Putting a Baby to Sleep Without Rocking

She may not be ready to do it on her own. Mine did the samething and she is 15 months now. It was about 6 months that I tried it and could hangle any screaming. I think 4 months is so young. You can try in the day to put her down. But, I never liked seeing my child cry, I couldn't get anything done. So I rockerd her and even used the stoller. She sleeps on her own fine now, do it when you think the baby and you are ready. Also, if she rubbing her eyes, put her down before then,she maybe ready to do it. She will cry, it depends on how long you want her to and that young and what you can handle. Good luck...

Hi D.,

Your daughter reminds me of my son. I nursed him as well and I found that he got used to being held and rocked. What I did was I put in him on his belly(he liked that) and I patted his hiney. If he cried, I did loud "Shushes" over his voice. After 5 minutes, he fell asleep. It may take a few times, but gradually stop the shushes and just pat. Then stop patting and put her in drowsy. Now he is 8 mths and he goes in awake and puts himself to sleep. Remember, they are just learning to soothe themselves at 4 months, so You are giving her the confidence. I guess you could also do the cry it out--I just couldn't do it. Good luck! D.

Hi D., I'm a mother of 3 boys, now 12,13, and 15, and rocking my kids to sleep is something that I remember and will cherish for the rest of my life! I always love to remember their little breaths against my neck as I nuzzled them close tome while I rocked them and sinking my lips into their chubby little cheeks! Don't give that up yet, she is too young to just put in a crib to cry. Enjoy rocking till about 8-9 months, then they are more active, crawling and moving around in walkers, they'll get tired and maybe cry for 1 or two nites maybe 10 minutes, then....they'll catch on and go right to sleep. A bottle of water isn't the worse thing in the world (must be water though and at 8-9 months not 4 months). I did with my last two and none of them formed bad babits or had bad teeth and was done with bottles altogether before age 2. ENJOY THESE MOMENTS..THEY GO SO FAST!!! But do get a rocking chair! Good Luck!

Some of this depends on the size of your daughter. Many four month olds aren't very big, and aren't quite ready to learn to soothe themselves to sleep. Until you feel comfortable letting her cry (when you feel that she and you are ready), then I recommend getting a sling. When I felt that my son still needed help falling asleep (3-4 months old), I put him facing me (upright) in a maya wrap. I could easily swing him around without exhausting myself or hurting my back! It's easy to loosen the ring once the baby is asleep, and gently place him/her back in the crib.

Once my son was physically big, and I felt he was ready, I decided to let him cry. It took only 3-4 days, though it was very very hard on me. I found, in reality, that he cried less when I WASN'T holding him before bed! He really screamed at first, but then quickly learned to soothe himself. Some say it's not good for babies (promotes feelings of abandonment, etc.), but I found that my son stayed extremely attached to me. I continued carrying him in a sling or baby bjorn throughout the day, and paid a ton of attention to him. He's a fantastic sleeper now, and has been since that time! Try the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth. He gives variations in methods, so you can pick what works for you. Some kids need help learning to soothe. My son screamed louder if I came in and spoke to him or rubbed his back! You'll figure out what your daughter needs quickly.

Naps develop over time. I despaired of ever getting a break during the day, when my son was 4 months old! But once he started crawling (right before he turned 6 months), his schedule changed drastically. He started taking 3 naps a day, of about an hour each. Within a couple of months, two of those naps stretched to 2 hours or more! Crawling and playing makes babies TIRED. :) Also, put her down before you think she's sleepy. Most babies can only stay up for 1.5-2 hours at a time during the day, and then it's time for a nap!

Mine both transitioned themselves from needing to nurse or be rocked to sleep to going to sleep on their own. My daughter started at 5 months and my son at 7. It sounds like your daughter is getting better, so soon she should be able to lay down awake, maybe with a pacifier. I was worried about it too, but using a pacifier at bedtime or naptime is all we needed. I would read a story and then rock them for a minute and settle them down, then lay them down with a pacifier and leave the room quietly. I kept the pacifier in the crib, so that it's only for bedtime/naptime. Just so that it's another part of the routine to settle down. It's not associated with playtime at all, just sleep time.
I would not try putting her on her stomach for sleeping. With all the SIDS research out there saying it's unsafe, I wouldn't do it.
If you're going to let her cry, I would only do it for about 10 min and then go check on her and settle her down (without picking her up). Then leave again and wait another 10 min before going back in. Just don't pick her up after you start the process.
I was so worried about sleep issues and they seemed to work themselves out for us. It sounds like she's already transitioning out of needing to be rocked to sleep. Try to just keep shortening the process of rocking her, give her a pacifier when you lay her down, and keep putting her in her crib to sleep. She's young, so don't worry too much about it yet.
Keep in mind that milestones like rolling over will interrupt sleep.
Good luck.

Dear D.,

I think you may be putting her down when she is already overtired. Try putting her down every two hours or so awake. Rub or pat her back but try not to put her to sleep in your arms if you want her to get used to going to sleep in her crib. Even at night time make a routine with her and try to put her in by 7 awake even if you have to shake the crib a little, rub her back, pat her behind, but try not to hold her. If she is overtired she is going to be restless and more difficult to settle down. Unfortunately when a baby learns to fall asleep a certain way other then on their own the will expect to be put to sleep the same way each time. Have you asked daycare how they are putting her to sleep? I would also try music, my kids always loved music I would put them in awake put the music box on and even if they fussed a few minutes they learned to put themselves to sleep. As far as stomach sleeping I have a baby at my daycare who slept 20 minute catnaps all day and one day he learned to roll over and now takes 2 hour naps so he is definitely more comfortable on his belly. If you have been reading this forum on sleep issues you will see many different opinions on crying it out. I did it with my kids and it worked like a charm 3 days and it was over. However it is difficult to listen to and you must be prepared to do it. Once you start you can not give in and pick the baby up. You can go in comfort the baby rub her back and then leave, keep coming in and checking until she falls asleep. The first day is the worst, the second half the time and the third a few minutes and its over. I unfortunately waited until my kids were a year old and it was much worse they cried for an hour the first night. Before you do cry it out try putting her down before she looks tired, and try the earlier bedtime and see if that helps. Let us know how you make out. Good luck!! and Happy Holidays