How Do I Get My 5 Month Old to Sleep in His Crib? - Queen Creek,AZ

I would stop nursing him in bed. Do you have a chair or rocking chair nearby. I know you are tired but nursing in the chair would be better. He is probably used to being near you and now is using you and your body for warmth and comfort. Not at all a bad thing if you are into co-sleeping but it sounds like you are not. After you put him back in the crib if he wakes up screaming then pat him and talk softly, tell him it's ok and let him try to comfort himself. If he just fusses wait a couple of minutes to see if he can put himself back to sleep. Depending on his size and weight he might not be ready to go the whole night without feeding. My daughter was 8 or 9 months before I weaned her of night feedings. I tried the cry it out method and it did not work for us. My daughter would get so upset that she would projectile vomit all over the crib and room plus it broke my heart. For me this is not a way for a child to figure out how to soothe themselves. Find a method that works for you and stick with it. Children thrive on schedules and if you are firm in your methods it will work out.

Story of my life with all 3 of my children. The first 2 i was a SAHM but for the third i worked 60+ hours a week and I was too tired to let him sleep with me anymore. I finally after he was 10 months old, gave in and after trying all other things, I gave the "cry it out method" (for the 3rd time with this child) and it worked. The problem is I felt like such a bad mom that I couldn't take the incessant crying. Istarted with naptime- I just had to let him cry for 1/2 an hour and then went back into his room, and in a firm but not angry or yelling voice I told him "you are a tired little boy and you need to go to sleep in your big boy bed. Now I am going to lay you down and you WILL go to sleep. I love you and goodnight." he then cried as I walked out but just before I shut the door I repeated "I love you but you are tired now go to sleep." and it worked. He then slept for 3 hours! After 2 weeks we moved onto bedtime and after the first night of crying for an hour (every 1/2 hour I checked on him with the same statements) and he slept through the night by the third night. He is now 17 months old and when you ask him if he's ready to go to sleep in his big boy bed he grabs your hand and practically runs to his bedroom! It was hard and it hurt me to hear him cry but it did work. I think it will only work if you are firm with yourself first. With my girls I felt no real need to make them cry when they could just sleep with me. This was just something that I was determained to make happen this time. Keep in mind that at 5 months and nursing he will more than likely need to feed at least once throughout the night. Also, I switched from breast to pacifier BEFORE he was asleep-trades his "comfort thing" from you to the pacifier.

My daughter still sleeps with me because I'm a single mom and I have the space, but she does sleep through the night and has since she was 3 months (now 8 months). My advice is nurse right before bed...put your son to sleep and that's it. Even if he wakes up console him back to sleep but do NOT feed him. He will adjust his eating and eat enough during the day to compensate for not eating at night. It will be rough but he is young enough that it should not take more than a few days to make the switch.

Sorry I can't be more help getting him to sleep in his crib (I love cuddling up to my daughter at night), but this method of getting my daughter to sleep through the night was recommended by my pediatrician as soon as she doubled her birth weight and it really worked.

M., Congrats on your baby boy and recognizing how important and wonderful it is to breastfeed him. First, I think you have to ask yourself how important it is right now for your baby to sleep in a crib. Is it because the books say he should or friends/relatives think he should, or is it compromising your sleep or having some other negative effect? There's no real right and wrong when it comes to this part of parenting so you have much freedom to do what is best for you and your family. If the latter reasons are the case, consider nursing him in a chair instead of in bed and then always put him back in his crib after you feed him. He eventually will adapt to this new routine. As for sleeping the whole night in his crib, just give it time. My first 2 kids didn't sleep through the night until after 18 months. Contrary to what the books and people say, this is normal for many kids (research says 33% of all toddlers/preschoolers wake once or more a night). Parenting is an inexact science. Best wishes. R., midwife mom of 2

When you place him in the crib, place his head in the corner of the crib with his head up against the bumper. This will give him some comfort.

I also agree with the mom that says if he wakes up after only 2 hours, give him a few minutes of crying, then go in and pat his back or bottom.. Not a spanking, but little pats that make almost a rocking movement. Use soft tones and tell him, sleep ,sleep. Do not turn on lights once you put him down for the night, even changing his diapers only use a night light and do not speak to him..

He will get the hang of it..

When I decided it was time for my 6-month daughter to sleep through the night, I did several things. First I warned my husband to buy earplugs! Then I put her in the crib and I let her cry. All night long. I was up, nervously wandering the hallways of my house, waiting for her to sleep out of sheer exhaustion, which eventually she did about 3 a.m. But I only had to do this once and she never cried again when I put her down in her crib.

By the way, she is now 25 and a GREAT sleeper! I never put up a sign that said "Quiet, baby sleeping". We had macaws that squawked all day. I vacuumed while she was sleeping. I wanted her to be able to sleep through every-day noise, and she can. Being able to sleep through noise helped her get through college, too.

Don't think you're a bad mom by sticking to your guns. You have to pick your battles, and this is one you must win. Otherwise you'll be up every night for a very long time. And you need AND DESERVE your rest, too.

Hi! Im so happy to hear your baby boy is happy and healthy! I have a 6 month old little girl and understand what you are talking about. When I had our first, which he is 3 now, I let him sleep with us. It was easier for us and i was scared to let him stay in his crib. But with our little girl I had to put her in her crib. It was impossible to get anything done with her not safely in it. It took a lot of crying from her and us, but she got it. i did the bedtime routine and right before she fell asleep i would lay her down and turn on a little music for her. She cries for a little and fusses around, but we gave her time to get comfortable and settle down. She now sleeps through the night. She doesnt even wake up for a feeding until 6:30. i know it will be hard but you can do it. Put him in after you give him plenty of kisses and tell him you love him and leave the room. He will be so much comfortable in the crib and you will too. This has help give me more time with my 3 year old and putting him down for bed. Have you tried just rocking him when he wakes up or do you go straight to feeding him. Once I just stopped offering the food she stopped waking up. Im not saying starve him, but try something else first. If he thinks hes going to get to eat everytime he wakes up then why wouldnt he wake up. I know I would if there was a piece of cake waiting for me everytime! LOL! he will be a much happier baby sleeping thru the night. Good luck!