posting this! I don't have any advice because I am in the same boat. Catie3333, I'm another July mama! My LO will only go to sleep if nursed or in the Ergo. I'm sick of all the drowsy but awake advise - does not work with my girl!

I was thinking about using the Ergo more often for naps because she really only naps in there when we are out. This would help because DH could do it, too. I'm curious how you both transfer LO out of the Ergo without waking them up.

I test his dangling arm with the wet noodle test- if he tenses when I touch his arm than I know he is not ready. If his arm is limp than I unlatch the behind the shoulder clip, hold Lo with one hand and take the shoulder straps off while still holding him close. I gently pick him up and then lay himdown on his side in his crib and cover him with a blanket (which i remove before i go to sleep if it's bedtime). I think the blanket helps with the shock of leaving my warm body.