How do i get my 6 week old baby to sleep in her crib?
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at
11:51 am
My 6 weeks old baby only stays in her crib for 15 minutes at the time. If she is sleep as soon as i put her down she wakes up. At night she sleeps in our bed and during the day naps either in the swing or on top of me in the couch. What can i do for her to sleep in her crib? I’m going back to work in 6 weeks and have been told no one will want to babysit if she doesn’t sleep in her crib.
Filed under: Bed In A Bag
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Get her a pacifier… put it in her mouth… and put her to bed… at the same time every night. Babies run on routine…and depend on it. Nip this in the bud…now… or you will regret it.
Don’t worry about it, co-sleeping is the best, keeps them breathing through the night and it keeps them warm because of the body heat. As for nap time it doesn’t really matter where she sleeps. Don’t start putting her into her crib until she is about 6-7 months old, it’ll work, just put her in there and let her cry, she’ll fall asleep. But at this age she’s too young to be crying that much if you just leave her in there. Let her sleep with you guys until she’s old enough.
Dont put your child in your bed, No matter how light of sleeper you are, Im a 911 Dispatcher and I had to give CPR instrustions to an 8week old babies Father! The baby got turned on his stomach after his 6 am feeding and smothered himself! Needless to say the CPR wasn’t sucessful! Im 35 weeks pregnant and my first child stayed in a bassinet till she was 3 months old and so will my son, see if a bassinet works or a pack n play! Anyone who reads this I dont care what your excuse is for letting your child in your bed dont do it!
First you could try swaddling.. but also.. this may sound odd but it has worked..
your baby may be used to your smell.. so sometimes you can put a t-shirt or something light and SAFE! in with them, it’s conforting for them until they are old enough to put themselves to sleep.
Also try a dummy (or pacifier in US) and having a routine of baths before bed!
Put her in her crib when she’s rubbing her eyes or showing other symptoms of being tired, give her a pacifier and sing to her gently. It may take fifteen minutes but its well worth it. She’ll sleep longer and be more interactive when she’s awake as she’ll be well rested. Don’t try putting her down for a nap according to your clock at this age, you have to go by what she wants at this point
It’s hard to hear your baby cry, but you will have to be strong, and let her cry for a bit. She will figure it out, and will fall asleep. You have gotten her used to not sleeping in the crib. Now you will have to get her used to sleeping in her crib. Babies are very smart, and if you always run, when she cries, she will learn that is all she has to do to get what she is now used to. She will be ok. I know this is hard, especially, if this is your first baby, but don’t worry. Have the baby monitor on, and keep it where you can here it, so you will know when she has settled down. Doing something that is calming will help you, while she is figuring things out. Remember, crying is the only way she can communicate right now, it does not always mean something is wrong. It is very important, for us as parents to allow babies, children, and teens, to sometimes work things out for themselves. If she were sick, then I could understand you comforting her. This is not that serious though. It is only a crib, and just a matter of her getting used to it. Don’t fret, all will be ok soon enough.
People all over the world co-sleep w/ their children safely. See http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T102200.asp . That being said, if you don’t want to co-sleep, you shouldn’t feel you have to. Here’s a great book on getting your baby to sleep (in your bed or in a crib) w/out making them "cry it out": http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/books/0071381392.php . If you want to co-sleep but are worried about childcare, maybe they can just put her in a swing for naps like you do now?
To the person who said, "Remember, crying is the only way she can communicate right now, it does not always mean something is wrong." I would have to say that, yes, a crying baby (esp. at only 6 wks) is most definiteiy communicating w/ you and they are saying that they don’t want to be left alone, that to them there is something wrong. And even Dr. Ferber, the famous propoment of the "cry it out" method would say that 6 wks is too early to start that method (he says start between 4-6 MONTHS).
Have you tried swaddling her before putting her down? That would work with my baby
I agree, never let your baby sleep in your bed. Not only is there and increase in fetal death, SIDS, but your baby is probably getting used to the cushiness of your bed and is having a hard time transitioning onto a firm crib mattress.
Our daughter is in a basinett right next to me and our bed. I can see her and reach her while laying down. She will be in here for at least 3 months like her sister was. Downstairs we also have a basinett where she sleeps when I’m in the family room.
my son hated his bassinet. he would only sleep in his swing or this glider thing we had. so i moved the glider into our room at night and let him sleep in it til he was ready to be in his own room ( about 6 months) maybe u could try something like that. i definitely think sleeping in ur bed is a bad idea, it is very hard to get them to sleep in their own beds once they are older
My daughter has never slept in the bed with me! I am actually too much of a light sleeper and if she moves or even makes a peep, I wake up. I couldn’t even get to sleep the couple times I have tried to sleep with her.
However, she did sleep in a pack n play, in our room and we had to transition her into her crib, upstairs, in her own room.
I think things went fairly well. I know we always used a fan, in every room she has ever slept in. It’s a little portable fan we bought at walmart. It isn’t for the air, more for the noise. I think that has a lot to do with it.
I also watch the show Dr’s and they said a baby who sleeps with a fan in their room has a 75% less chance of suffering from SIDS.
I know in the first week, there were times she would wake up. I would comfort her by rubbing her tummy and talking to her. I am also one of those that thinks a little bit of the ‘crying it out’ is okay.
I knew she was dry, fed and not hurting. So, if she cried for five or ten minutes, I would let her. I would then comfort her a little and leave the room again. It only happened a few times, she learned I wasn’t coming in there to pick her up and she stopped.
Also, my daughter cannot sleep if there is a light on in her room, she has to have it dark. We have tried a hundred times, and there cannot be a night light on.
My daughter also goes to sleep with her light up seahorse. I did some looking online and seen it was rated a top toy for babies. I understand why now. It lights up and sings, for five minutes, and it gets softer as the time goes on. It sings her to sleep.
Hi there Mama
I first want to commend you on being so proactive and trying to do what is best for your baby. Here is some of my advice that I can add to your pile of info.
First of all, if a baby sitter did not want to give my child the attention he needed, she would NOT watch my child. I’m paying her to do a job, not neglect my child or do what is convenient. We have many modern day comveniences, but babies are far from comvenient. Many would like to believe that a magic solve all problem sleep training method will work, but that is so far from the truth. It is just like the fad programs that claim you can lose weight in three days. Babies take time and patience, and if someone did not want to watch my baby all because he would not sleep in a crib, I will not leave my child alone with that person. Why should it matter where the baby sleeps–in a swing, in a bouncy seat, on the floor? Does the baby absolutely HAVE to sleep in the crib? Will it be a big deal if it sleeps somewhere else? We, as adults, have the luxury to choose to sleep wherever comfortable, and it is not always the bed. Why can’t babies be given that same right? Why must so many people be so rigid with babies. Did you know that too much rigidity, such as scheduled feedings and sleep training can lead to failure to thrive? This is because we are going according to a regimine, not according to baby’s cues. We live in a selfish society that is focused on convenience. People would like a quick fix to baby sleep with little effort, hence the reason for criticising mothers who actually have patience and take their time with their babies. None of us would like to be subjected to such rigidness. We have our own schedules and do what is best for us despite all the sleep training received as a baby, which is not really beneficial. None of us would like to be "trained" or told when we can eat. If we wake up in the middle of the night, sometimes we are hungry or parched for a drink. Wouldn’t it be horrible if we were FORCED to go back to sleep all because some sort of "training" no matter what our needs would be? Try to think outside the box for a minute. Try to think outside of what you’ve been told. Put yourself in your baby’s shoes.
I have a friend who grew up in one of the clans in the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. He said that nothing of the sort was ever practiced, and that the advice that a baby can be spoiled is nonsense. He also vehemently disagrees with people who suggest that babies with sleep problems ruin marriages. He says it is the parents who do not want to work at things and put forth effort to maintain marriage through hard time blaming the baby, hence making an excuse to justify subjecting a baby through crying it out and sleep training. He also says that babies who are nurtured and responded to every single time they een peep, they will grow up to be secure, independent adults. Heck, some of the men in his tribal clan have accomplished many great feats, and they were responded to and cosleep with parents. Something else he made not of is when parents follow a regimine and try to "train" their baby not responding to it’s cries, the opposite will happen. The baby will become more clingy and needy and feel depressed. That baby will obediently comply because he knows crying is useless, as it will only be ignored anyhow. I agree with him on all of this. What’s more, he would be an awesome resource since he has had a chance to observe both cultures–his and Americans. He had a few other choice words, but I’m not going to share them because I believe in taking a gentler approach. (I will explain why in a second when I talk about cry it out sleep training and why I hate it so much.)
Secondly, I’d find someone I can really trust. Talk to them about how you parent and what your baby’s routine is like. I’m a staunch advocate for attachment parenting, so I’d find someone who is an attachment parent, or at least supports those beliefs, to watch my child. Naturally, we would not really want someone who is contrary to us to parent our children.
Personally, I think a child at the age of yours should not sleep in a crib. It is very dangerous to sleep alone because many things can happen. The baby could get hung up in the bars by his feet. His head can get stuck in the bars. Not to mention, SIDS can brought on by forcing a baby to sleep alone before it can do so safely without have to scream itself to sleep. I strongly suggest that you try cosleeping. This way, he has your closeness, he doesn’t have to feel alone. Not to mention, keeping the baby close reduces the chances of crib death–dying in the crib. (People think it is dangerous to have baby sleep in the bed with you, but notice that the cause of death has been labeled "Crib Death," Not adult bed death. Something to think about.) Crib death can occur even if the blankets are eliminated because by the way babies were created, they were never meant to sleep all on their own despite what some professionals tell you. Thankfully, it is being discovered that babies should not be left to their own devices during sleep, especially ones that are younger than six months. Having a very small babe sleeping in that big crib is very dangerous. I’ve coslept with every baby I’ve cared for. I don’t trust a baby to be all on their own. My maternal instincts don’t allow it. But, I do establish a bedtime routine based on the babies cues, not based on sleep training advice, which is what I’m going to touch on next, and yes, it does all fit together for your situation.
Also, if you are using the CIO sleep training method, which stands for crying it out, he falls asleep anxious because he thinks you’ve abandoned. Two month olds do not have the object permanence to reason that their crib is a very safe place and that mommy is in the next room. When they are left in there all alone, they think you are never coming back. I never get any pretty images to mind when I hear the words, "sleep training." I cringe.
Check out how mammals raise their young. I have the opportunity to do this because I’m a regular hunter. For hours, I can sit and listen to how animals interract with one another. When a young mammal animal is separated from his mother for even a second, he cries out. Babies do the same. It is for survival. They are mammals, too, and cry to have mother find them. When they are left in their crib to cry to sleep, they are not only frightful but are scared and anxious and in a panic. When falling asleep like that, that can’t be good. I know that when I go to sleep crying because of a bad circumstance, such as when four friends died last year all within a very short period, I found myself on the floor completely out of the bed. This could be it. I think we over intelectualize things too much. I personally like the way tribal people and cultures we think to be uncivilized but are not’s way of raising children. They go with their instincts and watch their children’s cues. They do not "train" their babies. We are not "trained" in adulthood, we have our own schedules, we eat when we like, and have routines that calmly get us to sleep every night. We don’t fall asleep at night feeling scared and anxious. Babies should be treated the way we’d like to be treated in this regard. If this is done, they will be less restless in sleep.
Now, I’m not downing you or judging you. Please don’t ever think that. I really want to help you out and give you something to think over. Parenting is very hard, and we are given so much advice. All I can say is just to think about my insight and see if it helps you. You are a beautiful mother to be concerned about your daughter. That shows that you really love and care about her. Way to go! You are freaking awesome!
For even more insight into how to help a baby sleep in a way that is better for the both of you, check out these sights:
http://www.parentingfreedom.com
http://www.continuum-concept.org
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/bonding/connection.html
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/t070700.asp
http://www.breastfeeding123.com/why-sleep-training-makes-me-want-to-cry/
http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/pinky_mckay.html
Mama, if there is anything more I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Take care of yourself, and keep being the wonderful mother you are. You’re beautiful.
P.S. to the mother that said that it would be so hard to let the baby cry, it absolutely will. This is because it is not natural in the least bit. When following advice to "train" your baby, you are not only denying it some of his basic needs, you are ignoring your instincts as a mother, which God has given you. Women have been soft wired for a purpose. This purpose is to be responsive to our children, not ignore them. Our softness is there for a reason, not because we are ruining our babies and creating monsters. It is there so we can feel empathy for our babes. Note what Jean Liedloff says in her book, The Continuum Concept, happens when a mother is persuaded by advice to "train" her baby and ignore her God-given instincts for the sake of "staying in charge" of her baby for its own good.
Read pages 60 through 64 for a very good explanation. I hope this helps, mamas.
Small toys maybe can attract her.You can try that. This is a process. Pay more patience. You can do that
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