My 6 Month Old Won't Sleep on Her Own..

My daughter was the same way. It was very hard but we (my husband and I) put her in the crib. We keep everything the same every night and try to keep bed time the same as well. We give her and her brother a bath and read them a few books (15 min or more)every night in that order. At first I patted her back until she went to sleep and every night I would pat less and sit by her side and slowly move out of her room. This took a while but it paid off. Now I can put her in the crib and she goes to sleep on her own. I had to listen to a lot of crying but now she knows I will be here in the morning. I hope this helps! It helped up.

My son is a year old now, and we still have our bad nights. He usually gets clingy when he is not feeling well. Teething, gasy, etc. He likes the warmth and the smell of my bosom to put him to sleep(He is a breastfed baby). So I started using my shirt as a blanket for naptime and a fun bath before bedtime. Occasionally, I wrap his listless arm around his medium sized Dumbo stuffed animal after carefully laying him in his crib. But only during naptime. That way I can keep an eye on him. I got some colandal soap from the health store, it helps with growing pains and rashes. That combined with bubbles from one of the lavender and camomile baby shampoos make the bath more relaxing. After the bath, he gets a warmed lotion rub down and fresh pjs. By then, he is ready to suckle to sleep. I'm having a very hard time breaking him of the boob, but he's only using that for comfort now. He only wants to suckle before bed and when he's not feeling well. Goodluck! Everyone I talk to keeps telling me that I have spoiled my son by not making him cry himself to sleep. I tried that once. He screamed himself into a sore throat that quickly became an infected throat, after only 15 minutes. He refused to eat for a week and I had to force feed him till the medicine soothed his pain. It was miserable for us both. I don't think I will do that again until we can communicate better to each other.

If you don't do it now, she'll never go back to falling asleep on her own. You need to "break the cycle" now--move her to her crib and let her cry it out. Read the book "Healthy Sleeping Habits: Happy Child" for more insight on the "extinction method". It may take 3 days of letting her cry it out, which breaks your heart (you may even cry yourself) but it is so worth it. My daughter is 6 months old, has been sleeping through the night for 2 months and taking 3 naps a day. We put her down wide awake at times and she puts herself to sleep. The main thing is teaching them to associate crib with sleep. Maybe put a security blanket in there for her, use a sound machine, etc. She may also be going through a little separation anxiety, but it will pass as well.

I would definitely take the advice of moving baby into the crib now.

My oldest son, who is now 17, would not go to sleep when he was a baby unless I rocked/bounced/patted his butt all at the same time, and all done gently. Then he got into the phase of not being able to sleep unless he was laying on the couch with me in front of him to make sure he didn't fall off. He would proceed to twirl his fingers in my hair and then pull each time. I later found out he had colic and had had it for a few months (mind you I was 18 at the time with no experience raising a child, far away from my family to live with my ex-husband's family in a place where I had no one). I got him to a hospital when I was visiting my mother and they kept him for 3 days. After that he was fine. So it could be something like colic or gas on her on her tummy. See what your doctor suggests because sometimes there is an underlying cause to the reaching for comfort besides the fact that we spoil our children.

When my daughter was 7 months old she did the same thing although she was already in her crib. I asked her pediatrician and he told me that babys start seperation anxiety around this time. For a couple of weeks I would lay her in her crib and sit in the rocking chair across from her so she could see me. She would eventually fall asleep on her own as long as I was in the room. We slowly worked to where I would stand by the door where she couldn't see me, but I would sing her songs or tell her "shhhh" if she fussed. After a couple of weeks I was able to lay her in her crib tell her goodnight and I loved her and she would go right out. Hope this helps. A.

I went through the same thing with my daughter. Things were fine until I went back to school and I didn't have the time to sit and get her to sleep allthe time or spend hours getting her to stay down. When she was about 14 months old I finally asked for help and it was amazing. People said "let her cry it out." Give her 10 mins of crying and then go in pat her back but don't say anything and then give her another 10 mins. repeat this until she sleeps. I thought it was going to be the hardest thing ever. The first night she cried and I went to console her after the 10 mins. Then she cried for 2 mins and was alseep. The second night she didn't make it the first 10 and now she is 29 months and the best sleeper. Down at 7:30p and up at 7:30a. It is hard to hear them cry but it is so nice when you can just put her down and she comforts herself. Good luck! You can do it!!

I would go ahead and put her in the crib now. When my daughter was about the same age, she was still in the bassinet and doing almost exactly what you're saying your baby does. We put her in the crib, which she didn't seem to like at first, but then she not only fell asleep on her own, but slept through the night! I had the crib next to my bed, so I think that when she was in her own room in the crib she slept more soundly since she didn't hear us moving around. I agree with the other advice that she can cry for about 20 or 30 minutes, but she will eventually learn to fall asleep on her own.

S.

my son who now is 14 years old, had to be rocked untilhe was in kindergarten, and he did the same thing, when i thought he was asleep would get up and attempt to put him in his bed, and he would scream...so i had to conitnue to rock him while i was walking and as laying him down...then just pat his back until he goes badk to sleep...it is time to put her in her crib...she will learn to go to sleep on her own..if she cries or screams for about 1/2 hour or so it is ok...it will be harder on you then her...good luck

L.

I will be hard but what I have learned from experience and from infant classes. Is go ahead and put her in her crib make sure that there is nothing in the crib but her blanket. She will cry but let her cry. after crying for 5 min peak in don't pick her up just let her know that you are there, and everything is gion to be ok that it is time to sleep. BE CONTISTANT! With the time you put her to bed and the whole ruitine. Like i said it will be hard to hear her cry but as long as you have check every thing and you know she is fine just let her cry. I have done it and it works. You can call connections for info on infants and they will sent it to you if you want more info. They also have infant classes that are very helpful.
I hope this helps.
C.

My daughter had the same problem when she was about 6 months, she would scream if I put her down in the bed but eventually she went back to sleep on her own and when she was going through her growth spurt she did it again.

I feel for you, are your shoulders and back tense yet? My daughter still doesn't always fall right asleep for a nap but does great at night. I read a couple people have recommended for you to let her cry it out at night. I absolutely agree. I did that with my daughter at 2 mo old and by the third night.. she did it and has slept through the night since. I know your daughter can do it too. If she is sleeping through the night, her schedule in the day time will be better because she is getting the amount of sleep she needs at night. I think it would be a great idea to move her to the crib and then let her cry it out.. remember to pick a couple days when you don't have to wake up early the next morning :)
Hope all goes well.. trust me, your daughter will be the better for it!