I've been trying to get my 9 month old son into his crib after sleeping with my husband and I since birth for a couple weeks now. At first it seemed to be working fine I would stay in his room and keep laying him down and until he would go to sleep and he would be fine there through the night but my husband tends to help out more on the weekends but gives in way too easily and has started putting him to bed in our bed and then moving him, but now he has been waking up every couple of hours and is really fighting being in there at all. I am 27 weeks pregnant and dont have much time before I have another lil one in our room. Does anyone have any ideas?
Just stick it out. It is so hard. My daughter had many problems sleeping but all the sudden she just started sleeping normally. Just keep his schedule the same and dont give in.
Hi C.,
Your little one is very smart and knows how to play you and your husband. For this you can be grateful...However, at bedtime this may pose a problem...for you. If baby has to howl himself to sleep for a few nights allow this. He will eventually get the idea that this is his bed and this is where he sleeps. I know it is taxing and stressful, but you will win in the end and all will be peaceful again. Babies tend to push all our buttons until we respond so don't be taken in by this test of wills. Tell dad that he has to stay on track or sleep in the boy's room with him...just kidding.
J. S
Hi C.,
I highly recommend The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. It has so many reasonable and great suggestions, and has helped us through many different sleep issues. This book will help you develop a specific plan for moving your baby into his crib while minimizing crying to nothing more than a minute or so. She is very attentive to the individual needs of each family, so it's worth a look!
Regards,
A.
I agree with both of the other suggestions....what my experience was, the baby didn't want to sleep alone. They were use to a warm body to snuggle with. Hearing the breathing of others etc. Can ds be in room with older sister for awhile (in his crib)? He would still be able to hear her breathing and moving around. Maybe some soft music. Some kind of little noise. Big stuffed animal to snuggle with. Also, I wouldn't let the new baby stay in the same bed with you. Start them out in the crib or bassinett even if in your room or you'll have the same problem again. My ds had to end up putting his 2 dd's in the same bed (double bed) so they'd stay out of their bed. This was at ages 4 and 2. Hope this helps some. God's Blessings.
What worked with us was to focus on naps first. Once DD was in a good nap pattern where I could just laying her down awake and she'd drift off to sleep, then I began to do the same thing at night. A good solid routine also has helped with both kids, almost to the point that we HAVE to be home by 7pm in order for everything to go smoothly.
Also be sure he is getting enough sleep during the day -- I was suprised to learn that if they don't sleep enough during the day they will not sleep good at night. Don't let him drop a nap yet if he is trying to do that --
Just keep at it, once the decission is made for everyone to sleep in their own bed, stick to it. I know how tempting it is just bring them back to bed. Even on the occassional night DD#2 (20mo) wakes up I will go to her rub her back and rarely pick her up and she'll go back to sleep without crying it out.
Hi C.,
I had a simular situation with Emily Grace and some moms walked me through doing the Ferber method (it is a cry out method but not full on...) You let them cry 10 min. go in DO NOT TALK OR CUDDLE and put the pacifier back in cover them back up with the blanket and walk out (we use white noise and have a vibration thing from the pack and play that we put on her crib too!) 15 min. later do the same thing...increase the time by 5 min increments.
The first night it was torture on me and i hardly got sleep...we had to turn the moniters down and watch the clock. I was amazed at how well it worked. She started sleeping 5-7 hours straight. Of course if she doesn't feel good or during the teething I give in. But it really did work well. I know alot of moms are against it, but she works well with it. We make sure we do a specific bedtime routine EVERY night. Daddy reads, then mommy rocks feeds and cuddles. We lay her down awake and that is the end! She goes down between 7:30 and 8:30 every night.
Good luck to you and congrats!!
A. & Emily Grace 8 1/2 months
Hi!
Great suggestions! Ferber worked for us-- by night three, she was sleeping on her own-- but, we did have our girls in their cribs at two weeks old. I highly recommend it!
Good Luck!
C.,
I had the same issue with my daughter, since I breastfed, it was just easier to have her in bed at night, plus I work during the day and it was nice to have some time at night with her. But as she got older, and moved around more, and we started thinking about number 2, we realized it was time to move her into her crib. I used the ferber method. It was so difficult at first, but it only took 2 nights to work! I did call my pedatrician, and spend some time customizing the plan our situation. We had been rocking our daughter and giving her a bottle and then trying to put her in her crib, very gently as not to wake her. It did not work, she always woke up and would cry unless we rubbed her back, but the minute we stopped, off she went. Our ped. recommended that we no cuddle her right before bed. Now she get her bottle 1 hour before bed time, she plays and walks around with it. We turn off all the lights (except a few lamps) and turn off the tv. we read books, and are just mellow. at first we watched for signs she was ready for bed, like laying her head down. Now after 1 month, she comes gives us her bottle, and points to her bedroom. I also put our boppy in her crib, which is what we used to nurse on. finding a special toy or blanket can really help your baby learn to self-soothe. during the ferber method, try not to feel like your are tormenting your baby, but teaching him how to sleep well. this is a skill he will need for the rest of his life, and will greatly impact how well he does in his social life, school and work. remind yourself that you do not give him treats all the time just because he likes them. You make him eat his veggies ect... the same with the ferber method, he may cry and first and not like it, but in the end it is the best for him to learn to sleep well. Good luck! Also, If the family bed works for you, I would continue the tradition with the next one, just know you will have to go through this again later on. but it is usually only for a few nights, and is usually worth the months of cuddling your little one.
