Naps - Brookfield,IL

Have you read and tried "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth? I highly recommend it!

Hi,
I had the same problem with my 13 month old daughter. So she has been sleeping in a full size bed since she has been 14 months old.
She would cry if we put her in the crib and throw up in under five minutes. So the cryout method would not work.
She now sleeps throught the night. I know it is scary to put them in a bed, but it worth a try. We have not had any problems isnce.

Geez
I don't know what to tell ya! I started reading this and thought OMG there is another baby like T out there! LOL
B.

I'm a new mom, and don't have direct experience, but I have heard that you can set up a cot in her nursery, and have her in the crib and you on the cot. I'm not sure if it is best to stay an allotted amount of time, or overnight at first. But at least she'll be in her crib and hopefully get more used to it. Sorry I don't have a source for this info either. Much luck to you... seeing them cry just breaks your heart, doesn't it!!?!?! Hang in there!

-C.

39, 5 years ttc, 4 failed ivf, then 2 oops pregnancies

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Have you picked up the book "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child"? I highly recommend it. It breaks sleep habits (and problems) down by age. Basically, the cry out method is what we did but the book recommends to not let the child cry for over an hour on naps. Pick the baby up after that period. Console, comfort, play for a while and then try again.

V.

Hi N.,

Personally, I have issues with the crying out method. If your child cannot feel she can rely on you for comfort, who can she turn to?
At 15 months, your child probably just made the transition from two naps an afternoon, to one recently. Her sleep patterns are changing and you need to give her comfort and understanding with this change. She has nothing to compare it to, she doesn't know it is a phase, all she knows is the last time she was upset she was left crying alone, of course she's upset now!
Offer comfort this time around. Establish a pattern, draw a picture of what she had for breakfast or what she wants to do after naptime, read a story or sing a song and stay with her in her room until she falls asleep. It takes time and it wont always go smoothly but with persistance you will establish a healthy sleep pattern instead of one that is threatening or fearfull. Dr. Weisbluth is amending his philosophy on "crying out sleeping" by the way. As you mentioned from your experience it is awful thing to go through for parents and children and he finally saw it that way too.

God luck to you,
L.

You could try the No Cry Sleep Solutions book by Elizabeth Pantley - it doesn't have anything new in it but I found it quite comforting and reassuring to read when my son was having trouble with naps. I realised that it was me having the problem, not my son - he just doesn't need to nap as much as most other babies. Whilst I would love the extra time it would give me, I'm far happier having him up and content than having him scream alone in his crib.

Good Luck,

R.

Hi N.,

I went through the same thing (crying until they threw up or almost did)especially with my second child, she is now 2 yrs old. What worked for me was getting both my kids tired before they went to sleep by lots of playing and running around inside or outside. Then, I put them to sleep/nap at the SAME time each day. I read to them at nap time and at night. When my daughter would start her crying and the stories or lullabys wouldn't soothe her, I would fold clothes in their room and ignore her crying. This way, I wasn't giving in to her but she would feel comfortable that I was there and eventually she would fall asleep. If I didn't have clothes to fold, I would clean their room or do something...she would see that I was busy and would lie down. Eventually, I would tell her that "mommy has to do laundry, but I'll come back to check on you" and it always worked. There was a time, when I had to pretend I was sleeping on the chair next to her so she could fall asleep.

Try different things, I promise this phase will pass - even if it takes a few months! :-)

Good luck,
Barbara

I had a similar issue when my son, now 20 months was about 14 months old. I didn't like to just let him cry because I wanted to make sure that he knew I was there for him, but that he had to go to bed on his own. What I did was let him cry in intervals. I would let him cry for 5 or 10 minutes, go in there, hug him, sing him a song, lay him back down, and do it again, this time a bit longer, etc. It was hard, but it eventually worked. He goes to sleep with no tears now and lays right down. Also, make sure she is tired, she may be transitioning to one nap if she isn't already on one.

Good luck!
Jeny & Zack

toddler bed did it for us

I'm wondering why you need her to nap in her crib? My daughter napped easily in my bed and wasn't willing to elsewhere so I just let her nap there where I could lay with her until she fell asleep. Why not?

Our baby was just like this. He is now 16 months old. What works for us now is we have a toddler bed for him, and when he has fallen asleep or even when he is getting sleepy, I lay down on the bed with him, and then pat him or let him sleep by himself (at which point I get up and go do what I have to). Once he's asleep, he now sleeps all the way till the morning. I don't fear while he's on the bed as he knows how to get off the bed by himslef, and since the bed has some rails, he is pretty safe as well. We also put a nightlight in his room which helps him in case he gets scared f the dark.

Hi N.,
Sorry to hear about this! Maybe try playing with her while she's in the crib when it's not nap time? That way she'll know it's fun to be in her crib. Read her a book, play with a stuffed animal. My son loves this music thingy that we attached to the side of his crib. But when it is naptime, I think you have to put her in her crib and leave her there. I've learned that once you begin taking them out, they expect it and will cry as long as it takes for you to come. Good luck to you!! L.

N.,
If you hate to see your baby cry, then don't let her!!!
She cannot be any more upset if she is pooping and vomiting. She could choke on her vomit. I recommend The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp and also Nighttime Parenting by Dr. William Sears. Your baby is not stubborn--she needs you.
Amy

NOt sure if you can get any help there but try contacting the Erickson Institute. I think they give free advice on sleeping. They are in CHicago.