Won't Lie Down in Crib (or really anywhere)

kristin172429 · January 2013

Other than on me or in our bed, Ben doesn't just lie down on his own. Once this kid figured out how to move, he just doesn't slow down enough to lie down. He'll sit, but that's about it. This goes for the floor and his crib. When people post pics of their kid passed out on the floor, I am amazed. That just doesn't happen here. I think this is why we have such issues with the crib. If I put him in there the slightest bit awake, he is up - sitting, standing, walking, crawling - anything but lying down. Even in our bed, he will put himself to sleep, but it is acrobatics straight into passing out. There isn't really a lie-down-and-get-sleepy in-between. Any ideas on how to encourage him to lie down on his own?

jldubb0626 · January 2013

Eli won't sleep anywhere but his crib and on a very rare occasion, on me. He was the same way, but I just had to let him go. One day he spent the whole 2 hours of his nap time play and bouncing around. But it's just something we had to push through and over time, he's learned that the crib = sleep and he needs to lay down. I'd say short of strapping him down somehow, it's just going to have to be a learning experience.

n8swife · January 2013

I think he just has to figure it out. Asher won't lie down in his crib if we put him in there awake. He has to be asleep. If he wakes up during the middle of the night, he'll stand up right away and fuss for a bit but then he'll lie down and go back to sleep. It took a few nights for him to figure it out but he eventually did. If he's awake, he's moving though!

laura.noel · January 2013

No suggestions that haven't already been made, but I totally sympathize.

heymommy · January 2013

He associates sleeping with you and your bed. Your going to have figure out how to switch him over to his crib if you want him to sleep there. Once he is almost asleep ( or asleep.. You might have to do this in stages) in your bed or on you put him in his crib. Find a word you like so that he will know its sleep time when you put him in his bed. I have used " night night" from the very start. I have always softly said it on the way to her crib.

Eta- I know you are asking bout getting him to lie down on his own. He will figure it out ou just have to let him be.

Shawnee11507 · January 2013

Landon learned how to pull himself up in the crib last week and putting him to bed or nap has been a pulling-up/screaming/crying mess ever since. He got up at 9am and I just got him down for his 1st (and I'm sure only) nap for today- at 3:30pm. Usually it would be around 12-1pm.

hayliedc · January 2013

Lyla will ONLY sleep in her crib. She thinks its play time in our bed, won't sit still long enough to sleep on us, and there are too many people to watch in the stroller. She will play in her crib during nap time, but eventually she gets tired and lays down. Does he have a lovie or favorite stuffed animal? Lyla has a lovie and we put in her crib and she will play with it until she is tired then she lays down with it over her face and goes to sleep.

MollySm · January 2013

For us, both with Lucia and the kids I nanny, it's just about us being gone, and leavibg them there long enough. Most of the time if left alone for an hour, they eventually lay down and go asleep.

I think kids are going to prefer being with us. It's just more fun. So if that is an option, they'll do it. If it's not, they will eventually go to sleep in the crib.

heymommy · January 2013

Ok, my iPad is giving' me fits! Ugh!!

That last sentence should say... You just need to let him be. And I wanted to add you have o give him the opportunity to figure it out on his own.... Laying down In his crib if that is where your like him to sleep. It might get ugly ( for only a few days) but it will be worth it.

hizah05 · January 2013

Yeah... Logan will never lie down on his own. I am also amazed at the kids that are passed out in random places. That never happens. This is why Logan has to be sound asleep to go in his crib, even for naps. If he's not he will just stand there and cry or eat the crib. I don't know what to do either!

MollySm · January 2013

Just to add, Lucia would never just randomly fall asleep on the floor or something. She has to know it's bedtime and be alone in her room for awhile.

ALane1128 · January 2013

Jackson has never just fallen asleep in his bouncer or high chair or the floor. He only sleeps in his crib or car seat. He went through a 2 month phase where he would stand in his crib and scream bloody murder. 1st we just gave up and would only put him to bed if he was asleep. But he doesn't sleep through the night so we would have to do it all over again when he'd wake up. After about 2 weeks of that, we were told by some friends to just go in there, lay him down and walk out. He eventually gave up and would go back to sleep. The 1st couple of weeks were horrible but then he finally figured it out.