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Babies: 6 - 9 Months
She won't sleep!
Getting her to go down for naps has been difficult. The second I put her down into her bed she wakes up crying. But I don't want to enable her habit by continuing to hold her while she sleeps. When I do that she doesn't get as good of sleep and I don't get anything done. I feel so overwhelmed lately! On top of the no naps she has been going to bed extremely late at night. Anybody else having this problem or has anyone else been through this?? I'm a SAHM and I am with her all the time. Plus, I am breastfeeding and she refuses a bottle! So leaving her with anyone for long periods of time is out of the question so I can get a "break". I get stress headaches so frequently nowadays. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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Re: She won't sleep!
I just wanted to say I'm sorry you're feeling so exhausted! I think all SAHMs would identify with you to some extent. My DD won't take a bottle either, so I know how stressful that is. This weekend we have a dinner to go to, and my mom will be watching her and putting her down - I am so nervous for both of them that it's just going to be a nightmare of a time!
Have you read Ferber? Or Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child? We read the latter and I thought there a lot of good tips. The only thing I can suggest is just to start a sleepytime routine and stick to it. Try to adjust her awake-times and see if maybe putting her down earlier or later might help. We also use a lovey that she only gets when she is going to sleep, so I think she associates that with falling asleep.
It's so tough at this age because there are so many milestones (which can mess with their sleeping) as well as teething which just screws with everything!
All of that is really just to say hang in there! You're doing a great job and when it comes down to it, try not to compare your DD to anyone else. I really think so much of the first year is just about survival! There have been many many days when I've thrown her in the car and we've just driven around in order for her to nap (I know movement sleep isn't the best, but it's gotta be better than nothing at all, right?!).
Also, can your DH help out at all? My DH does dinner and bath time, which gives me some much needed "off the clock" time before nursing her and putting her to sleep. It also has really helped them bond more since I'm the one home with her all day.
Sorry I wrote you a novel - I tend to ramble!
I went through this with my son about a month and a half ago... he still does not like it when he falls alseep on me and I put him down. I really try not to let him fall asleep on me or anywhere else (when I can). I have read all these things about being consistent and I have let him CIO but I don't like to do it. So sometimes when I put him down and he immediately starts crying I will put his pacifier in and he is quiet and sleeps... I will give him like 15 mins of crying depending on how it sounds..... if that doesn't work I will rub his back and hold his head down (he keeps lifting it up) and he usually falls asleep. If he doesn't I pick him up (I know a lot of people say it's bad to do) but I calm him down and then try everything over again. I have never had to do it more than twice.... and usually he goes right to sleep. I think having a routine really helped me transition him.
What is her sleep schedule like?