Suggestions on How to Get My 4-Month Old to Sleep in Her Crib

S.,
My son who is now 10 months old was the SAME way. I tried everything. The one and only thing that worked was sleeping him in a boppy. He would sleep all night and take wonderful naps in them. I just had the boppy in his crib and swaddled him up, layed him down and he would stay asleep. I think it was the feeling of having someone hold him that worked. Good Luck!

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It took my daughter some time to get used to her crib, but keep trying! If she would fall asleep in her carseat and/or bouncing seat I would put that in her crib so she would wake up in her crib. I also started to let my daughter CIO at 6 months; but you need to do whatever makes you comfortable. I would try to put her in her crib as much as possible and/or at least put her down asleep in the crib so she can get used to waking up in her crib. GOOD LUCK!!!

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S.,

Be patient. I had this problem too for quite sometime. My son (9 months now) wanted to sleep in my arms (or anyone else's for that matter) any chance he got. We started having him sleep in a pack n play in our room, which was difficult to do. I always had to remember he is still a baby and just wants to be near me. So you have to remind yourself of that also. I guess as a stay at home mom it is easier for me to say this because I had the time to let him sleep in my arms rather than in a pack n play or crib. He actually also slept in a small bouncy thing for 3-4 months next to my bed. My son actually did not start sleeping in his own actual crib, in his own room, until he was 8 months old. Some say that this could be wrong. But again we all have to do what works best for our situation, baby and family.

If you try short naps (in someplace other than arms) 1st and when she begins to cry just go to her and try to comfort her by rubbing her belly or some other comforting technique. That way she knows that you have not totally left her and she learns that you will always return if she needs you. Hopefully this will help her to realize that she needs to sleep someplace other than in someones arms. There were many nights when I just propped up the pillows and Cobey slept in my arms because that was the only way I was going to get any amount of sleep. Don't worry, it will get better. Some may tell you to let her "cry it out". But, you have to remember she is only 4 months old. I think that we expect quite a lot from little babies nowadays. But, you have to do what will work for you, your beautiful daughter and your family. Again, be patient and try to get rest any way you can at this point. I am a first time mom too and obviously nobody has a true answer for you but I can just give you information on my experience with our son. Best of luck to you!

D.

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My daughter slept in my arms or in a pack n play next to my bed from the day she came home from the hospital until she was about a year old. I went back to work when she was 12 weeks old, looking back I don't know how I did it but I did!

My daughter is a cuddle bunny, I love having her in my arms.
She is three and in her own room now... she has never cried it out... nor will she ever cry it out. I want her to know that even at night if she needs me I am there for her, unconditionally.

I have two neices that have grown from being tiny little babies into adults in about a blink. Cherish this time with your daughter, she will be only be little once.

Hi S.,

im sure you have probably tried this but i just wanted to suggest this just in case you haven't...

well i also have a 4 month old daughter and at night to get her to sleep we give her a bath...nice warm bath and she is out like a light for hours.

i hope u find a solution for you and your daughter.

Good Luck,
Lynn

My own daughter is also a 4 month old. I have done this a couple of times. I bundle my daughter with a blanket and support the area around her so she feels cozy and put her to sleep when she is drowsy and has all her needs met. diaper changed, feed well.
She sometimes get out of wack when she has been held a lot that day, but we also use a passy and when she is bundled the blanket holdsit in place a little so that she falls asleep and when she wants it can be spit out. Let me know what works for you. I have not yet place my daughter in large crib, because wakes in the night still and she has two older sisters she will be rooming with.

Not to worry....my son slept in his carseat for all sleeping for almost 8 months. He is an adjustable, brilliant 8 year old now. Put the carseat in the crib to ease some adjustment with surroundings.

I know it isn't probably the solution you are looking for...But have you tried a sling or another baby carrier? That way your baby could sleep, but you would be hands-free. AND when you are at work, whoever is taking care of her, could use the sling and she would nap, and they would be hands-free. Just one suggestion. Good luck whatever you do! :)

S.,
My children are 18 a brand new marine, and 15. I am a nanny and work for two different families. The first thing is you need not be so stressed over this. Babies can feel this stress and it might be adding to the problem. You say she falls asleep in a car seat, I would bring her in from car and place car seat inside of crib. Another trick that might work is I would also but a pair of your pajama's that you have already worn in the crib with her. They will have your scent on them and this might comfort her. Good luck and sweet dreams little one. tt

S., my little guy was the exact same way. I had to go back to work when he was 12 weeks old and knew that me going to work as a zombie with no sleep was not going to work. I finally made a decision to try to let him cry it out and it worked! I know that this sounds harsh and it was the hardest thing I've ever done, so many times I wanted to run up and rescue him... but thanks to my mother I did not. He used to only sleep in his swing or my arms until that point. It took the first night of him crying two different times for about a half an hour each time and then the second night only one time for half an hour. He has slept through the night ever since!!! I know that this doesn't work for everyone, but it really saved me! My son is such a sleeper now and still loves his crib! He's 2 1/2 years old and still takes pretty good naps and I hardly ever get woken up during the night unless he's sick! Good luck to you! We've all been there, I feel your pain-- just hopefully you'll find what works best for you.

Hi S.,
My daughter was the same way. I would often just let her sleep in her stroller until I was given a bassinet. And then it was suggested to me (when she was too big for the bassinet) to somehow make the crib sleeping space smaller. I ended up getting a port-a-crib from my grandparents and then put a quilted liner along the sides (it looked like a regular crib only smaller) and added stuffed animals as well. She seemed to like sleeping in confined spaces. Eventually she grew out of it and was soon sleeping as she should. The problem with it is, we did have to let her cry for nearly a whole night once just to get the point across to her that she can't sleep with Mommy and Daddy. It was a long night, and thankfully didn't have to go through it a second time.
I hope that helps. My daughter is 16 now and she and I have a very tight knit relationship. She survived the training....and still loves me :o)