Baby Lays Awake for Awhile Before Falling Asleep..

Hi T.,

Congrats on being a new mom! It sounds like you have an easy going baby. I say consider yourself lucky! I made the mistake of always either nursing or rocking my baby to sleep. She is now 7 months old and will not fall asleep without it. I know that you feel guilty that you should be in there with him, because I would feel that way too. It just means that you are a good mother. I say as long as he has a mobile or something to look at that he should be just fine. You can get those things that attach to the crib and make white noise and have little lights...I have one that looks like a fish bowl. It has soothing sounds and faint lights on it. Just so he's not staring at the wall, you know? Give him something to look at while he falls asleep.

You could try to push his bedtime back 15 minutes and see if he still falls asleep at the same time. Maybe you are putting him in there a tad too early. But I say if it aint broke don't fix it. He is healty and happy, right? It won't hurt him to lay in there until he falls asleep. You are lucky that he will do that. So many of us mothers have babies that will not put themselves to sleep. As one of those mothers let me tell you that it is exhausting to have to nurse or rock your baby to sleep every single night. It sounds like you are a good mommy that is doing a good job with your little boy! Don't feel guilty that you are not in there with him. You are NOT neglecting him by any means. Don't change his routine or you might regret it. I say as long as he has something to look at, he is just fine. Maybe try pushing bedtime back 15 minutes and see if that helps. Other than that....don't change a thing! Good luck to you!

Hey T.,

Don't feel guilty about a thing. Babies let you know what they need, and if he is happy, then you don't need to change a thing. Like you said, you have his routine set because of when he starts getting fussy, and it sounds like he does not start back up when you put him down in his crib, so I would say that you are doing what he likes.

Good job mama!
M.

Good God, let the baby fall asleep by himself. I say that in the most loving way. If he can fall asleep by himself now, then it will be easier on you later. You don't want him dependent on you to fall asleep. That could be a real nightmare later on down the road. Just enjoy that he is content for the moment to be by himself. That might not always be the case. :)

Mu suggestion is that you enjoy it! Many people will be envious of your situation. It is perfectly OK for him to lay and take in his new world by himself a bit each night. Enjoy these early years- they will go by fast.

Take it as a blessing. I soo wish my son was like that... I made the mistake of not just letting him be when he was content laying in his bed... I felt I had to be doing something with him ALL the time... and let me tell you as the mom of a now 19 month old... I regret that constantly... I started a habit/routine that has been terrible to get out of... we are making progress but it has been a long stressful road.

Leave him be, watch him in the monitor if you want... but take that time to relax when you can... and now that you are starting something that will be good for you and your child later on down the road. :) You are doing a great job!

Relax. You don't want to start any habits (good or bad) that you would later want to change. If the baby is not fussy then he's fine. Don't worry about it. You might want to put a musical toy on his crib and the music may help him sleep quicker. Or maybe one of those aquariums for on the crib. Something for him to watch and get tired enough to sleep.

No there is not a problem! That is exactly what you are supposed to be doing! If he was fed and changed before you lay him down, and he is safe - let him be! I wish I was so lucky, my kiddo cries himself to sleep and would never go down that early!

Keep this up!!! I had twins and at the time their room was upstairs so I had to do this. I would sit with both of them in my arms to get them settled down and then would carry them up and put them down still awake. And believe me this teaches them from the get go how to put themselves to sleep. We have never had any bedtime issues like some of the other stories I hear about. And as they get to be toddlers and you have an easy bedtime, you will be so thankful. Take it from someone who did this and has never and I mean never had any bedtime problems (they are 8yo now and we still don't have any problems) keep this up. Our bedtime now is 5 minutes, they potty, brush teeth, and give kisses and tuck them in and that's it and I am still thankful to this day to have this. Goodluck

Your baby sounds just like mine, and I was worried for exactly the same reasons! :) Actually, for his first two weeks I thought that I had to rock/sing/soothe him to sleep, and the kid did not sleep! Seriously, he would be up (during the day) for hours on end. At his 2 week appointment I asked the doctor about it, and he said "Have you tried just setting him down and leaving him alone?" I hadn't thought of that! But it worked--he'd lay in the crib just looking around for 30-40 minutes, sometimes more, and then go to sleep. He loved it when I put a mobile in. I think I had been overstimulating him before. About the bedtime, my baby is now 6 months old, and I still put him to bed between 6 and 7, and he sleeps till 7 am (getting up once to eat). I love having him go to bed early, so I can be with my husband and get things done in the evening. Plus, I've read they sleep better if you put them to bed earlier. So, you're doing great!

I think you're doing a great job! Sometimes babies actually need that quiet time to themselves to sort of decompress. It's a safe area for your baby without too much stimulation. I think it's great, and I would continue doing what you're doing. Your baby is happy and not fussing, and he's going to sleep. I think you're doing a great job!

Oh my heavens no! Do not change a thing!

Your instincts to put him down at 6:00 when he is fussing are right on target. You are definitely doing this right - if you put him down and he was screaming (which is the mistake so many parents make), then that would mean he is overtired and too wound up to fall asleep on his own.

Think about how you fall asleep - do you fall asleep the minute your head hits the pillow or do you spend some time winding down and relaxing before you drift off to sleep. It is highly likely that this is just his form of 'winding down' for the evening and he likely feels so comfortable that he is able to self-soothe to sleep. Many women would die to have such a content baby!

It is absolutely okay for him to lay there before he drifts off to sleep - whatever you're doing during the day to make him feel so marvelously secure is paying off! No need for you to rush in there and change what seems to already be a successful and peaceful pattern.

Remember, you are taking care of HIS needs not YOUR needs. If his needs include having some downtime on his own to fall asleep, then respect that.

Enjoy it and consider yourself blessed (which you are as a new mommy). If he isn't bothered by it then go for it! I hope he continues to go to bed easily! :)

I am a mother of 3 (ages 7, 5 & 2) and remember having my first child. Don't feel silly about asking these questions, it's always better to ask then to worry. Each of my kids had a different bedtime routine. My daughter (which is my oldest) had to be rocked to sleep and didn't fall asleep on her own until she was 13 months old and then it took letting her cry it out. My youngest gets put in his crib awake and falls asleep on his own. If your son isn't fussy when he gets put down, then that's how he prefers it. You should feel very lucky that he is like this, it doesn't sound like you have anything else to worry about.
Hope this helps.

I think that is wonderful. There are too many kids overstimulated and can't do what your baby is doing. ANd if this continues you will probably have a child who is easy to put to bed when he is older. What a blessing. There are so many moms that have the opposite problem. DO not feel like you have to spend every waking moment stimulating your child. That where guilt comes in and where guilt there is stress and no rest. Enjoy.

He sounds like an angel :) Congrats! I would let him lay there because he is learning to put himself to sleep without you. Sometimes babies (like adults) just need some time to come down. That is why he is fussing at 6pm because he wants a break. If he is content, that is all that matters. Also, kudos to you that he feels content and secure enough at 11 weeks to put himself down without extra attention. Babies who need you by them to sleep have a really hard time letting this habit go. I should know my son is 4 and still needs me by him to fall asleep. My oldest was a great sleeper and didn't require me to fall asleep. I wish I would have enjoyed this quality more instead of always giving into the guilt. You are not crazy. Mother's guilt is powerful!

wow! lucky you! as long as he seems content and is not crying then keep doing what you are doing. congratulations!

It's totally fine for him to lay there for that long as long as he is not crying hysterically. YOu might even want to put him down at 6pm when he first starts to fuss. My kids are 4,2, and 1 and they go to bed starting at 6 or 6:30 because I want them asleep by 7pm. My hubby and I enjoy the 3-4 hours of quiet we get in the evenings before we go to bed. :)

Best wishes,
M.

Yes, it is all right for him to lay there, alone, looking around. You aren't doing anything wrong.

You're training a great sleeper! Don't feel guilty!! When he's bigger you will be able to tuck him in and he will put himself to sleep. Believe me that is a great thing! Our toddler lays in bed for a while before falling asleep, too, and it is the sweetest thing now to hear him singing to himself or talking to his "lamby". You've got a good little boy!

Girl friend, be thankful you have a baby that enjoys being in his crib. My three threw a fit whenever I'd put them in bed for the night, you just have a very content child. Enjoy, be happy, and don't worry. Your baby is just fine...

If you want to rock and cuddle him, by all means do it!
Everyone will tell you they grow up so fast...it is true!
I'd be willing to give up sleeping again to have my son want to be cuddled. Overnight they become teenagers and they F***ing hate you because they have to follow the rules.
I sure wish I had taken more time to rock my son and not listened to those people who said
I was "spoiling him".

Oh you are a very lucky mommy. I know because I am too. My son, from a very young age of about 6 weeks, put himself to sleep. Everyone needs alone time, you, me, and your baby. If he is perfectly content the way he is, leave him be. YOu are a good mom who knows that when her child is fussy that it is time to go to crib.
You are allowing him to learn a very important lessonl self soothing and fallling asleep on your own.

it is perfectly all right to let him do that.it would help if you would put on some soothing type of music.like soft music or classical or if you like it gospel.K.

T.,

Try adjusting his bed time 10 minutes or so. There really doesn't seem to be a problem though. But if I were you, I would want every moment of his awake time to be with you. But be careful, if is really easy to create bad habits. :)

Oh, about changing him when he isn't crying, well that depends if he needs to be changed. Of course you don't want him to go to sleep in anything but a dry diaper. There will be times that he falls asleep, and will be hard to keep asleep if you have to relocate him and change him...so mom (or daad) always makes the executive decision when to change based on YOUR baby. :)

Everything is a phase with babies and children, so soon, it won't be so calm....there will be teething, nightmares etc... So soak up your sweet little baby!

Enjoy, & God Bless!

A.

This is just his way of relaxing. Count your blessings, but if you feel like holding him for a while before you put him in bed that is fine too. Only thing is, he might get into that habit and not be able to sleep without being held. That is much worse.

Wow, you are crazy lucky! I had to nurse mine to sleep, and have her sleep with me. She would NEVER fall asleep alone without crying. If your baby cries, it is important to go to him and comfort him. But if he is not in distress, and just takes awhile to fall asleep, be glad. Be very glad!

In my opinion- you are doing a fantastic job! It must be very hard to watch your little guy in there all by himslef, and the sweetie doesn't even cry. I would feel the same way. I think you are doing the right thing. You definately do not want to go in there and have him use you as a crutch to fall asleep. As get's older and becomes more aware he may not lay there quietly anyway. If you have to turn the monitor off that may help. I don't have a monitor so I have no idea how long my kids have laid there awake. Keep up the good work!