7 month old sleeping in crib

Meggypoo821 · August 2013

For many reasons DH and I decided not to put M in her crib until now. Up until Sunday she has been sleeping in her Rock N' Play and LOVES it. She is quickly out growing it and its just time to get her in her crib. We have tired to put her down at her normal time and do her normal routine. The first night we got crying and we knew that was going to happen, but after midnight when DH went to bed and it was just me I broke down and picked her up and back in the RNP. For naps she has done ok, only sleeping for 30min, and I am in the room with her holding her hands. Her problem is holding still. She will move her legs up and roll and play with her hair and not settle down. She hates being swaddled so that is out. I basically have to hold her legs and arms down until she is asleep and that takes forever. once I let go of them she jumps and startles herself awake again. I need some advice please. any tips or tricks you use to help your little one sleep or hold still. I cant take her crying all night like she has been doing. She is working herself up so much that it takes an hour to settle her down again. Help please!!!!!! Thanks

Stefibeth · August 2013

How did she go to sleep in the RnP? Were you putting her down awake then?

We just moved DD to her crib from the RnP this weekend. She's adjusting okay, it seems. She's always been pretty chill about sleep though.

It's hard for me to give advice not being there and seeing what's going on, but at 7mo I think you're better off letting her adjust on her own. I can't imagine having DD sleep with me holding her hands. I think that would really disrupt her sleep at this point. She's much more wakeful than she used to be, which is really the reason we transitioned her to her own room at this point. I'm far from a sleep training advocate, but I do think you need to support your baby in figuring out sleep. It's possible that you might be doing things now that are complicating the situation for your LO.

Also, again JMO and based on my own experience, I would ditch the RnP completely. If your LO wakes crying comfort her and put her back to sleep in the crib. IMO that's the only way they'll get used to it. Otherwise you're showing her that eventually she'll end up back in the RnP and she's not getting used to sleeping in the crib. It might mean a few rough nights of sleep, but will probably be better in the long term.

princessbmw · August 2013

We ended up doing the Ferber method for naps and bedtime. It has helped DS fall asleep on his own and put himself back to sleep at night. I was at the end of my rope, exhausted, and frustrated with how difficult it was to get him to sleep. Now we are all sleeping much better. I recommend reading the book before trying it, and you've got to stick to it. We saw improvement the first couple of nights. Good luck!

horae4me · August 2013

We did the switch at 6 months. It was a tough week but has been a dream ever since! He discovered that he likes sleeping on his belly so that's what we do. No answers for you, just know you'll get through it soon

I had to rock him to sleep and then put him down...multiple times. But it only took 5-6 days til he got the hang of it. Good luck!

ReeceFamily · August 2013

I don't have lots of advice, I have found that sometimes simply patting DD on the back helps her calm herself enough to go to sleep. Remember there are LOTS of reasons why babies may not fall asleep well or may wake easily, other than inability to "self-sooth."

As someone kindly pointed out to me on another board, teething is a big reason for not sleeping well around this age. My DD is having a tough time sleeping right now ..and lo and behold she suddenly got two new teeth this weekend. She'd been pretty mellow about it otherwise, and her difficulty sleeping was really my only clue that something was going on. Just something to keep in mind to keep you from getting too frustrated.

miss.brittany · August 2013

We are having the same difficulty right now and trying to break the rock and play habit. My LO is about 6 1/2 months old. We started last Friday night. Getting her down the first time isn't the problem. She just keeps waking 3 and 4 times a night. Which is challenging because my DH an I both work full time and were used to her sleeping through the night or waking, at max, one time to nurse and go right back to bed. But now she's very restless and cries when she wakes up. It's not easy! Just know you're not alone. I don't have any advice really. But I am not going to put my LO back in the rock and play. Intermittent reinforcement is the strongest, and I don't want her to think if she fights long enough she'll eventually get the rock and play. Good luck!!

ecu0505 · August 2013

Not much advice but our LO plays in her crib before going to sleep. Have you given her time to see if she'll work it out herself?

sekura · August 2013

Stefibeth said:

...

It's hard for me to give advice not being there and seeing what's going on, but at 7mo I think you're better off letting her adjust on her own. I can't imagine having DD sleep with me holding her hands. I think that would really disrupt her sleep at this point. She's much more wakeful than she used to be, which is really the reason we transitioned her to her own room at this point. I'm far from a sleep training advocate, but I do think you need to support your baby in figuring out sleep. It's possible that you might be doing things now that are complicating the situation for your LO.

Also, again JMO and based on my own experience, I would ditch the RnP completely. If your LO wakes crying comfort her and put her back to sleep in the crib. IMO that's the only way they'll get used to it. Otherwise you're showing her that eventually she'll end up back in the RnP and she's not getting used to sleeping in the crib. It might mean a few rough nights of sleep, but will probably be better in the long term.

Stefibeth has the right idea, I think. DS has been sleeping in his crib since about 3-4 months old; we Ferbered him at about 5 months (very gently; starting with just being out of his sight, then moving to out of the room). But I think at this point you honestly need to go cold turkey. You aren't helping anyone by going back to the RNP; just prolonging the agony. You'll have 3-5 bad nights, then everything will settle.

Chappy_jr · August 2013

You need to find a sleep training method you feel comfortable and stick with it. She has to get used to the crib. It is hard, I know. We moved from the swing to the crib around 3 months and it was rough for a week, then we unswaddled, and that was rough for a week. Last week DS started sleeping on his belly and that was rough for a couple of nights and then this week he started crawling and kept getting trapped in the corner ...

attalove · August 2013

Long time lurker chiming in...
My DD sounds exactly like yours in the jerky, cant-stop-moving department.

She was swaddled until 4 mo old, then we started using the baby merlin's magic sleep suit from 4-6.5 mo old. Like you, there were many times I would have to hold down her arms and legs just for her to settle enough to fall asleep, even in the sleep suit.

Anyway we stopped using the suit cold turkey, and while it was rough for a week, she's since decided she's a happy tummy sleeper.

Just wanted to say I can commiserate & I hope your LO surprises you and adjusts quickly to her new sleeping arrangements. The saving grace is that no one phase will last forever... At least, that's what I hold on to!

mandapear · August 2013

Tummy sleeping worked for us when DS was still very herky-jerky. His arms aren't left to flail around in the air, he is much more settled on his belly.

Sstefan2011 · August 2013

Some people will probably frown on what we did but around 3 months we put our LO in the crib and she went nuts bc she didn't like to be flat on her back. I read online that people created a little "nest" out of towels under the sheet so it felt more like the RnP. We just made a circle out of 2 rolled up towels and then a folded hand towls for her head to lay on and it worked really well. We slowly flattened the nest until she was sleeping completely flat on her back. She is now a tummy sleeper but if you LO is still a back sleeper then it might work.

Schrodinger · August 2013

attalove said:

Long time lurker chiming in... My DD sounds exactly like yours in the jerky, cant-stop-moving department. She was swaddled until 4 mo old, then we started using the baby merlin's magic sleep suit from 4-6.5 mo old. Like you, there were many times I would have to hold down her arms and legs just for her to settle enough to fall asleep, even in the sleep suit. Anyway we stopped using the suit cold turkey, and while it was rough for a week, she's since decided she's a happy tummy sleeper. Just wanted to say I can commiserate & I hope your LO surprises you and adjusts quickly to her new sleeping arrangements. The saving grace is that no one phase will last forever... At least, that's what I hold on to!

Ditto the Merlin Sleep Suit, that thing is awesome! It might help with the time you are spending holding her arms and legs down.

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