Putting baby to bed - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

E1979 · 10-08-2007, 11:46 AM

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I have made a post. My DS is now 3 months old and sleeps well once you get him to sleep. But getting him to sleep is sometimes very difficult. He fights it tooth and nail! I have been hearing and reading that I should be putting him down drowsy but not asleep. But that doesn't work for us. He wont go to sleep on his own, he needs to be walked to sleep. I am expecting too much from a 3 months old? To be able to put himself to sleep?
Any tips or advice or similar experiences would be great!
Take care
Erin

liloulou · 10-08-2007, 12:14 PM

I think if he's sleeping well once you get him down you're already going great at 3 months old! Really, I noticed a big shift in my DD development around 4-5 months which allowed her to then go to asleep tired and drowsy, but without the added assistance of us rocking her or laying down with her.
I think keep trying whatever your method is, but don't expect anything great until she "gets it". I don't know if 4-5 months is typical for babies, but there is a milestone they hit and then understand what going to bed on their own means.
Good luck.

baj406 · 10-08-2007, 12:20 PM

I understand what you're saying. My DS sleeps best anywhere EXCEPT his crib, LOL. He's also 3 months old. I think it's because we let him nap in our bed and what not, which is softer. Anyway, DH (when he's home, he's @ sea right now) will cuddle with him, stroke his head and talk quietly until he is VERY drowsy. Then we take him over to his crib or playpen, wherever we want him to sleep and make sure that he KNOWS that we've put him down. We sometimes have to repeat this process for him to finish falling asleep but it REALLY does work. Another thing you might try is using baby oil or lotion w/ lavender and massaging him as part of your bedtime routing. DS absolutely LOVES to have his legs and feet rubbed. Just remember that however you get him to go to sleep, keep it consistent. That's what helps them to REALLY "get it."

LauraLu · 10-08-2007, 08:47 PM

I agree with the previous poster. My daughter also sleeps better after she's had a bath and lotion (lavendar is great!). I don't always get to it every night because unfortunately, sometimes mommy just gets too busy, but it really helps. Good luck!

WhiskersOnKittens · 10-09-2007, 12:25 AM

Hi there,

I was just about to post a VERY similar story! My ds is 5 months old, and for about a month or so now he absolutely fights sleep just about EVERY nap time, and at bed time, no matter where he is. He screams and cries, and pulls at his ears (which is also somewhat a concern of ours, however we've been told by the dr. that there is no infection

), no matter what I do--sitting, standing, walking, rocking, anything... It has become such a chore to get this child to sleep, I too am just about at my wit's end... Most often, I just end up letting him CIO which I do not like, but I do it when I know that the problem is that he's just tired and cranky.
We moved him from the bassinette in our room to his crib at about 3 and a half months and he made the transition beautifully, with no problems at all. We'd put him down drowsy (for a nap, or for bed), and he'd be asleep within 5 minutes, no problem. But that only lasted about a month and a half and now for some reason he's reached a stage where he just hates to go to sleep. It really makes going out anywhere difficult if he will be tired because he doesn't like to sleep in his stroller, or carseat (or anywhere for that matter...). So anyways, I really am not sure what to do here (obviously, lol)--sorry! I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem. I've also tried getting him into a routine (actually, he seemed to sleep better when there was no real "routine", but now that there is one and by the way, it's not much of one--it consists of feeding him a bottle in the glider with only his night light on at bedtime, and putting him to bed) however it doesn't usually make a difference (unless he falls asleep while he's eating). And also like yours, my ds sleeps very well once he's asleep.
I really hope that you can get some good advice that will work for your ds though! I feel your pain.

Whiskers