[UPDATED a/o 6/8] Transition from swing to crib

UGH! So Ryan was SO tired last night and I was really stressed about the transition pending. I bathed him a little earlier and nursed him in his room in the glider (in the dark with the mobile music on). After rocking with him for a few minutes I put him down in the crib and stood behind him and SHHHHH'd him while he settled in. Then I left (leaving him with his mobile that does a light show on the ceiling and sleep sheep). He fell asleep on his own at 8:30PM. I was so proud and relieved.
THEN, he was up at 11PM - UGHHHHH! Only 2.5 hrs. I nursed him in the glider and fell asleep so we slept in the chair til 1AM. I awoke, he was still sleeping - I put him back in the crib and he only slept for 30-minutes. By 1:45AM he was awake and screaming and up every hour on the hour after that - by this time I brought him into the room and he slept with me or in the co-sleeper.

At 4AM he was beside himself and DH had to get up and walk him around the house to soothe him.

Needless to say I'm and so is baby boy. So, I guess we try again tonight - I am SO not looking forward to going backwards with his sleep stretches

Night 2 of the transition - Not much better but small improvements

We put him down around 8:35PM and he was out by 8:45PM. He woke up for the first time at 12AM Only 3.25 hrs but better than the 2.5 the night before. He ate for about 5 minutes tops then DH soothed him and put him back down. He fell back asleep in his crib by 12:30AM. Up at 2:30AM. I fed him in my bed and tried to sleep with him for a bit but he was fidgety and only napped. I transitioned him back into the crib at 4AM where he slept til 5:45AM. I fed him again and tried to put him in the co-sleeper next to me - he thought it was play time (also he had broken out of his miracle blanket). So, I put him back in the crib and he went back to sleep til about 7:15AM. He woke up fussing again - I brought him in my bed and fed him and we both til 9:15ish.
So, pretty much a 3+hr stretch to kick it off and then no more than 2 hrs. BUT, he is going down is his crib.
He really does seem to be fighting the MB - I feel like when he gets up he wakes up more because of the energy he exerts to break free. But, I know his little flying arms do wake him - so what to do I did use the sleep sack when I put him back in in the morning - maybe I'll try that tonight.

Oh, and we did elevate the mattress a bit. Then when we went to check on him, he went from laying parallel in the crib to perpendicular that was interesting - I would have loved to see how he got there but our video monitor was being quirky

Night 3
Getting slightly better every night. He had a bath around 8:15PM and was exhausted. I nursed him immediately after and he couldn't stay up to eat. He fell asleep by 8:30PM but I knew it wouldn't last since he doesn't stay asleep if I move him while sleeping for long. He woke up around 9PM so I went back in and fed him some more and kept him up so he would be awake when I set him in the crib. He went down by 9:15PM awake and put himself to sleep by 9:25PM. He lasted until 1:20AM - not awesome, but again, better with each night. I went in and just turned his Sleep Sheep back on and shh'd behind him for a few minutes and he went back to sleep until 2:15AM (so I didn't even need to pick him up). At 2:30AM I nursed him quickly and had to readjust his MB which he was tangled up in. He went back in by 2:30AM and woke the next time at 4:50AM. I turned the sheep back on and he made it til 5:45AM when DH got him and broke him into bed so I could nurse him. We both went back to bed (in my bed) til almost 8AM. So he was up a few times but needed little soothing to go back down. Needless to say, I was pretty much up from the first wake-up (ca. 1:20AM) til 5 something anticipating each wake

Message edited 6/8/2008 9:43:10 AM.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

ugh - that stinks - i feel your pain with no sleep.

Think of it this way - you will eventually have to do this transition - (we put our swing away by 6 months - so it won't last forever) and it's better to just get it over with now and soon enough he'll be loving his crib.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

DH is ready to ban the swing altogether already so he's not attached to it - he's only 11wks! I'm not ready - nor is Ryan!!

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Hang in there! It will all work out...it's just a matter of time.

Of the few things I learned and retained....anything new with a baby takes a lot of time and dedication to work.

And the best advice I can pass along to you (from a family friend that really helped me) - your son takes cues from you. If you are stressed he feels it. So tonight...you have to resolve that this will work! That this is the best thing for him and you have to make sure that you come across all smile...even if he cries. At night you have to resolve that it's okay and you'll be there for him for as much as he needs.

It'll help him but it will also help you to have your game on!

Of course...you don't HAVE to do any of this - sorry for writing it that way.

Message edited 6/6/2008 9:57:18 AM.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Oh, I'm so sorry!! I'll keep my fingers crossed that it goes better tonight. You're making me glad we did the bassinet to crib transition before he started sleeping well. At least I was used to no sleep.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

How does Ryan do in the cosleeper? That's the bassinet type thing that goes by the bed right?

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

that is very frustrating! good luck again tonight and hang in there!

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Jes.... does he have reflux?

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Did you try swaddling, they are used to being all cozy, maybe swaddled in his crib he will feel more secure.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

It's going to be hard, but you have to do it! The month of March was hell for us because we transitioned her from the car seat to the crib. I started by napping with her and nursing her laying down so she would fall asleep laying down and got used to it. Then we started putting her in the crib in a sleep positioner so she was still slightly inclined. Then once she could roll, she would sleep on her stomach. I know it goes against all recommendations, but have you tried having him sleep on his belly?

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

I was just going to ask if you swaddle him. This may help out alot.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Posted by mosh913

It's going to be hard, but you have to do it! The month of March was hell for us because we transitioned her from the car seat to the crib. I started by napping with her and nursing her laying down so she would fall asleep laying down and got used to it. Then we started putting her in the crib in a sleep positioner so she was still slightly inclined. Then once she could roll, she would sleep on her stomach. I know it goes against all recommendations, but have you tried having him sleep on his belly?

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

It's a good thing that he actually went to sleep on his own in the crib though, right? Does he get points for this?

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

my dd is 8m and used the swing to fall asleep in then transfer to crib. A few weeks ago i was able to just rock her and place her in crib and she would be asleep, but the last few nights we been back to the swing. I really need to break this habit, b/c Im sure shes getting to the limit on that swing..

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Sorry you had a bad night... Ive had many just the same! Have you tried Womb noises? The book the happiest baby on the block... the 5 S's has been helpful. I put the cd of womb noises on repeat at night.. helped a bit.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Posted by SweetCaroline

Posted by BabySammie
I'm concerned about transferring him in already asleep too - we really want him to be able to go to bed on his own. That much we got last night - it's staying asleep that he didn't care to do

Maybe he doesnt like sleeping flat.. have you tried a wedge under the mattress.. that will elevate his head a bit, and may make him more comfortable.

Re: First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Posted by BabySammie

Posted by SweetCaroline

Posted by BabySammie
I'm concerned about transferring him in already asleep too - we really want him to be able to go to bed on his own. That much we got last night - it's staying asleep that he didn't care to do

Maybe he doesnt like sleeping flat.. have you tried a wedge under the mattress.. that will elevate his head a bit, and may make him more comfortable.

I'll try that tonight - can't hurt!

Re: [UPDATE with second attempt] First real attempt at swing to crib transition

Night 2 of the transition - Not much better but small improvements

We put him down around 8:35PM and he was out by 8:45PM. He woke up for the first time at 12AM Only 3.25 hrs but better than the 2.5 the night before. He ate for about 5 minutes tops then DH soothed him and put him back down. He fell back asleep in his crib by 12:30AM. Up at 2:30AM. I fed him in my bed and tried to sleep with him for a bit but he was fidgety and only napped. I transitioned him back into the crib at 4AM where he slept til 5:45AM. I fed him again and tried to put him in the co-sleeper next to me - he thought it was play time (also he had broken out of his miracle blanket). So, I put him back in the crib and he went back to sleep til about 7:15AM. He woke up fussing again - I brought him in my bed and fed him and we both til 9:15ish.
So, pretty much a 3+hr stretch to kick it off and then no more than 2 hrs. BUT, he is going down is his crib.
He really does seem to be fighting the MB - I feel like when he gets up he wakes up more because of the energy he exerts to break free. But, I know his little flying arms do wake him - so what to do I did use the sleep sack when I put him back in in the morning - maybe I'll try that tonight.

Oh, and we did elevate the mattress a bit. Then when we went to check on him, he went from laying parallel in the crib to perpendicular that was interesting - I would have loved to see how he got there but our video monitor was being quirky

Re: [UPDATED a/o 6/8] Transition from swing to crib

Night 3
Getting slightly better every night. He had a bath around 8:15PM and was exhausted. I nursed him immediately after and he couldn't stay up to eat. He fell asleep by 8:30PM but I knew it wouldn't last since he doesn't stay asleep if I move him while sleeping for long. He woke up around 9PM so I went back in and fed him some more and kept him up so he would be awake when I set him in the crib. He went down by 9:15PM awake and put himself to sleep by 9:25PM. He lasted until 1:20AM - not awesome, but again, better with each night. I went in and just turned his Sleep Sheep back on and shh'd behind him for a few minutes and he went back to sleep until 2:15AM (so I didn't even need to pick him up). At 2:30AM I nursed him quickly and had to readjust his MB which he was tangled up in. He went back in by 2:30AM and woke the next time at 4:50AM. I turned the sheep back on and he made it til 5:45AM when DH got him and broke him into bed so I could nurse him. We both went back to bed (in my bed) til almost 8AM. So he was up a few times but needed little soothing to go back down. Needless to say, I was pretty much up from the first wake-up (ca. 1:20AM) til 5 something anticipating each wake

Re: [UPDATED a/o 6/8] Transition from swing to crib

I know its so tough, especially because I'm sure you are exhausted (trust me, I know)---but I really think you are making progress!!!