S/O of S/O of Biting the Bullet

Suzi-G- · July 2010

All of you who successfully put them down drowsy but awake (and they go to sleep, not scream) please tell me what I'm doing wrong.

I can have Cooper super calm and half asleep, but when I lay him in the crib he's like the girl from Exorcist minus the pea soup. He usually sleeps on his tummy but I've tried putting him down every way imaginable... no matter what I do he goes berserk and starts thrashing and crying. When I put him on his tummy he pops up on his hands and knees--eyes closed-- and frantically tries to crawl (which he can't really do yet). If I put him on his side or back he flops like a fish out of water. At this point he usually won't take a paci, he flings his head back and forth and screams if I try and put it in his mouth. That turns into a game of pin the tail on the donkey w/ a live and angry donkey. I simply can't **make** him lay still-- short of really forcefully holding him down. And sadly, even that doesn't work, I tried.

I'm not on board for full-on CIO right now so anyone have any other suggestions? advice? sympathy? Do I just give up on the idea of being able to put him in the crib drowsy but awake? Is there some method I don't know about?

SigmundsGirl · July 2010

I totally feel your pain! When Evan is the most upset and thrashing I have picked him up to discover that he needed to burp or his reflux was bothering him. To test this theory I would put him down somewhere other than his crib to see if I get the same reaction. I also usually get a good burp within minutes of picking him back up. Could it be gass pain or sinus/congestion?

I am so sorry you are going through this. I understand being at your wits end and not knowing what else to try. I hope someone else has some really good advice.

Hang in there!

horn_jm@hotmail.com · July 2010

I can sometimes get him in drowsy enough that he will let me pat his bottom to go to sleep (side or tummy)... so he's not falling asleep on his own but is at least aware that he is falling asleep in his crib. Baby steps for us.

If he just won't do it, I pick him up and pace with him sometimes... DS1 was a rocker/nurse to sleep, DS2 is a nurse to sleep or pace/snuggle. I sometimes just put him in completely asleep - which I know is not how many suggest, but I survived DS1 who learned to sleep in his own time, so I'm not stressing with DS2 about it.

kat.in.the.hat · July 2010

couple of thoughts:

try a heating pad on the sheets

try keeping him swaddled or wrapped tightly in blankets so that he still feel he has your arms around him

also try putting your changing pad down on the crib mattress and seeing if he likes the feel of it. he may just feel too alone in the crib.

jen5-03 · July 2010

LOL! Sorry, but you described EXACTLY what E used to do. It's a big part of why we coslept. I thought drowsy-but-awake was a sham (but learned with DS it's possible - for some kids - but definitelt not all). Heck, she often did the bucking bronco routine even when I thought she was completely asleep!!

Sorry, I've got no advice for getting a kid asleep in a crib. This too shall pass.

CareBear01 · July 2010

I will second the burping. I did feel like after I picked him up - he would burp a few minutes later - so maybe he is just uncomfortable - try what the pp did and see if you can lay him down elsewhere with the same response.

ddr262 · July 2010

I third burping. That has been the culprit quite a few times here. We have had some other restlessness going on lately (he is usually a good sleeper who will go down asleep or awake) and it has helped to get his room dark, turn on his ocean waves, and rock for 10 or so minutes. I sometimes stand next to the crib and pat his back for a few minutes too. I hope that it gets better soon!

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