Transition to crib from the swing

stout.sa

I need your ladies (or gents) help. My son is almost 5 months old and my pediatrician wants him out of his swing. Plus, I am going to Missouri for a few days and only have a crib available in the hotel. Well, he only sleeps through the night in his swing. The swing motor is broken, so I know it's not a motion thing. Here is a list of the things I have tried:

• swaddle/unswaddle
• rock to sleep then place him in the crib (he instantly wakes when his head hits the mattress)
• pacifiers (he doesn't take them)
• teether (also doesn't take them)
• heating pad to place on mattress before placing him in it
• very dark room
• room with a few nightlights
• white noise
• music
• The 5 s's from happiest baby
• crying out method (he starts choking after 30 minutes)
• a wedge in his crib under the sheet
• mobile
• singing/humming
• rocking, swaying, bouncing
• nursing back to sleep

Whew, I think that's everything. When I can get him to sleep in the crib for naps it's only 30 minutes at a time and sometimes it takes me three-five hours just to get him down. At night I cannot get him to sleep in the crib at all and I eventually give up and place him in his swing. My DH is away at basic training so it's just me. I'm at my wits end. I've tried asking the pediatrician if it could be reflux and she doesn't believe it is. I just have this overwhelming feeling that when I travel with him in two weeks I will not be getting any sleep in that hotel room! Oh, and to top it off, he has torticollis (which the physical therapist wants him out of his swing too!).

 

Please help!

j&j060708

Have you tried the nap nanny? it supposedly works wonders. 

juliane2004

Put baby down AWAKE.

For us, keeping an eye on the clock is the MOST IMPORTANT THING. Here's my recommendation, regarding "putting down awake".

Disclaimer: Do what works for you, this is what we do.

We keep an eye on the clock and keep DD2 up for only a certain amount of awake time (which at this age is basically enough time to diaper and feed her). See below for guideline by age. We put her down awake, to fall asleep on her own. No crying necessary. By not letting her get overtired, she is able to fall asleep on her own. Also, by putting DD2 down in her space awake, she does not wake up in a different place than she fell asleep (i.e. she doesnt fall asleep in my arms, then wake in her crib and be scared).

If you want to try swaddling, we swaddle using the escape proof swaddle. I personally swaddle till about 5-6 months old. We thought DD1 hated swaddling, so we stopped at 2 weeks old. Then we found this method at 10 weeks and she fell asleep for 7 hrs that night. It works great for us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4VdZxwsu4

We also have a fan for white noise and a fisher price aquarium for music/lights to distract her. And, if necessary, a pacifier. I highly recommend a crib attachment thing, like the aquarium, not a mobile. A mobile needs to be constantly wound up whereas the aquarium plays for 18 minutes and has a wireless remote that can turn it on from the doorway.

Guideline for Awake time for babies
0-4 weeks: 30-45 minutes
4-6 weeks: 40-60 minutes
6-8 weeks: 40-70 minutes
8-12 weeks: 50-80 minutes
3-4 months: 60-90 minutes
4-5 months: 1 hr to 1.5 hrs
5-6 months: 1.5 hours
6-9 months: 2 hours, give or take 15 minutes

alyssa427

i know that this is usually frowned upon, but put a comforter under his sheet, on top of the mattress so its comfy for him. my daughter is only 3 months old and has never had a problem with sleeping in her crib, bit i have heard from a few of my mommy friends that this works.