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What do you do before you put your babies down for naps? Like, do you sing to them, rock them, play music, put a pacifier in, etc? For awhile I was just sticking Evan in his bassinet with a pacifier. He'd go to sleep. However, I read that one reason some babies don't take long naps is if they are put down to sleep without any "prelude" to the nap. That you should have a routine that you go through before every nap. Also, he has now become dependent on the pacifier to go to sleep. That isn't so bad in my book, but I think that might be the reason he wakes up after 30-45 minutes. I think the pacifier falling out wakes him up. So I'd like him to go back to taking naps without the pacifier and see if he'll sleep longer.
Right now I hold him and walk around with him while I softly sing a song or two. Then I just jiggle him and "shhh" him for a couple of minutes. Then I put him in his bassinet. I've been putting the pacifier in, but this time I didn't. He cried for about 10 minutes. Now there's silence...I'm hoping he's asleep!
This is also the first nap he's taking in his crib in the nursery. A few weeks ago I tried getting him to nap in the nursery, but every time he'd spit up all over himself. I'm not sure, but I think it's because he was flat on his back. His bassinet mattress bends slightly under his weight so he isn't completely flat. Anyway, it seems like it's working...oh wait...nevermind....he's starting to fuss again.
*sigh* I've been trying to let him cry it out the past week. I think I'm finally to the place where I can handle it. Several times he's cried for about 5 minutes and then fell asleep while going down for his naps. However, since starting to let him cry it out, he's started amping up his crying halfway through with this horrible gasping scream (only sometimes, not every time). It was new and so I was always going to comfort him when he did it until this morning. This morning I was in the shower when he started that kind of cry. Plus, I've become used to it, I know it isn't a pain cry or a dirty diaper cry or an uncomfortable cry. I think it's a mad cry. So I let him cry it out since I needed to finish my shower before my chiropractor appointment. He cried for about 10 - 15 minutes and then fell asleep.
For those of you who have tried this (cry it out), whether successfully or unsuccessfully, i'd love to hear about your experience. Did it work for you? How long did it take before your child would go to sleep on a regular basis without crying? Does your child still cry while going down for a nap or bedtime? Do you let him/her cry it out if they wake early from their nap? If cry it out didn't work for you, I'd like to know too. Was there a specific incidence that made you stop letting your baby cry it out? If you don't want to leave a comment you can email me at: christmasinmarch {at} gmail {dot} com.
Okay, he's quiet again. I think he might really be asleep this time since it's lasted several minutes! *fingers crossed*
I Shall Be Near to You
9 years ago
I tried having Elaina cry-it-out but it was mostly out of sheer exhaustion, desperation and frustration on my part. I HAD to put her down. She would cry so hard she would wheeze. I never did it again. I resolved to just let her sleep with me until she showed signs of readiness. And I'm not proud of that (CIO) at all, whatsoever. Around 10 months she finally would take naps in her crib and by 11 months she would go to bed in her crib.
ReplyDeleteWhen Abigail came along I had psyched myself up for everything and was willing to co-sleep and do attachment parenting (like baby-wearing) since I knew what to expect... EXCEPT Abigail wanted nothing to do with it. She was little Miss Independent. So I was lucky with this one! She was an absolutely amazing sleeper.
And now Miss Zoë. She's a lucky baby because I've learned from all my mistakes. Our poor first babies! LOL! They get all the big trials-and-errors. I don't put her on a schedule. I let her nurse on demand, even if it is just to pacify herself. I hold her for naps and bedtime. I DO put her down when she is alert and happy on her playmat, in the bouncer or swing, bassinet, etc.
For naps I rock her, hold her, nurse her, etc. I don't always have to nurse her to sleep. She loves to be held lying face down on my arm as I walk around the house. I've learned how to do many things with one hand! Ha ha!
I've learned that babies can't be spoiled, that they need the closeness of their mothers and that babies cry to tell us things and is the only way they can communicate their needs, wants and fears. I've also learned they grow SO fast and they won't always need to be rocked to sleep. In fact one day they won't want or need it and you'll wish they did. ;-)
Keep trying new things until you find something that works and makes both you and Evan happy!
Thanks, Joy! Was Abby independent as young as 3 months? I wanted to do babywearing with Evan, but he really doesn't like it! He doesn't even like to be held much unless it's nap time.
ReplyDeleteYes! She'd arch her back and kick and fuss until I put her down. Then she'd be happy as can be! I have this big beanbag and she'd lay in that all the time. Before she could hold a bottle I'd put her in there, or her bouncer, to give her a bottle. She was like this from the day she was born, even at the hospital. I was bummed I didn't get to "wear" her too!
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