Random Sleep Patterns

I would eventually suggest the cry it out method, but personally feel like it's too soon to start with a 3 month old. We were clueless in the sleep dept and eventually heard about a GREAT book called Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth. It's a great book, a little on the thick side, but so worth the investment. I read it when my son was 5-6 months old, I studied it and re-read it and by 6 months he was pretty much sleeping thru the night. He is 16 mos now and still sleeps 12-13 hrs a night - going down at 6:30!! It's great. Good luck!

Could their be some reason she's needing extra comforting? Teething? ear infection? If there's no medical reason for extra crying, chalk it up to your first control battle. She's just figured out that you'll eventually give in. You have to be methodical on the crying it out thing -- check on her in 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, 15, 20, etc. She's too young to just be left in there crying for an hour. The idea is that you are teaching her to put herself to sleep -- it's something she has to learn, rather than just randomly figure out on her own.
Of course if you don't like the crying it out approach, there are several others. "Good night sleep tight" by Kim West is a good one, and I've heard good things about "Happiest Baby on the Block" and "The No Cry Sleep Solution."

Good luck! Hope you get some sleep!

Babies need to cry it out, but this isn't recomended until they are around 6 months of age for various social and emotional developmental reasons. Perhaps she is having gas pains, are you nursing and maybe eating something different that she isn't responding to well at nights? Or maybe a formula change? My son did this every couple of months, typically when they hit a new milestone, they don't like to sleep b/c they want to practice there new discovery. Or she could be hitting a growth spurt and so she is waking up hungry at night.

I know its hard, really really hard, but you have to teach her to soothe herself, let her cry, use earplugs, headphones, whatever you have to do to block out her crying, she will eventually either cry herself to sleep or realize, mom isn't coming and i'm tired of crying so i'll just play or something....give it a try for a week or so and see what happens....u gotta have patience, but your pedi would tell u the same thing.

M.,
Try the Fisherprice Aquarium Wonders mobile!! The soothing lights and music are by far the best of all the mobiles I received from my baby shower. I had trouble getting my now 5 mo old son to fall asleep on his own and someone suggested this mobile so I went out and bought it. He fell asleep all on his own the first night. He's been sleeping well for almost 2 mos now. Also, are you putting her to sleep on her back? If so, try wedging her on her side. Use an "inclined to sleep" pillow for easy wedging and I bet she'll sleep much better. :)