How to Get My 1 Year Old to Sleep in Her Own Crib

Let me know what advice you get. I am running into the same thing with my 10mo old son. I don't know what to do!

I've been dealing with the same thing and while I don't have it completely worked out we are making progress. I bought the No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. There's lots of tips and things to try. For us the biggest help was removing the nightlight from her room. I also put one of our bed pillow in her crib. I feel comfortable doing this because she is almost one and way beyond the SIDS scare period. Between these two things she dosn't seem to know the difference when she wakes up. The book explains that all babies wake up freqently the trick is to make them not feel upset about where they wake up so that they will fall asleep again on their own. My baby has gone from waking up crying every 30 - 60 minutes to sleeping about 3 hours at a time. She usually ends up in bed with us at some point but my main goal was to get her sleeping on her own for those first few hours so that I could get some things done and my husband and I could spend some time together. Another thing that I have done is giving her a regular bed time routine. I made her dinnertime later so that after her bath just I read her a few books and then I turn off lights and rock her with her bottle. Before when I gave her dinner earlier she would play after and it was hard to get her to settle down. As soon as she's asleep, but not too sound, I lay her down. She usually stirs a bit (this is where she used to start crying and reaching out for me)I just rub her back and give her a verbal cue, for us it's "Sleepy Night Night". She dosn't cry anymore. I also designated one of her teddy bears as her "lovey". I started by making sure he was in bed with us every night for a few weeks. Now he stays in her crib. He seems to help, when she does wake up after a few hours she's always clinging on to him. I hope some of this helps, I would suggest the book, there are many more things that we didn't use that may be more helpful for you. Don't feel bad about having let her sleep with you. I think that sharing your bed with your baby is a beautiful thing that builds a trust and a bond that is extremely important. When the time is right you will both enjoy having a little space for yourselves. Good luck.

J.

A friend of mine had the same problem. you can either tough it outr for about a week and let her cry herself to sleep each night, or slowly remove yourself. first sleep with her in her room for a night or two, then sleep in the room but with her in the crib and you so she can see you, then lay her down and stay just outside her room so she can see you until she falls asleep. this worked for my friend. good luck.

Just do it. The best advise we got from my mom was to just do it and not to turn back. No exceptions to the new rule. And expect crying and difficulty for three nights. After that you are home free. Hope this helps!!!

I recommend the book On Becoming Babywise to everyone I know. In that book they state that it takes on average about 3-5 days to break or build a routine. In this case it will be much harder on you and your husband than your daughter. You will have to just put her in her crib and let her cry it out. You can go in there every 15 minutes if you'd like and pat her on the back or bottom or pick her up and hug her, tell her it's okay and then quickly put her back down in her crib. If that makes you feel better. But if you stick with it. She will be fine in a week and will be sleeping in her own crib. She has to learn to soothe herself to sleep and as hard as it will be for you to listen to her cry you will have to do it. Believe me it's harder for you then it is for her but, you will be glad you did it. If you don't do something soon though, it will be much harder the older she gets. I speak from experience. I have a 9 month old daughter and she has been sleeping in her own crib since she was 4 months old. When we decided to do this it was very hard at first but, both my husband and I agreed to help each other be strong. There were times when I wanted to rush in there and be like forget it but my husband would remind me that it would be okay and that she would be okay and visa versa, there were times when I had to remind him but in less then 5 days she was sleeping on her own and if she cried it would be for less than 5 minutes and then she was asleep. It will pay off in the long run. That is my advice for you.

I also have a 1 yr old. I have followed off and on a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." I think it really works. My little guy has always slept in his crib but he too has moments of crying and defiance about sleeping in his crib. I think it might be the developmental age for this. It will probably be a rough few nights, but she will eventually get the point that the crib is her bed.

Here is something that has worked for me. Make sure she is very tired. Tell her big girls sleep in their own bed and bribe her with a reward for in the morining if she stays in her bed all night. Then get her favorite toy and lie her down on her belly. Rub her back in a circular motion. Start firmly and keep doing it. When she starts to fall asleep, go with lighter and lighter strokes. Once asleep leave the room. Make sure there is a night light. You might have to do this type of routine for days. Every time she fights sleep just keep rubbing her back until she falls asleep. You could also try chamomile tea, or sleepy time tea to help relax her.

That's what I have done.

D.

I know this can be a difficult transition for your child. With my son, I moved his crib next to my bed. The first night, I let him sleep with me with the crib next to us. Slowly, each night I would try and move him into it when he was asleep and keep the side rail down. Over time, I would move the crib further from the bed. Eventually, I could put him down at night in it, but still in my room. It took about a month before he was sleeping in his own room, but it DID WORK. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!