Teaching Baby to Sleep with 15 Month Old Sister

I put my kids together immediately and my oldest had been a colicky baby, although was past that. I had no problem at all. The oldest one did not get up when the little one would wake up needing to be fed. I did move into another room to feed him, but I never had any problem at all.

You have recieved some great advice regarding noise and sleeping. One of the great experts on this is Dr Karp. He also addresses the real cause of colic is not stomachs, it is growing babies that don't yet know how to self soothe. So you are right to not let them try to cry it out. They do learn to sleep thru loud noises. High pitch squeals are harder but doable as they get used to it if there is constant background noise. Go to your local library and check out "The Happiest Baby on the Block" I have never seen these techniques fail.
K. @ The Nestingplace

I found the book, "The No Cry Sleep Solution" to be helpful. Maybe they have it at your library.

You are right: don't let her cry it out. But you can still put her to sleep in the same room as the playful toddler. If you can, put up a baby gate and have the bassinet a few feet on the other side so you can see both babies at the same time.

I agree that you should let the baby get used to the everyday noises of the family. I heard once, "the baby came to live with you NOT the other way around." She will get used to it soon enough.

I still vacuum under the kids' beds and they never even move. My sister stayed with us for a while and that was the only time I COULD vacuum because of the excess toys out during the day with 2 more kids, but I woke my nephew up every time. (See the difference?)

I hope this helps,
P. <><

I have 2 potential solutions. I did family bed with all four of my daughters. Each one slept with me for the first 2 years of life. Since I nuresed all 4 for 2 years each this worked wonderfully.

If that option doesnlt appeal to you, get a bassinet. She can sleep in that for quite a few months and will always be right there next to you. Next best thing to family bed.

Try getting your 15 month old a baby doll and a bassinet. When it is time to put the baby down, tell her to put her "baby" to sleep as well.

I totally agree with you about not letting a baby cry it out!! Maybe you could start a nightly routine of letting your 15 month old engage in an activity that is quiet, doesn't require your help, and last for about half an hour. I'm not sure what would work since I don't know your daughter, maybe a short video or some puzzles. Something she likes to do. You didn't mention if you had any other adult help, so I'm assuming not. Do you have a neighbor who you are friends with that would help out for a little while each evening until your baby gets a little older? I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you, my prayers are with you!!

You are going to have to make a schedule for both kids. There are going to be sleep times for the little one while the older one is awake. While the older one is up and about you will probably have to do some things like vacuuming. Do it, make all the noise you need to and more so that the baby gets used to hearing it. Some of the sounds she should have heard while you were pregnant and are familiar.

Your child should be able to fall back to sleep once she is finished eating. They stay awake for short periods of time and sleep most of the time. Babies DO need to cry to build up their lung capacity. I don't mean having a baby that young cry for 20 or 30 minutes and being totally upset. Make sure baby is in her crib or bassinett and not your bed. A baby that starts out in its own bed is less likely to have a problem when removed from mom's bed later. All can get a good rest.

As for big sis, little sis is still a novelty. Just make sure she is gentle with her and can bring you things to show her love that she can help you. There may be times that you will have to limit big sis's access to the baby so that the baby can rest and grow. Good luck to you and have patience it will all work out. The other S.

I just was where you were, except my older children are much older (8 and 6). I saw some of the other posts and I must say that definitely letting your baby be around some of the chaos at your house is a good thing. I'm sometimes worried that the baby will wake up with his sisters jumping around, squealing and fighting at times (and also wanting to constantly see what I'm doing in his room if I happen to go in there). Sleeping through noise can be good for when they're older. I had to be really patient those first few months b/c I knew the biggest thing for the baby and for me is to know that things are constantly in flux at the beginning with feedings, naps, sleep at night, etc. And I definitely agree with not letting them cry it out at 6 weeks. At 6 weeks there were very few times I could even put him down awake and he'd put himself to sleep (he started being able to do that consistently at about 2 1/2 months). I'm just now able to sorta let my son cry it out, but really the only reason he cries a lot of times is if I haven't given him exactly what he wants (which most of the time I can figure out). So, just keep at it and love those 2 little girls! :)

Best of luck!

My older son was 16 months when my now 7 month old was born and they have to share a room because my 5 yr old occupies the other room. Anyway, I started out by only rooming them together at night time. Durring the day, I would let the baby sleep in his bassinet in the livingroom. Doing this kind of helped him get ise to sleeping with noise going on. The first couple of nights, my older son would wake up or rouse when the baby woke but very quickly adjusted to the noise and slept right through it. It amazed me. Of course I do have a baby monitor in there and try to get to either one of them when they wake for any reason to try to avoid waking the other. I also waited a little longer to start putting the baby down to go to sleep on his own. I would wait until he was fully asleep first. He actually got to the point where he wanted to go down awake but sleepy instead of being held. They both quickly adjusted to each others noises and the baby actually sleeps through my toddlers pre-sleep babbling. Also, one thing that was suggested to me (but I did not manage to try) was to tape record the baby crying and such and playing it before starting to sleep them together so that the oldest has a little more time to adjust.

Good Luck!

One thing that helped me is that from the beginning I would let my baby nap out in the family room (in the pack and play) and we would continue about our day...I never quieted my other child, sometimes I would vacuum, etc. I got them both used to sleeping through noise. My 3 year old even sleeps through thunderstorms (which is nice!). That is one suggestion. The other is just setting some boundries with your older child...maybe actually drawing out an area she can't go over (maybe in masking tape or something on the floor around the pack n play), and reward her for not going into that area instead of getting upset when she does. That way she's not getting punished for being curious about the baby. I know it's only natural. I have an 9 week old right now and a 3 yr old. Make time in the day for her to have some time with her little sister. That way she's not craving it when you don't want her to be. I hope this helps!!!

Wow, having two close together, I'm sure you will really enjly the time each (or both) child(ren) sleeps. It is important that the baby falls asleep on her own, so when you notice her getting sleepy (rubbing her eyes, getting cranky) go ahead and put her in her crib. If you can, swaddle her. It's a good way for her to get used to going to sleep without any assistance. She may fuss for alittle bit (like 5 minutes or less) - try to remember that she is a brand new person and has to learn how to go to sleep on her own. I've read that if we, as adults, had to learn one day to go to sleep without a pillow, that would be uncomfortable for us and we'd resist and be uncomfortable. That's what your baby is doing - learning to be in the world by herself. As far as the big sis, I would have some really great projects or special books that are only for baby's nap time. Stuff like Play Doh, reading together, drawing together, finger paints, bouncing or kicking the ball together, etc. That way she will be occupied with you.

Good Luck!

At 6 weeks old she makes the calls. The best thing you can do to help her at this point is let her sleep when she's tired and respond quickly to her when she cries. Not until she is 4 to 6 months old is it safe to even try cry it out if you wanted to- until that time she sets the schedule and probably shouldn't sleep in the same room as her sister if possible (so that your older child can get the consistant rest she needs).

5 weeks is too young to let her cry. I usually keep mine in my room in the bassinet for the first 3-4 months. That way I can close the door to my room and the older kids stay out. I try to let the older kids have time with the baby, holding him, giving him hugs and kisses when he is awake so they won't be as interested while he's asleep. Up until about three months, my kids have not been much bothered by the noise around them, unless it's a sudden sharp sound, so I wouldn't worry about the noise. I've also never had a problem with the younger child's night time cries waking the older child, mine have always shared rooms after that 4month mark. I do let mine eventually cry it out, but not until 4-6 months when I feel they are ready or I'm about to lose it, but then its about three days and its done. Babywise and Happiest Baby on the Block are good for really young babies, and Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child is good for a little older babies. I kind of blend all of them, take what works ya know? Good luck. You could try to find something quiet for your older daughter to do while you rock the baby, maybe Baby Einsteins videos or something. My oldest used to hold his little sisters feet while I nursed her, you could find a way for her to 'help' you rock her.

The best advice I can give you is NEVER put the baby down TOTALLY asleep. I learned this lesson the hard way (through the first of my three kids). My next two were great sleepers. They learned very early how to put themselves to sleep. Since I nursed, my boys usually nursed themselves to sleep. While transferring them to their crib, I'd move them just enough to make them stir and open their eyes slightly, then I'd put on the ocean sounds of their Fisher Price fish aquarium that I hung on the side of the crib. The white noise of the aquarium, along with the lights on the fish tank, helped put them back to sleep. By the time my younger two were 3-4 months old, they could push the buttons themselves and thus put themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night. It worked beautifully even on my #2 who was SUPER colicky:) I must warn you that since your daughter is already 5 weeks old, you might have to listen to a little crying, but she should get used to this routine quickly. Good luck!