HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

Approximately how old was your DS/DD when he/she could cry themselves to sleep? My DS is 6.5 weeks old and will only fall asleep on me or DH's chest except at night. When we go to move him to his crib, he will wake up and scream. Is it okay to leave him screaming or is he too young to fall asleep on his own? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

I think he is too young to know how to self-soothe. My DD didn't fall asleep on her own until after 5 months. At that point, I did let her do a little crying. I wouldn't try CIO at 6.5 weeks. All the books will tell you that during those first few months the baby is learning about being reassured by the caretaker; helping them to sleep if they need it is part of that whole process.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

WAY to young to self soothe or to CIO. ITA with what the OP said.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

DS might not self-soothe but he does get put in his crib while he's still awake sometimes. Since week 3, he is often put in the crib just after he's had a bottle and burped, then he falls asleep on his own. He just babbles to himself and then drifts off.

We also have an Ipod in his room playing light "Rockabye" Lullaby's for him..maybe that makes a big difference and helps soothe him.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

I agree it is too early to CIO but I often put DD down in her crib awake but drowsy (or she wakes up when we put her down) and if she fusses and grunts, we leave her. Once she starts crying I go in and soothe her. A lot of the time she falls asleep on her own and doesn't require us to rock her.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

Our boys were the exact same way. CIO worked for us, but we let it go no more then 5-10 minutes that early. Some nights they went back to bed.

CIO is not advocated for kids under 6 months, but I did it early......because my kids would fall asleep on our chests and I knew they were tired.

You do what you feel is right. I swore before I had kids, no sleeping with them on me, no letting the sleep on their bellies, not CIO.....and I went against it all. I did what i needed to do and it worked for us.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

6.5 weeks old is definitely too young for CIO. Like, WAY too young.

DD was a baby who only fell asleep on us or during BF. This lasted for 3-4 months. We lived through it. We eventually did some CIO but that was when DD was about 7 or 8 months -- and that was to break the habit of being rocked to sleep.

I know it's so hard, but remember these things WILL pass.

ETA: Do you do the "limp arm" test before you put DS down? That was a way I knew DD was fully asleep and able to be put down w/o waking up and crying (actually, I did this when she was a bit older - but I'm sure it works whenever!). Also - do you swaddle DS? That was another thing that helped us.

Message edited 5/26/2008 9:50:08 PM.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

wondering the same thing.... at 3 months... DS only falls asleep on us or in swing... never alone. hmmm wondering if this changes with age.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

if you arent already try swaddling.
DS was the same way, he would fall asleep in my arms but wake the minute I put him down, it would take 2-3 tries to get him donw. Now I swaddle, after he falls alseep I wait about 5 minutes then put him down. Now even if he opens his eyes he just settles in, However if the arms are loose he wakes up and cries.
Also white noise, at night we have a humidifier in DSs room, during hte day at my ILs they have a white noise machine. It really helps drown out the background noises in the house! DS also loves the sound of the vacuum, calms him and puts him to sleep every time.

I know I have to break the swaddling, but I dont want to try CIO until after he is 6 months.

Re: HELP!! - How old to fall asleep on their own?

When Lily was that young, she couldn't fall asleep on her own, so we would let her fall asleep in the swing and then transfer her to the crib.
Eventually, she could fall asleep during her nighttime bottle and then get transfered to her crib.
Now, she gets her nighttime bottle, and I put her in the crib mostly awake and she falls asleep there.

Give it time, it gets better.