DD won't sleep in crib

graciousmeg82

DD is a preemie and was in the NICU for over 2 months.  Since she came home in October 2011 she has suffered from reflux and slept in a vibrating seat and then we moved to a Nap Nanny.  We have tried her in her crib but after letting her "cry it out" and having her gag and choke b/c she's crying so hard I'm at my whits end!  

 

DD turned 1 year old a few days ago but with her adjusted age she's really 9 months old.  She's expected to sleep in her crib but doesn't want any part of it.  

 

Tips, suggestions and advice her welcome!  

 

I know that having DD in the Isolette in the NICU for the few months she was in there had the bean bag positioners on her legs and feet.  So I know that the restrictions of her being able to move around eventually she got used to and for the same as to when she came home.  

 

Thanks!  

urbanflowerpot

I don't know I just wanted to say I'm sorry and we shared similar struggles in moving to the crib but with every baby being different, I don't know...

DS had severe (frequent) bradys in NICU and at home for a couple months because of silent reflux so we wound up bedsharing. I'd fall asleep sitting up with him propped up against me. He'd be in so much pain. Eventually it all passed and the bedsharing wasn't working out after he started crawling so I had to move him to the crib after dusting it off. I don't remember how long the transition took but I don't CIO/sleep train (though we did a modified sleep training later). All I can say is it took a LOT of patience and consistency. If I broke down and brought him to bed, it was game over, hit restart. I read a lot of sleep books, which even if I didn't agree with their philosophies they're written by people who know sleep! Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby was my favorite. Oh, and setting up a bedtime routine was essential! It will is - if we miss a couple parts I can jump in at the next step and get him on track. DS still doesn't sleep well (few wake ups in the night) but he's just a lousy sleeper. He wakes up bright and happy every day.

 

HTH 

graciousmeg82

Thanks for the advice and info!  I read something from Dr. Sears and it was a slew of remedies to get your baby to sleep in the crib and if I had a checklist I could've checked them all off since I've tried it, been there done that! Ugh!  

kck329

Some things that worked for us when transitioning from the RNP to the crib:

 -rock her to sleep then lay in the crib sound asleep rather than expecting her to fall asleep in the crib (of course DD still doesn't fall asleep on her own so if that's important to you, this may not be a good choice)

-put your crib mattress at an incline using towels or blankets under the mattress so its more like the RNP. Just don't make the incline too steep or your DD will roll to the bottom

-when laying her in the crib, place her feet at the bottom and put her in a corner so she is still surrounded by safe supports and feels more secure

It might just take some time. I know its hard! Good luck!

damabo80

DD never slept in her (perfectly decorated, I may add) crib either. We tried CIO. I threw in towel around hour 4 each time. 

So instead, we put a queen mattress on the ground in her room, and then dh or I will lay down on it with her until she's asleep, and then sneak out.

DrRx

We transitioned from the RNP to the crib by first having her take her naps in the crib.  After about a week of that we started putting her down in the crib drowsy but awake, with the Sleep Sheep on.  We were fortunate that she pretty much took to the crib after that.  We did do the Sleep Halo swaddle sack thing until about 2 weeks ago where we started just swaddling 1 arm, and then finally just a regular Halo sleep sack. 

GL!