How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

DD has been sleeping really well at night- sometimes 5 hours at a time, sometimes more! She also naps pretty well (an hour at a time in her swing, more if I'm out walking with her in the stroller) during the day. We're thrilled! However, she only sleeps in her swing. I try every day to get her into her crib for naps & at night to no avail.

I've searched old posts & I've read Weissbluth, Happiest Baby on the Block, etc. and I still don't know what to do.

I put her down in her crib- either on her back or on her side- sometimes sleepy but still awake, sometimes sleeping, and every single time she wakes up in a few minutes fussing, which quickly turns to screaming. I've tried swaddling, which worked well in the beginning, but she seems to hate it now (full & partial swaddle). I've tried lights on, lights off, music, no music, aquarium crib thing. I'm all out of ideas!!

My friends just say to let her sleep in her swing since its working so well. But at some point I have to break her of that habit & get her into the crib. How do I do that??

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

unfortunately the only way is to let her cry herself to sleep. Babies have to learn how to put themselves to sleep. It will be hard the 1st few nights but she will get used to it and fall asleep within minutes. One of my twins Sydney used to scream for a 1/2 hour I felt terrible but i stuck to it and now she falls asleep within minutes. good luck

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

My DD is 15 weeks and we have just gotten her to sleep in her bassinet. She has been sleeping in her swing basically since birth and still naps in it. She was just diagnosed with Acid Reflux and I think that has been her reason for not liking the bassinet/crib. It has been hurting her tummy. Last night I put her in her swing because she seemed so uncomfortable in the bassinet even with the head elevated. Good luck and I wouldn't worry about it too much. DD seems to prefer the bassinet now that she is bigger and wants to move around more.

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

IMHO, 7 weeks is way too young to let the baby cry to sleep. You also don't need to worry about habits yet. You just need to keep baby safe and survive for now.

I would check in with the pediatrician about reflux issues -- the swing often makes babies with reflux sleep better...

What happens when you try to swaddle?

Remember, your baby will be completely different every few weeks without you changing a thing!!

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

Have you tried a pacifier?

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

My daughter is 3 1/2 weeks old and I was having the same problem. She would only sleep in the swing or car seat and everytime I would put her in the crib she would wake up .

I called the Dr just b.c after one night of holding her for about 6 hrs. I had to find out why this was happening

The Dr told me to put a pillow under the crib mattress so the babys head is higher then her stomach and I thought is this really going to work and it did...

Try it and let me know how this works for you ...

But please if you are going to do this Put the pillow under the mattress not in the crib ...

Re: How do I get 7 wk old to sleep in crib???

Thanks for the advice. I feel like I've tried everything- maybe she just needs to grow into it.

I will try elevating the crib mattress from underneath- good idea!

The pacifier is great for soothing her, but it won't keep her sleeping in the crib for some reason. We still try it every night though!! She is napping in the boppy pillow next to me right now.