Do I Let My 5 Month Old Cry When I Put Him down for a Nap?

I agree with the other two posts. I have a 13 month old and she and I STILL fight about naps from time to time. I'm sure it will continue. When she is at MDO, she naps without crying. When our mothers or babysitter take care of her, she also naps without crying. Granted, mine is older, but we have stuck to the same sleep routine since she was 4 months old and I am convinced that consistency really does matter. Sometimes, she will snuggle in her crib and go down like an angel and other days, she is just so upset when I leave the room.

I think moms have a part of their hearts that dads just don't have. Not that it's a bad thing, of course, but my husband does not get the heart pounding, stomach turning, near-panic attack I get when she really wails. The guilt is hard, but take it from me - 8 months down the road - you will be glad you stuck it out.

Something I read has really helped me cope. One of the books suggested that if they cry for more than 30 minutes, the nap is over anyway, so go ahead and get them. Mine has yet to make it to 30 minutes. I think the closest she has been was 20 mintues. It's a long 20 minutes, but then she sleeps great!

You are doing great - keep it up!

Hi S.,

You are doing the right thing, don't doubt yourself. I see so many new moms who create this co-dependent relationship with their kids over guilt of letting them cry. It's okay for a baby to cry it out. They learn to comfort themselves to sleep and not to have to depend on rocking or patting on the back. It will make life easier for you at home and for all those around you when you happen to visit away from home for the day or night.

You are doing a great job by establishing a routine as all my kids thrived on having a routine. Your coping methods for dealing with the noise are great. I remember doing the same thing when my kids were younger, vaccuming works great too!

Good luck!

I think you are doing the right thing. I hope you are because as I sit here typing, I hear my 4 month old screaming at the top of her lungs because she doesn't want to take her nap! I feel like an awful mother today. I dropped my 2 year old off at MDO this morning only to hear him screaming as I left, and now this! Be strong. Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing!

In my opinion as a mother of 3, five months is too early to let a baby cry himself to sleep. At 9 months, 12 months, maybe then, but at 5 months they are still so little and need to be "parented" to sleep. Go with your instincts! If it feels wrong to let him cry, don't do it!

I'm doing this to my 4 month old too. You'll thank yourself later. I've done the cry thing with my other kids and will do it with any others that I have. To cope I always try to do something I can't do with my baby in my arms, that way even if he doesn't go to sleep I haven't wasted the time he's crying. I don't let him go longer than 30 minutes for naps, but at night he stays till he sleeps. Do you have Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child?