- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
I may have created a monster
So I accidentally created a monster. Everyone says that you can't spoil a baby but my almost 3 month old daughter will not sleep in her bassinet very long. Since I've went back to work full time, a month ago, I have become so exhausted that when I'm trying to get little girl to sleep, I fall asleep too. It's usually like this-ok, she's sleeping but let's wait another 5 minutes to make sure she is really sleeping before I put her down. Two hours later, she is still in my arms. Just in the last two weeks, I've put her in her bassinet and she's awake and crying in no time. I let her cry a little bit to try self soothing but she keeps going. I pick her back up, rock her and she's back to sleep in no time. I've just come to think that if I want to sleep I can't put her back in her bassinet, which I know is not good. I feel like neither of us are sleeping very well in this situation but we're getting sleep. She has been sleeping mostly through the night since 12/14/12, maybe with one feeding every once in a while. I'm thinking that it's time to move her to her crib but I am so afraid that I will not hear her in the middle of the night, even if the monitor is right beside me. Did I mention that my husband works third shift and is unable to help with any of this? The two nights he is at home he usually takes her once I get her to sleep, lets me go to bed, and he holds her for another 10-15 minutes, lays her down and she is fine. I'm not sure why it is so different with me. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I may have created a monster
We are sleep training our 10.5 week old now so I feel your pain. The pediatrician recommended we do lay him down when he's sleepy but not asleep and even if he fusses a little its ok and dont freak out about the no crying thing. I have a very natural, Dr. Sears following ped so I trust his judgment in this area. I think my fear of LO crying in crib is what prevented me from trying often. Well, believe it or not, he settles himself right down and it doesnt go beyond fussing and grunting before he falls off to sleep and goes for 1.5 hours generally each nap. At night, the longest he has gone is 5 hours but thats still pretty awesome for me to get that much consecutive sleep. I am a DEEP and easy sleeper so I have to be very careful to not fall asleep during nursing or else he ends up laying on my chest all night.
I think its all about timing and playing with them to wear them out. I dont think you can just expect them to fall asleep b/c you put them down but if the time is right and you know they are fed and changed and warm, etc. then you dont have to stress as much about why they are fussy.
You haven't created a monster. She's still so young! It is only natural for her to want to sleep on you or near you. I think she is still too little to self soothe. My pedi recommended trying that around 4 months.
Is she swaddled? I would definitely do this, it will help her feel more secure and cuddled when you lay her in the bassinet.
When you lay her down do it slowly and leave your hands under her for a few seconds. If she stirs, put your hands on her arms/chest and use a little pressure and slowly let up.
Do you have white noise where you sleep? I think it is great for babies (and adults!)
It might be time to move her to her crib, especially since she is already having issues in the bassinet. You will wake up to her cries. You will hear her.
Good luck!
Baby #2!
I have heard that it's easier for the father to put the baby down because he doesn't smell like milk. I just bought the Dr. Sears Sleep book and I'm finding it very informative so far
gl
This is all great advice!
May I also add this is a good time to start a bed-time routine if you haven't already.
This. We did self soothing for my FB at 7 months though. 4 months seems a little early to me, but I also just loved cuddling her. And at 7 months it took about 3 nights to get the self soothe down, so I don't think it was too hard.