First off my 3 month old likes to be swaddled still but only while shes sleeping. So when she was 2 months we were doing great. I was swaddling, then nursing, then putting her down awake but drowsy and she fell asleep. Well that slowly merged into swaddling and now nursing her to sleep. So I have to break the nursing to sleep. I have tried to let her cry but I wont let her cry longer then 10-15minutes without going in there to calm her down. Then she can cry again but not longer then 10-15minutes. So my question is do I swaddle her and let her cry? I just want to give her the option to suck her thumb if she wants ( shes not a thumb sucker, refuses a paci ) but if she wanted to soothe herself and she was swaddled would she be able to? If you suggest I don't swaddle her then which habit do I break first, swaddling or nursing to sleep. Or do I take them both away at once. She is being weaned from nursing btw. I also started to watch another baby at home and I can't leave them alone for to long to go and be with her.
Well, I cant give you any advice because my 10 month old is an awful sleeper...and I just cant break the habits. BU, it does look like the crying it out method doesnt work for you and/or you really just dont like it. In that case, I would reccommend joining the group Sleep Issues--non cry it out. They are really great women, and have been very helpful in giving me alternitive methods to getting my baby to sleep. I know one of them will have some suggestions!!
You can try swaddling her but leave her arms out. When my DS was born he had to be swaddled nice and tight. Then one day he just started fighting my DH and I for his arms. He wanted his arms out but when we would lay him down he would flail his arms so we would wrap him back up, he would just pull his arms out on his own and wake up.. over and over. Then he just found his thumb and all was better. Now we can lie him down drowsy and he puts himself to sleep. You do want to break the habit of her falling asleep while eating soon though because it will just get harder as she gets older. I do let my son cry sometimes, but most of the time its just like a little whining. If it turns into a full out cry I always go and get him. Well, good luck!
My son had to be swaddled for the first couple of weeks and than he was just done with it. He would cry when I would do it. Than he found his hands. After that I put him in his crib with his music and he goes to sleep. I'm pretty lucky he sleeps through the night about 12 hours. I know don't hate me!
Pooped
- ribbons4curls
on Oct. 3, 2008 at 10:56 AM