How do you get baby down for naps?

Frumom ↓

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 11:34 am

Whats the easiest, best method? My boy is outgrowing the swing and thats been the easiest way so far.
Sometimes he nurses to sleep, but now its less and less. He falls asleep in his carseat a lot, but he's gonna outgrow that soon too. He screams too much in the crib and only rolls over one way and then gets upset so I end up taking him out.
Rocking him just gets him more upset, the pacifier works once in a while, but usually only when he's in his swing or carseat.

So, experienced moms, what can I do??

girlsmom ↓

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 1:25 pm

With my oldest I had that problem once I stopped nursing. Nursing always put her to sleep but when I stopped (She was 4 months old - I was pregnant) I had to figure out a way to get her to take naps. I would try to get her really calm and then put her in her crib. in the begining she would cry but I wouldnt take her out. I wouldnt leave the room either though. I would hold her hand through the crib bars. it took less than a week and she learned to put herself to sleep and now (shes 18 months) its a pleasure to put her to sleep at night and for naps.

Meema2Kids ↓

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 1:31 pm

I don't think it's necessarily easy to teach your baby to go to sleep on its own. You have to be patient.

I did something similar to girlsmom. With each of my kids, since they were about 2 weeks, I'd put them down sleepy but not asleep. I would sooth them first then lay them down then comfort them while they were in their bed. The soothing eventually becomes their cue that it's time to sleep. A couple of mine also had to fuss a little on their own before they fell asleep (I mean fuss, not scream).
For example, my baby now, I hold her and pat her back, then lay her down and cover her snugly, then pat her back some more and leave her (tummy sleeper). (Another of mine, I would sing to soothe him.) If she fusses I generally leave her but I can tell if she is just going to keep crying so I pat her back some more. And keep going back as much as I need to and pat her back. Now usually I can just leave her, she fusses for under a minute and then falls asleep (BLI AYIN HARA!!!!!). It also helps that she's gotten the hang of sucking her thumb.

↑ girlsmom ↓

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 1:34 pm

Quote:

It also helps that she's gotten the hang of sucking her thumb

Howd you get her to do that? My older daughter takes a pacifier but my younger one refuses one and I want her to have something to comfort herself.

amother

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 1:47 pm

Quote:

With my oldest I had that problem once I stopped nursing. Nursing always put her to sleep but when I stopped (She was 4 months old - I was pregnant)

that must have been really hard for u and your baby! how was it for ure baby to be poreg when she was so young?

↑ girlsmom ↓

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 1:51 pm

Quote:

Quote:

With my oldest I had that problem once I stopped nursing. Nursing always put her to sleep but when I stopped (She was 4 months old - I was pregnant)

that must have been really hard for u and your baby! how was it for ure baby to be poreg when she was so young?

easier than I thought it would be since she was young enough that I didnt have to run after her and she let me rest during the day since she took naps. much easier than the stage shes in now. took some time to get her used to formula though

↑ Meema2Kids

Fri, Mar 17 2006, 2:41 pm

Girlsmom - how old is your younger daughter? My oldest didn't start sucking her fingers until 4 mos (and didn't stop until 4 yrs!). The younger ones, anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. They all did it on their own, although if I saw them trying I would help them keep it in.

I gave up on the pacifiers after the first because the older kid(s) always grabbed it from the baby.

queen

Sat, Mar 18 2006, 8:32 pm

Tonight is the first of our "sleeping in crib campaign" and it isn't easy. Could use some ideas as well.

Firstly- Meema- sounds like you have it down pat, however for frumom and me... our babies are 5/6 months old, and only NOW trying to introduce the crib. Our babies are old enough to notice their surroundings plus have gotten used to being rocked to sleep. (at least mine!)

Hoping to hear from more mothers how they did it.

shoy18

Sat, Mar 18 2006, 8:36 pm

when my son was about 3-4 monthes we gave him a blankee, a little tiny one, and put it by his side every time he napped and slept and after a while he found it soothing to have it and it helped him go to sleep because he saw it and new it was sleep time. Now he is 19 monthes kh and still sleeps with it everynight and he goes to sleep with out a peep most nights, this has been going on since 5 months old.

nehama

Sun, Mar 19 2006, 7:47 am

Queen - where did your baby sleep until now?
My baby sleeps in my bed, and I have trouble sometimes getting her to nap when I'm not sleeping with her.
I let her fall asleep on me, and only then put her down and pat her back till she is really sleeping. My husband's trick is to hold her arms close to her so she feels secure and feels like she's being held.