Help with Getting to Sleep

How warm are you in her room? 78 sounds a little warm to me. My son's room is about 70.

Was she sleeping better with out the paci? If she does not need it, skip it. But if it is soothing to her continue with giving it.

Is she sleeping better at night?

Remember that sleep breeds sleep. If she is too stimulated, it might make it harder for her to get into a good sleep pattern.

Good luck.

R.,

I think it's fine to use a pacifier, but it may not be the best idea to form a habit of putting your baby down to sleep with it.

Suggestions for getting her to sleep better/longer: Dr. Karp's Happiest Baby on the Block (DVD and book) is very helpful. I recommend the DVD (the book is fine but pretty redundant). His "Five S's" helped us with our daughter (shushing, swaddling, sucking, swinging, and I can't remember #5!). Also, feel free to put your daughter down to sleep wherever she sleeps best: in her infant seat (strap her in if it's on a surface other than the floor), a baby swing, the car, a baby carrier, etc. Newborns like to be held and to feel enveloped. Our daughter slept in her infant seat, swaddled (even at night) for several months. As for the stroller, eventually she will become less sensitive to bumps. For now, you could try to pick a less bumpy route, or just tilt the stroller back on it's rear wheels in anticipation of the bumps (makes for a somewhat smoother ride).

Eventually your baby will learn to go to sleep on her own, but it takes time. For now, just do whatever you can (as long as it's safe!) to ensure that you and your baby get the most sleep. (You can also try co-sleeping, but I would recommend reading Elizabeth Pantley's "No-Cry Sleep Solution" where she lists important safety precautions for cosleeping. And as long as you don't use heavy blankets or pillows, you can definitely lie down with your baby for a nap!)

All the best,
R. S.

I know others have said to ignore the books but I was miserable until I read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". I started a bedtime routine at 6 weeks with my son and by 8 weeks, he was sleeping 5-6 hours a night. At 3 months, he was sleeping all the way through the night (10+ hours). The most important thing I learned from the book is that babies shouldn't be awake more than an hour or two. When my son is well rested, he sleeps better and he's happier when he's awake.

For the paci, go with what your daughter wants. I was against using one initially but found out on the second day that my son likes the comfort of sucking. We use a soothie pacifier. When he was younger, I used to rock him to sleep while he sucked on his pacifier. I'd know it was time to put him to bed when the pacifier would fall out of his mouth. If you're rocking your daughter to sleep, keep in mind that it takes 20-30 minutes after she falls asleep to reach a deep sleep. That's your best chance to move her into her crib. It worked for me with my son.

I also use a sleepsack for my son. It's part of his bedtime routine - change his diaper and put on his sleepsack - so he knows it's time for bed. As others have said, see what you can do about lowering the temp in the baby's room. Babies would rather be cold than warm so err on the side of chilly. And remember that their hands and feet might feel cold but that's because their circulatory systems aren't fully mature yet. Check the back of the head/nape of the neck to see if your daughter is really too cold. Chances are, she won't be.

Good luck! It will get better. Pick a routine and stick to it. Your daughter will learn it.

Hi,

First breath. Do not put so much pressure on your self. Babies sense this and frankly you are human!! I have a seven year old and a two year old. I am the oldest of 4 kids the youngest being almost 12 years younger than me. My parents worked full time and so, then did I :). How is the baby eating? Have you increased how much she is eating recently? If she is not satisfied before bed she is less inclined to sleep. Some babies (heck...kids and adults too:) heads rubbed, some backs, some the center of their noses, some prefer angled sways, some up and down, some side to side, and some all of the above! The more quiet you are around you around a baby the less they are used to noises, and bumps. Use your natural tone so they are used hearing you whether they are asleep or awake. The baby will get used to the walking format outside too, and if you find after a few weeks she is still sensative to that walk around it:). Since you introuduced the passifier later, I would just let her cry for about ten minutes but no more until she is totally sleeping through the night and can cope on her own. She was used to one sleep pattern and now is getting used to a new routing (no problem). Just try this and see if it helps. If 10 minutes makes you ake 5 min., but she will be ok. I promise:)

L.

Forget about what the books "say". I was very frustrated when my newborn would only sleep for half an hour and wake up ready to play. He was very alert and wanted to be awake more than sleep. For awhile he would only sleep for a half hour at a time, no matter what I did. But he did start sleeping 10 hours through the night at 8 weeks old. Every baby is different. I also gave him the pacifier at 6 weeks, and when it fell out of his mouth, I would gently sneak it back in there. Eventually he did start sleeping for an hour and a half in the morning and afternoon, and then 12 hours through the night. You just have to find out what works for your baby in getting them to sleep. The "experts" say not to rock the baby to sleep, but to put them in their crib while they are drowsy and let them put themselves to sleep. That didn't work for us. I wound up finding a way to rock and bounce him while I paced around his room until he fell asleep, then I would lay him down in his crib. I also swaddled him until he was almost 12 months. He slept the best this way. The swaddler didn't work for us, because he always got out of it. We used a large light-weight blanket and swaddled him ourselves, with the "seam" under his back so he couldn't get out of it. It worked the best for us. You just have to do trial and error until you find what works best for her. As far as the bumps in the sidewalk go, she'll get used to them. My son used to hate going to the grocery store because it has brick floors and it was really bumpy. But after awhile he didn't even notice them. Your baby is still pretty new to the world and still adjusting. Good luck!

Get rid of the pacifier now and figure out a better way for her to fall asleep. The pacifier is a crutch and unless you want her sucking on a pacifier at Pre school age get it out of your home. My husband said no to the pacifier from day one he said no crutches. He also never sucked his thumb. We learned very early if it was not food he was not going to put it in his mouth. It was hard in High school to have to wear his mouth guard when playing football or wrestling. He said it is so unnatural. But he did... so he could play.
You can use other methods of getting her to sleep. Soft music, rocking, soothing back rubs, taking shorter naps during day better sleep at night or sometimes you just humming next to the bed can help.
Also do not go by the book. Each child is different and the book is the average. Ask your mom or mother in law how you and your husband were as babies. If they are not available ask an aunt or friend who has a little experience with a child this age.
You do not need to use a sleep sack unless you feel your child sleeps better in one. My son hated his and wore onsies or 2 piece cotton pj's from almost day one. He is now almost 19 years old and still sleeps in boxer briefs only. Likes it free and loose. If you think the room is too cool shut the vent all the way or part of the way. Don't spend lots of money on fancy items, you need to start saving for college now.
The problem you are having with your stroller is why I used first a Snuggy (front papoose pack, it was great. Wore it all the time, even around the house at times. He was then close to me and had the feeling for closeness and saftey. Loved in the grocery store because he was with me always and I could walk away from the cart. When he was a little older we went to a backpack and that is how we carried him til he was age 2. Great for shopping because you can walk away from your cart and bay goes with you. Being up high in the backpack also let them see the world from high up. Great for going on picnics, hikes, auctions, garage sales and so on.

Just a few of my experiences.
God Bless,
S.

I can't help with the paci question, but the bumps and stroller question we dealt with as well. My first screamed everytime we went over a "bump". She got used to it after a handful of stroller rides. Just keep taking her on walks, and soon she will not even notice the bumps!

A few things I have learned since becoming a mom: First of all put away the books, no two children are the same , and when you think you got it figured out there is a new problem. My child didnt take real naps until she was 6 months old. WHen she was little I would spend an hour to get her to sleep and she would only sleep for 20 to 30 minutes tops...I used to feel like I was spending my entire day trying to get her to sleep. Try wearing her in a woven wrap or a meitai (not a bjorn! those are TERRIBLY uncomfortable) then you can get some work done and she will sleep longer since she is on her mom!

You may have found a solution for this by now, but just in case you would like more info, here is a resource that I hope you might find helpful...

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023100.asp

Best wishes,
J.

Just wanted to tell you about the room temp. 78 is too warm! Especially with a sleep sak and onesie. Babies rooms should be between 68-72 degrees. You can google it to read aboout it. Babies/people sleep better in a cooler room. She will sleep better and longer if you cool her room down and dont over dress her. 78 is really warm.

Dump the books and go with your gut.

Pacifiers are not evil. My son needed something in his mouth. If not the pacifier he would nurse constantly. Yes, you do need to keep putting it back in their mouths constantly. At 6 weeks their sleep is very, very sporadic, again, ignore the books. She is still trying to figure out what's going on.

I never used a sleep sack. I swaddle my kids in a flannel blanket. My daughter is 4 months old and I still swaddle her. I swaddled my son until 9 months. I have her dressed in a stretchy sleep outfit and then the blanket. Babies like to be swaddled, it probably reminds them of the womb. I have extra large flannel blankets for swaddling. Easy to make.

78 is way, way, way to hot for the babies room! You are increasing your risk of SIDS if the baby is too warm. Run a fan in the room to keep the air circulating. You can also use a white noise machine or like we do, an air purifier to drown out excess noise. Forget about getting her on any kind of sleep schedule for a long time, it does not work no matter what the books say.

Good luck and enjoy!