Trouble Laying 6 Month Old in Her Crib Without Her Waking

you can try using a momma bear...its a bear that plays the womb sound. It plays a fetal heart beat for about 20 minutes and then turns off. My daughter still likes hearing it. It calms her and helps her stay asleep. Works like a charm hopefully it will work for you. You can purchase it at Target or Babies R Us. Good Luck.

It will be helpful for your precious baby girl to learn how to fall asleep on her own, or you are only setting her up for long-term dependence upon you. "Baby Wise" is a wonderful resource to refer to for more details in training your infant to fall asleep naturally on her own. This does not mean that you don't love her. Still hold her, hug her, kiss her, and take care of her needs . . . but when it's time to go to sleep, it's time to go to sleep. She will adjust as long as you change your behavior. If she knows you are going to immediately pick her up each time she cries or wakes up, she will never learn to fall asleep on her own. Some moms follow a "10 minute" rule, and go in the room every 10 minutes to rub her back, to say "Nite-nite" and lovingly exit. This is done only if she cries. But don't pick up your precious baby until she has had her full nap. If you are consistent, things will eventually fall in place. If you choose to rock her and hold her forever, that's okay, too. Just make sure that you aren't going to get burned out or frustrated if this is the option you choose. Our babies adjust to what we do to them.

My little guy just turned 5 months today & every now & then he go's through a period where he has trouble staying asleep when I put him in the crib. When he's struggling w/ it I try to make it so the room he's going in is about the same temperature of the room he's coming from (we only have a heater in the front room of our apartment & sometimes if the bedroom door is shut it gets much colder in there). Also, after getting him up from the swing, or my lap after feeding him, I rock him in my arms in my husbands & my room (where the crib is) until he gets COMPLETELY back to sleep while humming a melody in a low voice. I keep humming that same melody as I lay him in the crib. Then try to do everything slowly, like take my hands off him, then go away from him a little @ a time until he seems totally out in his crib, humming the same melody through it all. Sometimes it takes 45 min. or more, but, not usually.

Good luck!

My daughter (4th child) is also 6-months and I've had the exact same problem. I finally changed my ways... I used to nurse her to sleep and then lay her down. Now I feed her when she's wide awake and then later when I see the first signs of sleepiness I put her in her crib awake. Don't wait until she's over-tired. Put her in bed 1-1/2 to 2-hours after she wakes up. When she looks away when you try to make eye-contact is a good sign that she's getting sleepy. She needs to self-soothe herself to sleep, then she'll take longer naps. If she cries you can give her a lovey and/or a pacifier and pat her back just to reassure her. Also, tell her sister that she'll have to put up with the crying, it'll only take a few nights. When I put my 3rd child in the same room with my 1st two I told them to cover their heads with a pillow and keep quiet because if the baby heard them she'd just cry more. After two nights they all got used to each other sleeping in the same room. Soon I'm moving #4 to the same room. Don't pick her up when she cries. Hope this helps, good luck.

At 6 months of age, an "infant" hits developmental milestones... and becomes more "alert" and physical and cognitive abilities increase. THIS is why, often times, that at 6 months of age you will see that many babies have a change in sleep patterns. It's something that happened to both my children as well. It passes. Of course you do want to have a bedtime "routine" in place, which works for you and baby. If nothing else is wrong with your baby and no illness or health issues or gas or teething problems or separation anxiety issues or growth spurts... then I would chalk it up to it being a developmental phase. My Pediatrician said she sees this all the time at this age. Again, their sleep patterns will always change as they develop and grow physically and cognitively. Sleep patterns are not static, nor for adults either.

Sometimes, not swooping in right away, and letting them soothe themselves back to calmness or sleep can help them learn this ability. But there are many sleep "methods." You have to go according to what is best for you and what you believe in and what is best for your and baby's comfort. For me, my 1 yr. old boy can often soothe himself back to sleep.. .but if he does not and cries at a certain "pitch"...then I know I need to go in there and check it out. At this age, I know he has night-terrors and nightmares. I can tell by his face and the pitch of his cry/behavior. Every child is different... and at each age. Sometimes they just want a snuggle. Often times, I will just sing to my boy (it's the same exact song each time).. .and that is enough to calm him and get him back to sleep. This is the "routine" I have done with him since birth... and now, it is like a "light-switch." When I start to sing, he will become calmer/quieter and he knows it's time for sleep. Also, he has a stuffed cow that he sleeps with since the time he was 6 months old and this helps him to sleep too.
Try different things. It will all work out in the end.
Good luck,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Hi michell l.,
i'm a mother of 3 my daughter 12yr son 9yr & son 4yrs i never breast feed until my last son was born.i had some what the same problem myself w/ my kids. After feeding her try getting her tired enough so when she goes to sleep it's for more than 10-15 min. Or try to bath her if it's a nice day so she feels comfortable while she sleeps,or maybe wrap her up so she feels hugged and keep her warm maybe this might help let me know if it works. Good luck T. of three.