4 Month old won't stop crying at bedtime - HELP!

Up until about 2 weeks ago we would put DS (4 months old) in his rock n play sleeper and within minutes he'd fall asleep. Now - he cries and cries and cries when we put him down. It's almost impossible to console him. (he's fed, he's changed - so it can't be that)

Sometimes singing works, a bottle, the binky, rocking him - it's something different every night. Tonight it took him 2 1/2 hours to finally fall asleep. It's so frustrating.

I'm reading conflicting things on what to do - pick him up - don't pick him up - let him cry it out - don't let him cry.

I don't know what to do. Please share ANYTHING that worked for you guys. I am desperate.

Re: 4 Month old won't stop crying at bedtime - HELP!

he maybe teething. Try and ice cube in wash cloth, let him suck on it.

Message edited 12/11/2010 12:20:35 AM.

Re: 4 Month old won't stop crying at bedtime - HELP!

Reflux?

Re: 4 Month old won't stop crying at bedtime - HELP!

no to the reflux - and he may be teething but it's not so much of a "im in pain cry" as it is "i don't wanna go to sleep"

Re: 4 Month old won't stop crying at bedtime - HELP!

My kid had real trouble at bedtime.

I did a form of sleep "training" with him from about 2 months and it worked...

I get him to bed after sleepy cues start or 9PM the latest. Like you are... make sure he's fed, make sure he's clean and you can try a lovie (mine really doesn't care about the lovie).

No rocking, no cradling, no sleep in my arms... just sleepy in the crib with the white noise maker. If he cries (he did in the beginning), I go in every 5 minutes. I time it (important because 5 minutes sounds like a lot longer when they cry). When I go in, I shoosh him and touch his tummy for about 1 minute, but do NOT pick him up. DH did this and it was a disaster 1 night... it took MUCH longer for him to go to sleep.

After about 1 month, he's perfect at bedtime. he knows when I put him into the crib what the deal is and often STOPS the cranky sleepy crying.

Every kid is different... that's what worked with mine and I feel like he "gets" it... good luck. You'll hear lots f different things. This is what worked for me.