Teaching Baby to Fall Asleep on Own

MadHatter17 · February 2011

How is this done? Our 2 month old can't fall asleep on her own. It's starting to really affect her napping now. We are all very frustrated. Any advice?

JoannaJes · February 2011

At 2 months of age, it's really hard for them to learn how to self-soothe.

DD is almost 3 months, and we still rock her to sleep for all naps and at nighttime. It will get better when they are older.

TBLilyRose · February 2011

Does she take a paci? I feel like my DS won't fall asleep on his own because he's got nothing to soothe him really. Some LOs will suck on a pacifier for comfort but mine won't take one. I've tried music, white noise, patting/shushing when I put him down but no go. So I'm no help because I've got no advice but I think some babies are just able to put themselves to sleep and some not so much (at least until they're a little older).

Temp108743750006959 · February 2011

We didn't walk the floors or rock or sing. We would just pick DS back up in the dark, standing up and hold him gently and shush-pat, give some gentle kisses, etc. and put him back down. Etc etc etc etc (meaning -- we did it a lot in a given night). And eventually, I guess he sort of figured out that we would be there when he cried and it got better. Then we switched to leaving him in the crib and shush-patting, but not until later.

We did often put him down drowsy.

Was it perfect sleep? nope, and that's fine! I expected plenty of sleepless nights DS is a 4 year old now and bedtime is a mostly happy event.

It's funny bc he had a very hard time sleeping when he turned two years old, but the same principles applied -- we just sat by him in the dark for a few nights (in a chair, gave him extra hugs, etc.) as long as he needed and eventually we had to do that less and less. GL!

ReeseM · February 2011

2 months is pretty much too young to expect this skill. Hence why you see all the CIO/Ferber posts on 6-12 months. That is a much more appropriate age to expect this from baby. You can do things to encourage it, as the PP suggested, but it is not too likely they will learn yet.

Good luck, and do what you have to do to get them to sleep, though it is frustrating.

mavs_girl07 · February 2011

Some babies take to it really easily, and some it takes more time. With DD1 we started around 2mos putting her down drowsy but awake. We'd rock her until she was almost asleep and then lay her down. If she fussed we'd leave her alone, but if she cried we'd go pick her up and start all over. It took a couple of weeks for her to really get it, but she eventually did and by 3mos old she was putting herself to sleep for all naps and nighttime. I've been doing this a little bit with DS, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But I do think it's an important skill for them to learn early on, so you don't have to take extreme measures like CIO later on.

lebennett · February 2011

TBLilyRose:
I think some babies are just able to put themselves to sleep and some not so much (at least until they're a little older).

This is so true. I am a lucky mommy whose LO can go down awake but drowsy and every time put herself to sleep (with a pacifier). Not everyone is so lucky. We started at 6 weeks putting her down drowsy but awake. The first time she fussed we soothed her with a shhhhh and rub on the chest and every subsequent fuss we would pick her up and sooth her and lay her back down immediatlely (no more than 5 minutes). As soon as we started this method she started drifting off on her own for naps. At 10 weeks she is STTN 9+ hours every night and napping every 2 or so hours for at least 30 minutes. We are hoping it sticks! GL with your LO.

zeke24 · February 2011

lebennett:
TBLilyRose:
I think some babies are just able to put themselves to sleep and some not so much (at least until they're a little older).

This is so true. I am a lucky mommy whose LO can go down awake but drowsy and every time put herself to sleep (with a pacifier). Not everyone is so lucky. We started at 6 weeks putting her down drowsy but awake. The first time she fussed we soothed her with a shhhhh and rub on the chest and every subsequent fuss we would pick her up and sooth her and lay her back down immediatlely (no more than 5 minutes). As soon as we started this method she started drifting off on her own for naps. At 10 weeks she is STTN 9+ hours every night and napping every 2 or so hours for at least 30 minutes. We are hoping it sticks! GL with your LO.

This describes us! DD has the same onesie you're LO is wearing in your siggy pic

dsobz · February 2011

I'm curious from all of those that have this problem, how do you get out of the house? My LO is a great sleeper, we soothe him and put him down drowsy, but it takes awhile to get him soothed for his naps. He cries quite a bit even after being rocked and held. Now that he is more alert, he has trouble sleeping in his car seat so if we are out, he will cry when he is tired and we have to rush home because we can't soothe him unless we can get somewhere really quiet, like at a friend's house or something. But with him only being able to be awake for an hour before he cries there isn't much we can do with him other than quick trips and house visits.

Anyone else have this problem when going out with a fussy napper?

lebennett · February 2011

dsobz:

I'm curious from all of those that have this problem, how do you get out of the house? My LO is a great sleeper, we soothe him and put him down drowsy, but it takes awhile to get him soothed for his naps. He cries quite a bit even after being rocked and held. Now that he is more alert, he has trouble sleeping in his car seat so if we are out, he will cry when he is tired and we have to rush home because we can't soothe him unless we can get somewhere really quiet, like at a friend's house or something. But with him only being able to be awake for an hour before he cries there isn't much we can do with him other than quick trips and house visits.

Anyone else have this problem when going out with a fussy napper?

I used to do the same thing and rush home but I finally just said forget about it. DD will NOT nap in public. Scared she will miss something I guess. I just let her stay awake if we are out. She usually drifts off once we get back into the car. The first day she didn't nap for almost 4 hours she fell asleep in the car for like 20 minutes and she still STTN. I think if she gets tired enough...she will sleep.

dsobz · February 2011

lebennett:
dsobz:

I'm curious from all of those that have this problem, how do you get out of the house? My LO is a great sleeper, we soothe him and put him down drowsy, but it takes awhile to get him soothed for his naps. He cries quite a bit even after being rocked and held. Now that he is more alert, he has trouble sleeping in his car seat so if we are out, he will cry when he is tired and we have to rush home because we can't soothe him unless we can get somewhere really quiet, like at a friend's house or something. But with him only being able to be awake for an hour before he cries there isn't much we can do with him other than quick trips and house visits.

Anyone else have this problem when going out with a fussy napper?

I used to do the same thing and rush home but I finally just said forget about it. DD will NOT nap in public. Scared she will miss something I guess. I just let her stay awake if we are out. She usually drifts off once we get back into the car. The first day she didn't nap for almost 4 hours she fell asleep in the car for like 20 minutes and she still STTN. I think if she gets tired enough...she will sleep.

Thanks...this is true, but my problem is that LO cries until he falls asleep. The pedi just said he will grow out of it, but I wind up having to take him home to comfort him since his cries get louder unless I am bouncing him.

jlpev · February 2011

We have been putting Conner down in his room while he is drowsy but awake since he was 2 wks old & he seems to like it. I always turn on the mobile which he seems to like b/c i think its too quiet otherwise. If he starts fussing I leave him be & he will just work that out but if he cries I go get him & rock him till he is drowsy then I put him back down again. Good luck!! Its not too early to start this but it is too early to let them cry it out!!

TBLilyRose · February 2011

We've yet to really take LO out in public either for that same reason. I want to but DH is very nervous/hesitant because he's afraid he'll scream in the store. I keep telling him if he starts screaming then we'll just leave, but it's worth a try. I'm looking to get a Baby Bjorn so I can wear him in the store and hope that maybe keeps him calmer than leaving him in his car seat.

Want a personalized experience?

Teaching Baby to Fall Asleep on Own

Re: Teaching Baby to Fall Asleep on Own

Choose Another Board

Search Boards