How did you stop rocking to sleep?

BabyBoyNYC · July 2012

I still have to rock to sleep DS for naps, night time is a different story he does awesome. But i'm finding those times when it takes 20+ minutes for him to fall asleep so exhausting. He's 25lbs and its killing my arm. I just don't think I can do it anymore. Though if I left him I know he would just walk around his crib, whine, pull at the curtains, throw his paci out etc...

amatistajoy · July 2012

We just recently stopped rocking to sleep. He's been going to sleep on his own for naps at daycare, so I knew he could do it. We rocked just a bit, and put him in the crib and walked away. He walked around the crib, threw his stuffed animals out, and cried. He was asleep in less than 20 minutes though. We still have the white noise machine on. We've always used that for naps and bedtime. Now he averages 5 minutes of fuss before he's out.

skio · July 2012

Work on a "new" routine. Instead of rocking, read a book in a certain chair and put him down awake. He may stand up, yell, throw stuff, etc., but eventually, he'll realize that it's time to sleep. Make sure he's tired when you do it. DD often walks around, talks and plays for 30+ minutes after I put her down. Sometimes it helps to go in, lay her back down, give her the paci and blankie, and walk out.

This is just something that you have to do. There's no trick to making the transition easier or to make LO just go to sleep automatically. But if you're persistent, I'm sure he will do just fine.

Ferber also has a chapter on naps, if you find that he's really fighting it.

ThatWasAHoot · July 2012

I am in the same boat! DS is an awesome night time sleeper, but I have to rock him for naps. I tried putting him in his crib with a new routine. Lunch, a diaper, book, cuddles, and then he literally screamed for an hour. At that point I just felt bad and got him. He didn't get a nap that day.

But I feel you! He won't sleep! He doesn't go to daycare, since I'm a SAHM, so I just don';t know what to do either

MarSamWhitney · July 2012

I agree with making a new routine. We did something similar, with reading one quick story to try to relax her a bit. I put her in her crib with her book. I watch her on the video monitor flip through it a bit, and then she usually lays down on her own.

kayjay10 · July 2012

amatistajoy:
We just recently stopped rocking to sleep. He's been going to sleep on his own for naps at daycare, so I knew he could do it. We rocked just a bit, and put him in the crib and walked away. He walked around the crib, threw his stuffed animals out, and cried. He was asleep in less than 20 minutes though. We still have the white noise machine on. We've always used that for naps and bedtime. Now he averages 5 minutes of fuss before he's out.

This exactly for DD. It's so much easier now that she puts herself to sleep. I wish we had stopped rocking a long time ago.

kayjay10 · July 2012

amatistajoy:
We just recently stopped rocking to sleep. He's been going to sleep on his own for naps at daycare, so I knew he could do it. We rocked just a bit, and put him in the crib and walked away. He walked around the crib, threw his stuffed animals out, and cried. He was asleep in less than 20 minutes though. We still have the white noise machine on. We've always used that for naps and bedtime. Now he averages 5 minutes of fuss before he's out.

This exactly for DD. It's so much easier now that she puts herself to sleep. I wish we had stopped rocking a long time ago.

jnolts · July 2012

Honestly I still rock DD and she's almost 2! However, I don't rock her to sleep. We rock, say a bedtime prayer, rock and sing for about 3-5 minutes and then I lay her in her crib. She sometimes chatters for a while, but she goes to sleep on her own.

The transistion may be tough, but stick to the new routine.

shootingstars00 · July 2012

DD is great at night - we put her down awake but nap time I still bounce her on the yoga ball. I don't mind though. But walking with her really hurts my back so thank god for the yoga ball!

Mrs JillB · July 2012

We just kind of did it cold turkey. We have a bedtime routine of bath, book, bed and that really helps. He goes right in the crib and is generally asleep within 10-15 minutes.

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