Hi my name is Fara and I have a 6mnth old daughter named Savanna. Ever since she was born she rarely slept because she was so sick, She is now so much better and I thought she would sleep more. During the day she takes about ten to 15 minute catnaps and she still wakes up twice or more through out the night. The other problem that I have is she will only fall asleep if she is being held and rocked. She could be out like a light but once I put her down she awakens. Everynight I give her a warm bath and put on her bedtime lotion and give her a full bottle and put on her lulluaby cd and and rock her to sleep but it doesn't always work. I just need some advice on how to get her to take naps and to sleep longer and more peaceful. The other thing is that she is not a self soother whatsoever. She constantly wants to be held and I can't get much done throughout the day. If I put her in her bouncer swing playmat etc. She is okay for a moment but then she screams bloody murder if i don't pick her up right away, Once I do she can't be put back down... I really need some help... I appericate any advice.. Thank you so much.
Fara
you could try putting a blanket around her completly when you are rocking her so she isnt exactly touching you so when you lay her down she is still snug and warm...sometimes the baby bed is kinda cold compared to being against mommy. as for playing on her own. try setting down and playing with her for a few minutes then getting her to play by herself with you setting there watching then slowly start moving back. most the time they just think we are leaving them especially babys that have mom with them all the time. independence is hard thing to learn for anyone including adults. make sure her toys are ones that she doesnt need your help playing with. put music on while she is playing so if you do get the chance to get up the noise of you moving isnt as noticable. plus always praise her for doing something on her own so she knows that you are proud of her and she can do those things. it will get easier keep your head up.
"She constantly wants to be held and I can't get much done throughout the day. If I put her in her bouncer swing playmat etc. She is okay for a moment but then she screams bloody murder if i don't pick her up right away, Once I do she can't be put back down... I really need some help... I appericate any advice.."
I am in a similar boat. One thing I can recommend for the day is to "wear" your baby in a wrap, sling or carrier. This helps with my son greatly and I can also get some things done. sometimes if I wear him for awhile, he will le t me put him down for an hour or so. Do you use a pacifier. this also helped us.
My daughter only wanted to be held for naps as well and at night she only slept in her swing. I started trying to put her down for naps a little over a month ago. We started a nap routine. I make sure she has a clean diaper, I swaddle her using The Miracle Blanket (the only swaddle she couldn't break out of), give her a bottle, rock her until she is very sleepy, and then transfer her to her crib on a sleep wedge. I also have a sound machine and room darkening curtains in her room. At first she would wake up right when I put her down. I would pick her up and rock her back to sleep and put her down again. If she cried again, I did the same thing. It was a tiring and frustrating process, and some days it still is, but now she will sleep anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours in her crib for 3 naps a day. Sometimes I still have to go up and rock her back to sleep when she wakes up. I didn't want to try the cry it out method, and I'm happy to say this worked for me. Now, we use a similar routine at night, and she sleeps in her pack n play in our room as well.
I've also read about warming the crib with a heating pad before putting baby down or getting blankets out of the dryer to make it cozier.
Good luck! I know it's frustrating, but I think if you pick something and stick to it, you may see success!
I know what you mean and I have a 5 month old girl and seems she is like your baby.
She is taking naps of 10-30 mins rarely 2hrs. I breastfeed and she fells asleep while a breastfeed her, I then wait for 10 mins or longer and then leave, she will sleep until she moves and she is awake again. At night she will fall asleep or wake up a little and go back to sleep on her own. She is sleeping with us and I want to transition her into the crib now. I know it will be hard but I wanna do it.
I don't know what to do about these naps.
Please help me get my baby to sleep. I'm loosing my mind!
- SavannasMom0828
on Mar. 8, 2010 at 11:46 PM