Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

Hi everyone! I need help ! I am going back to work on Sept 2, my is 3 months old today. She will only nap in my arms - not in the swing, crib, carseat, stroller, etc. I need to break her of this because they won't hold her in daycare for 3 hours! I read Healthy Sleep Habits and it says at 12-16 weeks of age they should start "motionless" sleep in their cribs and develop a morning nap. This is Day 3 that I've let cry for an hour, only going in at 30 min and 45 min to put in pacifier without talking and its not working at all! She doesn't fall asleep and I end up having to pick her up. Any suggestions?? TIA!!

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

dos says only let them cry it out 6 months and older. At 3 months, she does not know what she is doing. Try swaddling her, holding her until she falls asleep and then transfer her to crib.

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

Like OP said....I would not CIO til she was older.

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

I that age i wouldnt let her cry it out. However, the daycare will not hold her all day y u are right. They will get her on a schedule that will most likely help in this case. However, what i think you should not do is hold her in your arms to go to sleep. Lay her down and if she cries go over to her within 5 minutes and gently rub her and talk to her.

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

Both of my kids were like your DD, they would only sleep in my arms and would wake as soon as I put them down. The only thing that worked for us is swaddling. My DD is 4 1/2 months old and I still swaddle her for naps and night time sleep. If I don't she won't sleep out of my arms for more than a few minutes. The other thing I can suggest is making sure you try to get her down to sleep before she gets overtired. If she's fussy or crying she's probably already too tired. I know if I wait too long, it's super hard to get her to sleep and she has a hard time staying asleep. Also, I successfully used CIO with both of my kids at 3 months old and I consider them both to be great sleepers. My DD has been able to put herself to sleep on her own for quite a while already. I usually rock her until she's asleep or almost asleep and if she wakes as I put her down she goes back to sleep by herself. Good luck!

Re: Napping in Crib/Crying it Out...

Thank you everyone! I do still swaddle her, she LOVES being swaddled and I do get her into a deep sleep before transferring her to the crib. But she always wakes within 10 minutes and then starts crying. My doctor is Dr. Weisbluth (I live in Chicago) who wrote "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and at his practice they say 20 minutes is what they can CIO at 3 months, my neighbor's doctor says 45 minutes at this age and I have friends who have done 1 hour. I hate doing it but don't know what else to do. Going back to work in a week leaves me little options. I think I may decrease the CIO time to 30/45 minutes for the next few days and see what that does.

Any other suggestions? I'm open to anything!!