I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Talia has always been a good sleeper since the start. She has been in her crib since day one and slept through the night at 5.5 weeks.

Now she is 13 weeks and the past few days she has been a nightmare!!

She has been waking at night again (which I can handle and I think is part of a growth spurt since she was looking to eat) the problem is she will NOT sleep in her crib!!

At night I have been laying her down in the bed in her room (We have a full size in her room in addition to her crib) after she falls asleep in my arms. If I put her in her crib she starts screaming - in the bed...no problem...I dont understand why?!?! I end up sleeping in there with her...and I hate it - I want to go back to my bed. No matter what time at night - if I wake up and put her in her crib she freaks out.

Her naps have also become an issue. For 1/2 an hour she will sleep in her pack and play - then wake up and want to be held for the rest of her nap. I cannot put her down anywhere...


Please help! I am tired....and my back is killing me from holding her so much and I can't get anything done all day!!!

Message edited 12/13/2005 5:32:39 PM.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...HELP!

I don't really have any suggestions, but I wanted to tell you that we went through the same thing with Jack. At one point all you had to do is walk into his room and he would freak out becasuse he knew what was coming next So for about a month or so we changed our bedtime routine to the living room with his bottle and books and that seemed to work a little better. Eventually he grew out of it and started sleeping better.

Now at 14 months he is up throughout the night again. I think it is his molars coming in, but it is exhausting, I feel your pain.

Since she is still only 13 weeks have you tried letting her sleep in her swing or bouncy seat. At that age you really can't start creating bad habits, in my opinion. I'd personally try to put her in the swing for a little bit and see if that helps.

I also went through a phase where i had Jack in the Baby Bjorn with me when he wasn't napping or eating. It was the only way he would stop crying.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...HELP!

she could be teething and having you close by is comforting to her, laying down hurts, it puts pressure on their gums, can you move the pack n play in your room for a little while, maybe she'll like having you nearby.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...HELP!

Aww Jen....

I just want to offer you some hugs!!! Sorry this is happening!!!


I also have the WORST back problems from holding her... I don't know how people do it, except hold her on the side, I guess...

One comment my ped brought up- make sure night is night and day is day and make a very clear distinction.... We take Cari out of her crib at 6:45 every morning and bring her downstairs. The next time she sees her room is in the evening when she is getting ready for her bath and then bed.... Lights are always off in that room from 8 pm on....

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...HELP!

I feel your pain and wish you good luck!!!!!!!!

I think you should do whatever gets her to sleep. I know I obsess about getting him on a schedule and good sleeping habits. I think I just have to toss all that out the window and worry about it at a later time. Let them sleep wherever. (i was the type of person who said I would never let the baby sleep anywhere but his crib) He has spent many nights in my arms and bed.Yesterday he would only sleep in the bouncy (it had to be bouncing) and the swing (swinging).

He is 15 weeks and he will never be on schedule everyday is a new routine I swear.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...HELP!

I have the sleepless child so no suggestions here, just wanted to give you

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...*updated*

Posted by ExpectingJoy

Aww Jen....

I just want to offer you some hugs!!! Sorry this is happening!!!


I also have the WORST back problems from holding her... I don't know how people do it, except hold her on the side, I guess...

One comment my ped brought up- make sure night is night and day is day and make a very clear distinction.... We take Cari out of her crib at 6:45 every morning and bring her downstairs. The next time she sees her room is in the evening when she is getting ready for her bath and then bed.... Lights are always off in that room from 8 pm on....

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

As far as tugging on the ear it could also mean she is teething. Jenna started teething early-around 2 months although she didn;t cut a tooth till 6 months but alot of her teething symptoms mimiced ear infections (which i'm a pro at since Jenna has had several of those too). She would tug at her ear, be cranky, refuse naps, wanted to be comforted, not eating as well, etc...

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

I wanna say it def. could be teeth too...

Also- this is gonna sound sooooo stupid...but flip her in which way she is sleeping...

(ex: if she is facing North then face her south) My DH aunt...had sleeping issues with her son...and one sleepless night she tried this is as a fluke and it worked...

I know sometimes at night when I just am uncofortable I lay at the other end of the bed..and Im fine...Cant hurt to try!!!

Message edited 12/13/2005 6:13:54 PM.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Ok to be completely controversial - have you tried letting her sleep on her belly?

Joseph would only sleep at 2-3 hour intervals until I realized that he slept for hours if he was laying on me. So one day I put him on the floor on his belly for a nap - and he slept for 5 hours.

I know this is completely against the American Pediatric guidelines. I can tell you that some babies are just belly sleepers - both of mine were. Just make sure the mattress is firm & she's put to sleep at the bottom of her crib so if she scoots anywhere its away from any blanket you have for her.

As for moving her from the bed in her room to her crib - there is a temperature difference. You could try putting a hot water bottle in her crib so it's warm when you put her down.

Hang in there- she's not sneaking out of the house yet...did you ever imagine how little sleep you'd get?

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

I don't have any kids, so I can't really offer any advice, but I read this in the paper yesterday and thought it might help:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17909-1922282,00.html

The woman who writes this column is a child psychologist. She does this TV show called Little Angels and she's just amazing!!

Good luck!

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

How'd she do last night Jen?

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Yes let us know how she did!! She could definately be teething!!! Also the thought of the temp difference between beds is a good insight!! Let us know how you are doing!

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

ok here was last night:

fell asleep 10:45 - we put her in her crib. Up ar 11:15 screaming, I picked her up rocked her back to sleep and put her in her crib...up again right away.

Took her into the bed in her room...we both fell asleep in no time.

My dh woke me at 2:15 - she was OUT so e put her in her crib which lasted precisely 3 minutes before she was wide awake. I tried to soothe her in the crib....didn't work so back to bed we go. she fell asleep around 2:40.

Woke at 5:15 - ate went back to sleep at 6ish - 9ish.

So we got some decent sleep....but not in the crib!! the bed we sleep is in her room - so there is no temp difference....plus i dont cuddle her or anything- I dont want her to get used to it...i dont want to fall asleep on top of her, and truthfully she doesnt need it- she falls asleep without it. so there isnt a ton of body heat (although I want to try the hot water bottle) I dress her in a few layers so she isnt cold.

im baffled.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Posted by MrsR

ok here was last night:

fell asleep 10:45 - we put her in her crib. Up ar 11:15 screaming, I picked her up rocked her back to sleep and put her in her crib...up again right away.

Took her into the bed in her room...we both fell asleep in no time.

My dh woke me at 2:15 - she was OUT so e put her in her crib which lasted precisely 3 minutes before she was wide awake. I tried to soothe her in the crib....didn't work so back to bed we go. she fell asleep around 2:40.

Woke at 5:15 - ate went back to sleep at 6ish - 9ish.

So we got some decent sleep....but not in the crib!! the bed we sleep is in her room - so there is no temp difference....plus i dont cuddle her or anything- I dont want her to get used to it...i dont want to fall asleep on top of her, and truthfully she doesnt need it- she falls asleep without it. so there isnt a ton of body heat (although I want to try the hot water bottle) I dress her in a few layers so she isnt cold.

im baffled.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Sidney started having major sleep issues starting at 11 weeks. She would do the exact same thing...wake the second I put her down and wake 4-5x a night. It was soooo frustrating because at 3 months you expect things to get easier...Not HARDER! It turns out that she has some food allergies. Don't know if that may be the case for you or she is just in the fighting sleep stage. BUT....what really helped me get through the 5 weeks of hell (that's how long it lasted for us....sorry) was to swaddle her again. Since she was so strong she would break free from the swaddle so I bought the Miracle Blanket and that really helped. That way she would still feel like she was being held so I would be able to put her down MOST of the time. Hope it gets better for you soon. I know exactly what you are going through. I would cry everyday like it was the first few weeks all over again. Good Luck!!!

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

this is Bryan to a tee, He just doesnt care for his crib all that much, he take naps in there which I am thankful for but he doesnt sleep in there at night. We co sleep, I know this is not for everyone but for my family it works. He has bad reflux and food allergies and initially we like having him close by for choking issues but I think he likes being close to us at night. We kinda follow the attachment parenting on this and it works for us he sleeps pretty much thru the night but he does nurse occasionally but it usually doesnt disturb our sleep at all.
At one point we decided to start trying the crib out he would scream and scream all night to the point of vomiting and we decided right there that it just wasnt us-- neither Dh or I were getting any sleep and we couldnt do that anymore. Since we both agreed co sleeping is better it has been great. Both partners have to agree though...

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Posted by nrthshgrl

Ok to be completely controversial - have you tried letting her sleep on her belly?

Joseph would only sleep at 2-3 hour intervals until I realized that he slept for hours if he was laying on me. So one day I put him on the floor on his belly for a nap - and he slept for 5 hours.

I know this is completely against the American Pediatric guidelines. I can tell you that some babies are just belly sleepers - both of mine were. Just make sure the mattress is firm & she's put to sleep at the bottom of her crib so if she scoots anywhere its away from any blanket you have for her.

As for moving her from the bed in her room to her crib - there is a temperature difference. You could try putting a hot water bottle in her crib so it's warm when you put her down.

Hang in there- she's not sneaking out of the house yet...did you ever imagine how little sleep you'd get?

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

I had to write a note for daycare to put her asleep on her belly with no blankets in the crib.

This is an excellent book on the subject:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0757001920/ref=pd_bbs_null_2/002-1361369-8216028?v=glance&n=283155

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

We went through this phase too later on. My daughter used to fall asleep, I would put her in the crib and she would cry. I would get her and hold her and put her in the crib and she would immediately wake up and cry. Seemed like she just needed snuggles. Some nights I would just keep repeating the pattern until she was so tired, she would remain sleeping when I put her in the crib. Other nights, I ended up sleeping horribly because I had to hold her for a couple of hours. Hang in there. It will get better.

Re: I am open to ANY suggestions...updated need more advice!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your help and support....

I am going to keep trying everything until something works!!!!!