DH and I had this huge argument last night about letting DS cry in his crib. He's 4 weeks old today and I've been working for the entire 4 weeks on getting him to sleep more at night and less in the day. At first he was a day sleeper and it would take hours to get him back to bed at night. Usually what I do is when he wakes up at night I leave him in the crib for about 5 min. while I get his bottle ready and turn the T.V. on, (for light). I try to make feeding all business so he gets used to nighttime being a time for quiet and sleeping. It's been working really well and now he gets up usually once or twice and he goes back to sleep within an hour as opposed to the 2-3 it used to take.

DH thinks I'm terrible for leaving him to cry in his crib for the 5 min it takes me to make his bottle. He thinks I should go and get him and comfort him while the bottle is getting ready. My concern is that while I'm "comforting" him he's going to think something interesting is going on and he'll take forever to get back to sleep. He quite often fights sleep when something interesting happens and that makes him cranky, (he is tired!) and even harder to get to sleep.

He's going to cry whether in the crib, out here in one of his chairs or even if I'm holding him because he wants the bottle and that isn't ready yet anyway! Is it that bad to leave him in his crib?

That is exactly what I have done with both my babies!

Oh my gosh. 5 minutes is nothing. Don't feel bad. Besides, if you try to make the bottle while comforting him, it will probably take 3 times as long. If hubby is concerned, maybe he should comfort him while you are making the bottle ;)

you're doing great, once your baby is 12lbs or 2-3 mo, you can teach him to sleep through the night, especially if you formula feed. As I mentioned on other threads you can get the no-cry sleep solution book on e-bay for great tips. I think your hubby is just irritated that he can't sleep while baby is crying, get him to help.

Oh my gosh. 5 minutes is nothing. Don't feel bad. Besides, if you try to make the bottle while comforting him, it will probably take 3 times as long. If hubby is concerned, maybe he should comfort him while you are making the bottle ;)
I FEEL THE same if your husben doesn't like it then he can help :D .I do the same thing still and my son is 4 months old.

Well if your hubby knows that the baby is crying then obviously he is there and can hear the baby, so why can't he comfort the baby in a dark room so as not to stimulate him just to soothe him while you get the bottle ready!! What is it with hubbies!!! Mine is getting better since I told him that I can't take it if he won't help(sort of more aggressively than that)!! He seems to be helping a lot better. I hope this situation gets better for you.

I don't think there is anything wrong with getting the bottle ready when he fusses, but I do think that trying to get a 4 week old into better sleeping habits is a waste of time. I am sure people will disagree with me, but that is way too young to teach them anything. If it makes you feel better, than go right ahead. But at this age, they do what they please, and as long as they are comforted, they will fall into their own groove, it does get better I promise! And give DH a kick the next time he has a comment like that!