Need Help Getting 10 Month Old to Sleep Through the Night in Crib.

I couldn't let my little one cry it out all alone. I put a comfy chair in the room and sat with her. She finally learned to put herself back to sleep and I rarely have to go in and comfort her anymore. I read the Baby Whisperer and utilized the pick up put down in the beginning before she was really comfortable with the crib. Good luck!

I have a 6 week old son and this has worked for him so far. Put her in her crib while still drowsy, but awake. Do the bedtime routine and put her down without rocking her to sleep. I read that in a magazine recently and it also said to put them down for naps in their crib as well. The article said that will help them find ways to soothe themselves.

I have an 8 1/2 month old that is just now sleeping 8 hours in his crib. That is coming off waking every 2 hours. I too let him sleep in my bed out of convenience. I was against the cry it out methold but I was losing my mind with 7 months of not sleeping, so I tried it. My son is extremely stubborn so he has just now gotten it. The going in every so many minutes method made it much worse, so I would let him go for 45 - 1 hour (recommended by his dr.) before I would go in there. The first week or so was HORRID neither of us got much sleep, but eventually he got the point and he is finally sleeping in his bed. I put him down awake now and he cries for maybe 2 mintues and is out. If he wakes in the middle of the night I resist and let him cry and he usually goes back to sleep. I feel your pain, hang in there. Hope this helps!!!

You know, funny thing, my rocker broke. I was like you that I would bathe, feed, rock and put my boy to bed asleep. Well, the rocker just started this horrible squeaking then clicking and now I just can't use it. So I had to put him down awake some nights at first it was rough, but now he sleeps like a champ and loves going to bed. The first thing I had to do was relax. I was really stressed as bedtime approached and majorly chilling out was so important for me. Then like another mom said, I got a routine of brush teeth, bath, comfort nurse, then off to bed awake or asleep. That has worked for me. He did have a couple rough nights but now he is just fine. I know you mentioned that you go in and check her. Well with my son I would just have the baby monitor on and let him fuss for a while, and he stopped. Before, I would always go in after 10 minutes or so and the minute he saw me he would just wail so much louder. So finally I realized that my going in to comfort him was only making the process longer. So we just toughed it out a couple nights and like I said he is just an awesome sleeper. Now I can love on him and kiss him and put him down. It is so much better. I wish you all the best however you decide to handle things!

Hi A., I have a 5 year old daughter and 2 year old son. My daughter would wake up 3 or 4 nights a week every week until she was 4 years old. When I finally had enough she would cry sometimes for over an hour before going back to sleep. The reason is because I rocked her to sleep every night and every time she woke up at night I would go rock her or lay with her until she went back to sleep. Like many other moms below have said, you have to be strong. As long as she is safe in her crib you should let her cry it out. Obviously you need to go in there every so often to make sure she's okay. But after the first time if she doesn't need changing, feeding, no fever, etc. you should just go lay her down, cover her up and leave without talking to her. It will be very hard on you but take it from someone who lived through it for 4 years, the longer you give in to her the worse it will get. You both need your sleep but you have to let her learn to comfort herself enough to go back to sleep. Good luck!

As long as she is safe in her crib, I don't think there is a "too long" time frame. The important thing is to stand your ground. She's old enough to start learning how to fall asleep on her own. Unfortunately she has some old habits that need to be broken. Go in in steady increments to reassure her and leave. Each day you wait a little longer. The moment you give in, its just going to take longer and longer for her to "get it" and you would have let her cry for no reason. Babies need to be taught good sleeping habits, these are not instinctual. So start as you mean to go on. Make the point of teaching her and continue forward, she'll get it. Good Luck!

if you think she is crying to much rock her back to sleep ,but don't put her in your bed that will really be hard to break,sometimes just a little more milk will do the trick in her own bed
L.

A. -

I think your daughter is trying to tell you that she is not ready for sleeping all night in her crib - why aren't you listening?

Do you know that all the latest research - good, reliable research - shows that letting your child "cry it out" is not good for them? Go to www.askdrsears.com - you can learn a lot on their 30 years of experience and research on many topics for children and babies. They also have some excellent books out. They have been on the Dr. Phil show lately with all the debates over immunization safety - these are leading edge doctors and their website will help any parent, on any issue you could possibly have with your baby/child.

Why not allow her in your bed when she wakes - to make you both happy and get your sleep? She is only 7 months old. She needs to be able to count on you to help her when she cannot help herself yet. Your goal right now A., is to build trust with her - how can she trust you when you are leaving her to just fend for herself? Clearly if she is crying out that long, she cannot yet self soothe. You need to listen better, which will help you parent better and build her trust in you - a key factor for later! Give yourself a break. And, parent her on "your" terms and what "she" needs, not on societies out-moded and unhealthy ideas. This is about YOU and HER.

Alli

Let her cry, will be hard on you. Because you will want to stop the crying but she will get tired and fall asleep. Do this over and over if necessary may take at least a week. Just look in to be sure do not let her see you if possible.
Been there.

Hi, We got advice from a good baby pediatrician book and it worked. They said it is ok for them to cry and to let them cry for 20 minutes, then go in and give them their binky or rub their back but never pick them up. The first time he cried for exactly 20 minutes and then fell asleep. Sometimes we would let it go for 30 minute before going up there and after about a week he stopped crying altogether. Sometimes he wakes up at night and fusses, but they explained that babies will have bad dreams and not even know why they are crying and if it goes on for awhile to go in and calm them without picking them up. Now when we put him to bed he rarely fusses and goes right to sleep. He has learned he is there to sleep. It takes perserverance on our end, but if your daughter knows you will always take her to your bed she will expect it. It might take awhile to get her used to it but its worth it for you to get a good night's sleep.

Hi A.,

My son is not that old yet (6 months), so I'm not speaking out straight experience, but I can recommend a GREAT book, "The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer," by Tracy Hogg. She has a second book for older babies, I can't recall the name, but I would get them both. I think she is wonderfull, and writes about how to deal with your situation. I have implemented the techniques that she has outlined, and my son has been sleeping through the night for two months now. I can't tell you how much this book has helped me as a new mother. She recommends a technique that is called pick up/put down. You pick up your daughter and calm her, and then lay her back down, still awake, but calm. Repeat, and repeat, but it gets better each night. Please read, and good luck, stay strong!!

I was like you for a long time. I did what worked. At bed time we would sit in the recliner and I would rock her to sleep while I watched TV and then put her in the bed. This was out of my convenience b/c it was easy and worked. But like clockwork, she would wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to put herself back to sleep. Then one day it just dawned on me, if my daughter doesn't put herself to sleep to start why would I expect her to do it when she wakes up in the middle of the night. So, I started a nightly routine, bath time, snack, lay in bed and read 2 books and then lights out and I walk out of the room. Now, yes she cried, but for the first couple of nights I would stand outside her door and do increments go back in every 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, etc to reassure her that mommy was still there. The 1st night was hard, but she eventually went to sleep and I was right there. The 2nd night was a little easier and I'll tell ya, by day 4, she just got it. I didn't start this until 18 months, but I tell ya, next kid....definitely starting early!

Get the No Cry Sleep Solution for Infants by Elizabeth Pantley. You might as well get the one for Toddlers also. Both books address your issues. You will be sleeping through the night, with no crying and staying in her own bed in 1 week. BEST BOOKS EVER!

I just got my 10 month old in his crib for the first time. I did the same as you had him in the bed out of convinence. After 10 months I found out it is not. Basically... I went to him 2 times the first night and it was only making it worse so I just had to walk out and let him cry. I do not go to him at all cause he is already expecting me to get him. Some night he will cry for an hour on and off but mostly he cries for 15 mins if even that long. It was hard but try not to go in there at all if you can.. Also getting my 2 year old in his own bed and he also slept with us since 3 months old.. good luck

Hey A.,
My daughter is now 13 months old. She's my first and I kept letting her get in bed with me and take naps with me and everyone gave me a hard time because she didn't stay the whole night in her bed. Honestly sometimes she still doesn't if she wakes up and thinks it's time to play at 5am, I still put her in bed with me to try and get some extra sleep. When she wakes up earlier than that and won't go back to bed and cries i let her cry for 10 to 15 minutes, go comfort and hold then lay her back down. I usually have to repeat this process twice. Then she finally gets it . . . "Mommy's not going to take me to her bed I might as well go back to sleep here" After a night or two of this she doesn't cry for more than a few minutes before deciding to go back to sleep. Try that maybe it will work for you too.

I would say and hour is too long but letting her cry it out is good w/o you going into the room. If you can tell what type of cry it is, diaper, tummy or hunger then go by those but if it is none of those I would let her cry it out w/o you going in...that just wakes her up more. I would also try not rocking her to sleep and letting her put herself to sleep around the same time each night...start this now b/c it only gets harder. Hope this helps.

I just went through the exact same thing. The only thing I can tell you is what I have done, and it HAS worked wonders!! My 11 month old has finally starting sleeping in his crib - all night. My routine consists of bath, bottle and before he goes to sleep on that night bottle I take him to his crib give him his blanket (I think the blanket is the trick) and now I have been giving him a pacifier from the freezer because he is cutting molars, and it seems to help soothe him. But anyway, he grabs that blanket and immediately rolls over with it and he's out for the count. The first couple of nights were rough, he would cry and scream, I would check on him every few minutes, but eventually he would just go to sleep. I was ready to give up. I would cut the rocking before bedtime out of my routine if I were you. She has to learn how to put herself to sleep. I was a little freaked out about putting mine in his crib before he was asleep, but it works. I personally do not agree with the CIO method, but I would check on her every few minutes and just keep laying her back down. It may take some time, but she WILL eventually learn. As when she wakes up in the night, you should check on her, but do not pick her up! Maybe give her a pacifier, turn on a soother or give her a blanket to hold onto. Well I hope this helps. I usually never respond to most questions but I felt I had to share my experience because it's working!!!!Good luck!

Let her cry. Neither of my kids would sleep thru the night. I asked the doctor what to do with my first. He told me to put him in a separate room and let him cry. He said it should last between 30 min to 1 hr for 2 to 3 nights. He explained that babies like adults wake up in the middle of the night. Adults lay back down and go to sleep. Babies need to learn this behavior. If you continue to get up she will continue to cry because she is getting the desired response. I know it is hard but it is not only in your best interest but it is what is best for her.

I am not a fan of crying it out. Basically because my little one gets so upset she makes herself sick. When they're crying for an hour, I believe something's wrong. It could be her tummy.
My little girl had trouble sleeping alone too, but I found that a little meal (4oz of milk and tbsp of rice cereal) just before bed, a soother and some gripe juice calmed her enough to sleep through the night.
Good luck!
PS. Try not to bring her to your bed anymore...I know it convenient and believe me, I've been there, but a couple of nights of no sleep is worth the wait for her to sleep through the night.

Hi A.,

I was never able to let my daughter "cry it out", but I let her cry some. I asked the pediatrician, and she recommended letting her cry but go there from time to time, to check on her and let her know I am here for her. Little babies need comforting, my daughter was needing me, so I would tell her that I am here and will always be here for her, I would stay by her crib for a little while, she would get soothed and I would leave. Now she's 2, and all I have to say is "I am here and will always be here for you", and she immediately relaxes... It's cute really.

You may need to try different approaches to figure out what to do and what works for your baby. You have gotten lots of good advice from many moms already.

Good luck

A.