August 2014 Moms
jenniferurs
member
I don't know what to do anymore
jenniferurs
member
For months now, LO has only been able to go to sleep if she's been bounced to sleep on our exercise ball. At first, it wasn't a big deal, because within 5 minutes, she'd be passed out. Now, she's so much more alert and aware that it takes even longer for her to fall asleep and then she inevitably wakes up when we try to put her down in the crib, starting the process all over again. All in all, each time she goes to sleep, we end up bouncing for 30 minutes to an hour. And with 3-4 naps per day, along with nighttime sleep, that ends up being quite a lot. It's to the point where I've developed chronic pain in my abdomen, which I read is common after a c-section if you're engaging in frequent abdominal muscle contractions (which I am while bouncing), and I just can't go on in pain any longer. I don't need to sleep train insofar as she already sleeps through the night, but I'm thinking that it's going to be necessary to sleep train so that she'll actually go to sleep without this need for bouncing.
What do you guys recommend? I've tried waiting until she's given sleep cues (yawning, rubbing eyes, etc.) and then putting her in the crib, but she just cries incessantly until I eventually can't take it anymore. I'll go up every 5-10 minutes to soothe her, and by 20 minutes out, I just don't have the heart to hear her cry any longer, especially when she gives me those adorable smiles upon seeing my face. Should I just suck it up and power through? Or are there any other alternatives that have worked for you? Thanks in advance for listening and for any insight you might have!
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Re: I don't know what to do anymore
I don't have any great advice but wanted you to know that I can totally sympathize. DD was exactly like this. It would take forever to get her down at night and for naps. It was pretty much like this until we did sleep training between 6 and 7 months and I was able to put her to bed drowsy but awake.
One thing that did help me when I couldn't get her down was the 30 minute time limit DH and I set. If one of us couldn't get her down within 30 minutes, we would switch out and the other person would take over. This was a sanity saver for me since it could get really frustrating. Hang in there!
Hope this helps!
Oh yea, I just bounced him for a nap and like always be woke up immediately and wanted to be bounced again... I sucked it up and let him cry... He's been asleep for 25 min now and only cried like 8 min.... It's hard but worth it in the long run I think....
I too think you need to cold turkey the bouncing. Is she going down okay at night? They say you're supposed to focus on bed time first and then naps. Meanwhile trying to get them to nap however. Will she sleep on you? You could try being in the room with her while she CIO? It might make you feel better like you're not abandoning her. I'm kind of on the fence about it because it almost seems worse from her POV because I feel like she's like why arent you picking me up? Whereas if I'm out of sight she just has to work it out. Maybe just let her CIO and visit her every 5-10 mins? Have your husband switch off? Ear buds help too! Good luck good luck! I totally get it and it sucks. I never thought I would be doing any form of CIO but it's been a lot easier than I thought!
Do you have a rocking chair/glider? My DS needs to be rocked and sang to in order to go down for naps. He's at the point now that he hears me or my mom sing the naptime song and he immediately starts eye rubbing and grexing.
I'm with you in that I couldn't just lay LO in the crib to CIO, but I agree with PP that I think you need to bite the bullet and stop bouncing. Just hold or rock her and let her CIO in your arms as a first step, then once she is broken of the bounce you can try putting her down tired but awake. But it sounds like if the bouncing continues you may end up seriously harming yourself and then what will you do?
I bounced for maybe 3 min and when he closed his eyes he went down. Of course he cried but he started to self sooth with his hands which he never did!! I'm not advocating for CIO but to save my back and sleep a bit I had to try it!
first son stillborn 7/20/13 at 39 weeks due to Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy
It's a girl! Baby Anna was born August 3, 2014!