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Is "drowsy but awake" a huge load of B.S.?

CubbyMamaCubbyMama
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Do you put your baby down "drowsy but awake"?

If so, what happens when you do?

All the sleep books say you should do this, and explain what to do if the baby "fusses/protests a little," but both of my girls have cried hysterically anytime I tried this.  DD2 is 7 weeks old and I feel like any amount of letting her cry is inappropriate, so my attempts to follow this "rule" always result in a long, drawn-out process of picking her up and starting all over again, and then I get frustrated/exhausted.  Plus, I have a toddler to keep busy during all this.  I wonder if I should even bother.

Thoughts?

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Re: Is "drowsy but awake" a huge load of B.S.?

  • JAWMINJAWMIN member

    I put DS down "drowsy but awake" and even just "awake" at night. It works 90% of the time. I pick him up if he even looks like he's going to fuss because once he gets work up... there is no end in sight. Do you swaddle? DS seems to know that getting swaddled means bedtime.

    ETA: It also takes time for them to get use to it. It's definitely worth trying over and over. She could be too young still for it to work.


    W (02/2009), N (08/2012), and C (04/2014)
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  • californiaclairecaliforniaclaire
    It's a load of crap in my world... I still BF DS to sleep. Good luck putting my kid down "drowsy but awake" -- in our house that would go hand-in-hand with CIO -- and we're not prepared for that anytime soon!
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  • yo.mamayo.mama member

    I do this, but I didn't at 7 weeks. I look for sleepy cues like rubbing eyes and yawning. I put DS in his crib, with paci if he takes it, and it's lights out. If we sounds off (he usually does not), I go back in, take a moment to calm him (he usually stays in crib) and then go back out. That's the extent of it. 

    He likes to fight naps. I find it's better to put him on my bed for naps and snuggle with him for a few minutes. He usually fusses for a minute, then get's snuggly with his paci, and once his eyeslids get heavy or he shuts his eyes, I'm off. It took less than two minutes this afternoon.

    He knows that in his crib or my bed with paci means sleepy time.

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  • megs042107megs042107
    works for us. ?if she's fussing, let her go. ?if she's crying, i'd get her, especially since she's so young.
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  • erbearerbear member
    mine didn't start to put herself to sleep if I put her down awake until last week. even then, it's hit or miss.
    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
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  • evenstar622evenstar622

    imagemegs042107:
    works for us.  if she's fussing, let her go.  if she's crying, i'd get her, especially since she's so young.

    This.  DS will usually spend about 3 minutes or so trying to bust out of his swaddle and will fuss.  But if he is truly sleepy, he won't cry, just squirm and wiggle.  Once he realizes he is not going to break free, he will let out one final squawk and will be out like a light.

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  • Mrs.VMrs.V member

    imagecaliforniaclaire:
    It's a load of crap in my world... I still BF DS to sleep. Good luck putting my kid down "drowsy but awake" -- in our house that would go hand-in-hand with CIO -- and we're not prepared for that anytime soon!

     Same here, DS would have none of it.  "drowsy but awake" would equal CIO for us.

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  • PrncesWifePrncesWife member
    It works for us, but it just started working 2-3 weeks ago.  She lays there and talks herself to sleep.  Within the last week she has started sucking her thumb to help herself fall asleep. 
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  • Dorr_Evil_TwinDorr_Evil_Twin

    imagecaliforniaclaire:
    It's a load of crap in my world... I still BF DS to sleep. Good luck putting my kid down "drowsy but awake" -- in our house that would go hand-in-hand with CIO -- and we're not prepared for that anytime soon!

    ditto this

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