My 5 month old DD won’t sleep in her crib. We can get her to fall asleep in her crib but she wakes up screaming (not just a cry but a bloodcurdling full on scream). She’ll do this about every hour unless we put her on the couch next to us or in her bouncy chair next to the crib. In the chair, she’ll sleep for 5-7 hours. When she does wake up screaming, she’s not able to soothe herself to sleep, nor are we able to calm her down with out picking her up, giving her a paci, and/or feeding her. At the same time, the pediatrician said we shouldn’t be feeding her during the night any more, so we are trying to eliminate a 3 am feeding by cutting the amount down each night. Our daughter is perfectly healthy other than not sleeping or liking her crib.
My husband and I both work so the lack of sleep is really hitting us hard! It's affecting work and every aspect of our life. Any thoughts, tips, suggestions? The three of us are all tired.
M.,
My son slept in a baby swing or his car seat until age 2 1/2 for the same reasons. We didn't sweat it. When he was about 2 1/2 he asked to us to take his mattress out of his crib. He started sleeping on the mattress on the floor til we got him a regular bed a few months later. He still sleeps all night in his bed at age 7. Just give him time. You may want to check out naturalparenting.org
Hi M.
If she is only 5 months old and wakes up to eat, feed her. She's hungry. She may be going through a growth spurt and needs the extra food. She'll grow out of eating in the middle of the night. As far as sleeping in her crib, try to put her in her crib during the day first before putting her in the crib at night. It also may be that she'll be able to sleep better on her tummy instead her back. Or you may want to rearrange the furniture in her room. Sometimes that helps. My son started to get night terrors at 4 to 5 months and it was awful. He would literally scream at the top of his lungs several times during the night. It helped to just hold him even though not a lot of things soothed him. What finally made a difference was when we gave him a plush animal to take into the crib with him. We tried out a few before we saw that he really liked one that my mom had sent him. Once he had it in the crib with him, the night terrors subsided slowly. We also bought him a Fisher Price Rainforest crib toy. It was a bit pricey new - but so worth it. It shines a soft blue light on him when he turns it on during the night and plays some really soothing sounds and music. He loves it. Now when he wakes up during the night and is unable to go back to sleep, he turns on the crib toy and takes his kitty in his arms and is back asleep in a few minutes.
I don't understand why pediatricians tell people that their child shouldn't be eating during the night after 4 months. If your child wakes up in the middle of the night and is hungry...FEED THEM! It won't last forever! Does she fall asleep with a paci? If so, maybe she's spitting it out in her sleep and then waking up when she realizes it's not there. I know it's not really good for kids to sleep in a bouncy seat, but I say if it isn't broke, don't fix it! :D Although, eventually she'll get too big for the seat. It's a tough dilemna. How long have you been trying to get her to sleep in her crib? Where does she nap? If she naps in her seat or swing, put her in her crib for naps. Have you thought about putting the crib in your room for a couple of weeks? Maybe that will help ease her anxiety. Or possibly using a mobile? Or a white noise machine? Just some thoughts. I hope you all get some good sleep soon!
i have no idea why pediatricians continue to give such poor outdated advice. if your baby is hungry then feed her there should not be limitations based on age. you know what is best for your baby not a pediatrician. my daughter still nurses through the night and is almost 9 mos. do you go to her immediately when she wakes up? it's much easier to calm a waking baby then a hysterical one. also, i wouldn't worry about her not sleeping in her crib. my daughter never has. if you're not opposed to co-sleeping i would try bringing her to bed with you and hopefully you will all sleep better. good luck!
Hi M.
I have never been told that i shouldnt feed my baby and if i was ever told that i would tell them to take a leap LOL.. any way shes 5months old i agree with the growth spurt.. i have a 6 month old that still wakes at night to eat.. as far as the crib issue where does she tke most of her naps and sleep most of the time?? she may not like to crib mattress as it is to hard she may just be one of those picky babies that like soft mattresses to sleep on i had one of those. she always slept with us for the most part and or i had a blanket folded in her crib for her to sleep on ...
good luck
L.
Hi M. -
My daughter wouldn't sleep on her back by about 3 months and would startle herself awake constantly. I had to put her to bed on her stomach for her to sleep well so I just thought I'd offer that if you're still putting your daughter to sleep on her back? Is she able to roll over? No offense meant if she's been rolling over for months, it's just the only thing I could think of!
Good luck,
E.
