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Sleep Help

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2:57 pm
December 20, 2010

jessicabartlett

Vermont

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Hello,

I have a four month old little boy. Once he is asleep at night he sleeps great. However, the only way we can get him to sleep is to swaddle him tight and bounce on a big exercise ball and shushing him. We have recently stopped letting him drink milk to fall asleep because he would wake again once down to burp. I wouldn't mind bouncing him all the time except that my MIL who watches him cannot ever get him to sleep. So I come home and he is so cranky from not getting a nap. I am wondering how and when I can start sleep training him.

We have tried putting him down when he is sleepy but not asleep but he just wakes up and starts fussing, then crying, then screaming until he is picked up and bounced and shushed back to sleep. He has to be completely out or as soon as we put him in his crib he is wide awake. We have also tried to let him CIO but he refuses to give in and I can't let him go too long it just breaks my heart and I feel like he is too young.

I don't mind the bouncing but my concern is is he going to get used to this and this be the only way he will ever fall asleep? Also, I am concerned about my MIL not being able to get him down for naps. When she can manage to he sleeps for about 5-10 minutes. She can't bounce due to a heart surgery she had and it hurts her chest. We are going on a day long trip and I am so stressed about leaving him because I don't want him to be cranky for her all day long and not nap. I want to be able to leave him confidently and not worry that he is being a cranky tired baby!

12:19 am
December 31, 2010

Kimberly

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Hi Jessica,

Four months is a tough age because he may just be gaining the ability to self soothe or he may not develop that skill for another few weeks or so.

Have you tried a swing or a bouncy chair to help get him to sleep? I know with my son at his daycare, they would put him in the bouncy chair and gently bounce it with their foot to help get him to sleep for his naps.

It does sounds like he is dependent on movement or bouncing for sleep and that you will need to come up with a sleep training plan to help him learn to fall asleep on his own but it could be that he might still be a little young for it. For many babies, six months is a better age for starting sleep training.

I would recommend that you consider checking out the ebook, The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep as that will give you information about how to sleep training, the different methods (other than just CIO) for sleep training and help you come up with a plan. The key will be to consistent with whatever plan you come up with and to do it for a period of time such as 2-3 weeks to see results. Non-crying or limited sleep training techniques can take a bit more time. You can find that book here: http://babysleepswell.com

You might also check out Mastering Naps and Schedules at http://babynapswell.com since getting him on a good nap schedule is often the first step to better nighttime sleep. Overtiredness from too little daytime rest can make falling asleep harder for most babies.

Keep us posted on how it's going.

Kimberly

The Baby Sleep Site (TM)

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