Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

DS is 2 months old. He absolutely hates the crib. We put him in there when he's awake and he cries. We put him down in the crib when he's fast asleep and he immediately wakes up and cries. We've tried the swaddle me and miracle blanket. We have a bear that makes sounds similar to those in the womb. We have a projector that puts pictures and lights on the wall. None of these things work.

DS will sleep in the swing once per day at most, but he won't sleep there at night. Since DS hates the crib, I hold him while he sleeps. I prop my arm up on the boppy and DS sleeps in the crook of my arm.

DS's 2 month appointment was today, but with a different pediatrician than we normally see. The dr. told me what I was doing was unsafe and that I've created bad habits. I'd rather not co-sleep and I know there can be problems with it, but it's the only thing that seems to work right now. I'm also not really sure you can create bad habits in a 2 month old, but I know if I let this continue for a lot longer, it will be even harder to get him into the crib.

The dr. said we need to start putting DS in his crib now. She said I can hold him as much as I want during the day, but he needs to learn to sleep in the crib at night. She said we should put him down in his crib, let him cry for a little bit, pick him up and calm him down, and then put him down in the crib again. Basically we can stand over him and pick him up to calm him down, but we have to keep putting him back in his crib. Is this CIO or something different? She said we'd probably have 2 really bad nights, but he should be sleeping in the crib with no problem within 2 weeks.

I'm not sure I agree with her advice, but I'm at a loss on what to do. I don't want to wait too long to get him sleeping in his crib. I'm going back to work in 5 weeks and I'll need to sleep better than I do when I'm holding him in my arms. At the same time, DS gets so worked up when he's in the crib and I don't want to let him CIO.

Thank you for reading this. If you have any advice for getting DS to sleep in the crib, I'd really appreciate it.

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

Honestly, I think the ped. you saw today is a bit too structured. At 2 months, both my kids slept where they would sleep. They are too young to be developing bad habits at 2 months old. Plus, at about 2 months, they start getting used to the outside world and start liking things they didn't before such as a bouncy chair or swing.

At that age, I put them where they would sleep and would try to transition but never pushed it. I would keep trying his crib for naps and see how it goes.

I wouldn't say what she suggested was CIO but I wouldn't let a baby that young cry for more then 5 minutes.

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

I posted something similar this morning, and several people suggested a sleep positioner. I am going to give this a try.

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

First, what's CIO? lol
Second, I would try what the ped. suggetsed for a couple of nights. It can't hurt tyo see if it works. You gotta start somewhere. If it doesn't work, then I think you gotta do what gives you sanity at night! You need to sleep too!
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

At 5 mos my dd can not fall asleep on her own. We are a cosleeping family but naps are the tricky part for us. I think that habits do form. We are trying to figure out how to handle getting her to go down for naps and self soothe. One book I read recommended something similar in not letting the baby cry but comforting and placing back in the crib. In the book it said it could take over 100X of putting the baby back down. It is just getting to the point that I have no time to myself bc dd is always in my arms. Good luck!

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

Have you tried a bassinett/cosleeper in your room?

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

Hmm...I much like your dr. am very structured. I feel your pain however...my DD was difficult in the beginning to put into bassinett. I was holding her but I wasnt getting any sleep because I was terribly nervous with her there. I swaddled really tight and put a white noise machine IN her bassinett really loud and that worked. It also had the vibration button which I put on when she was really fussy. I would agree with your dr. that you should give it a try. I think theres a difference between CIO and whining. If my DD starts whining I let her continue and she usually goes down. Does your DC sleep in the swing? Bouncer? If the crib fails I would try those. I think wherever DC sleeps other then your arms is a step in the right direction. Good luck

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

Posted by pixie

Hmm...I much like your dr. am very structured. I feel your pain however...my DD was difficult in the beginning to put into bassinett. I was holding her but I wasnt getting any sleep because I was terribly nervous with her there. I swaddled really tight and put a white noise machine IN her bassinett really loud and that worked. It also had the vibration button which I put on when she was really fussy. I would agree with your dr. that you should give it a try. I think theres a difference between CIO and whining. If my DD starts whining I let her continue and she usually goes down. Does your DC sleep in the swing? Bouncer? If the crib fails I would try those. I think wherever DC sleeps other then your arms is a step in the right direction. Good luck

Re: Need advice on getting DC to sleep in the crib (long)

I started by doing all of DS's diaper changes in his crib. then after the diaper change, I would let him hang out w/ his mobil or his FP aquarium, in a few weeks, he was sleeping in his crib no problem. HTH!!!

ETA DS is 5 months and still napping in his swing

Message edited 2/16/2009 4:34:05 PM.