Cries/screams himself to sleep no matter what I do

[mummytobe_93]

Sounds tough
Have you tried White noise? A walk in the pram or a car ride? X

 

[MindUtopia]

I didn't really read all the other responses, so maybe someone suggested this, but it looks like he's 7 months. What's he doing developmentally right now? Is anything big about to happen or just starting to happen? We had this with our daughter (though wasn't naps - she always napped on me anyway, it was bedtime) at 8/9 months. It was because she was just starting to crawl, stand and cruise. When they are in the midst of a big developmental leap, their brains are really active just as they are falling asleep doing all the big work of development. So they find it really hard to shut off and fall asleep. It was a phase and it lasted until she passed through that developmental jump (for us, about 2 months, was much better by 10-11 months). I did whatever seemed to work best in the moment. Sometimes that was holding her, sometimes it was laying her down and sitting next to her and comforting her, rubbing her back, playing music, just staying with her until she calmed down and could fall asleep. Basically, I just did whatever seemed to upset her less, even if she was still upset. Eventually, she popped out the other end and was fine.

 

[Fizzyfefe]

Yes, we use white noise for all his sleep times. It helps drown out the noise in my apartment complex, especially our lead-footed upstairs neighbors with two children. He falls asleep in the car no problem, I'm thinking because the vibration is relaxing to a lot of babies, but I did not want to take him out for a drive every single time he had a nap.

I gave him the giraffe for his nighttime sleep, and it was so adorable. He was cuddling with it all night long. Fingers crossed it works for his naps today.

The doctor also recommended that I start him on solids (read: cereal) at three and a half months because he had good head control. Um... No. I couldn't believe my ears that the doctor was recommending it.

Thanks so much, everyone. I'll update again when we go lay down for his first nap.

 

[Fizzyfefe]

Well, ladies, I have a perfectly content sleeping baby. There was absolutely no crying or fussing at all. It's amazing!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Looks like he just needed a sleeping buddy!

 

[jodilee6]

That's such a cute picture

Can I ask where you got the giraffe? We have a sleep sheep at the moment but it's broken so I'm after a replacement

 

[Fizzyfefe]

Haha, who would've thought a giraffe was better than mama? Thanks so much for your suggestion, SurpriseBub! I never would've thought to use it.

Jodilee, thanks, and my mother in law purchased it at Walmart. It was on clearance at the time, so it may not be available anymore. I hope you find something!

 

[SarahBear]

Cereal at 3 months? I can't believe any modern doctors would recommend that! Research says 6 months. I'm not even giving my 6 month old food though because he threw up after swallowing the tiniest bit of solids. He's just not ready yet. I started my first at a week short of 6 months.

 

[Ecoden]

DD is doing this for bedtime and naptime but not for very long. 5 min or less for naps and 20 min or less at bedtime (feels like eternity.)

OP-So great to see something worked for you! Does anyone know the safety concerns for loveys at 6 months? I always thought no toys in the crib for SIDS etc. I do know that she's strong enough to move a small toy so my gut says it's probably fine?

 

[Fizzyfefe]

I'm not sure what the suggestion is regarding stuffed animals in the cot, sorry! For us personally, I believe he has enough dexterity to move the toy, plus it does not have an attached blanket (like some that I've seen), so no risk of covering his face.

Unfortunately, the giraffe stopped working a few days ago. We're back to him screaming for almost every nap, and even now sometimes at night when I first put him down. He'll hold on to the giraffe and scream and cry. I was so excited that it was working for a while, and I have no idea what changed.

I'm sitting right there next to him, or holding him, and he's screaming. I feel like such a horrible mother.

 

[sezzolou]

Ds2 is now the same, where as before he would cry for 5 minutes then sleep now he cries for longer whether I'm in the room or not. He's even worse if I hold him and tries to wriggle free. Think it's a sleep regression for him, he's nearly 9 months. When he does fall to sleep he only naps for 30 minutes instead of the 1-2 hours he was doing a couple weeks back. He still self settles without a peep at bedtime though.

 

[BabyCleo]

We have a giraffe too... maybe giraffes are the answer?

Did you try maybe switching out the toy for a different one? My LO sleeps with "ellie" the elephant (a stuffed pink elephant) and we have a giraffe that makes noise so she dosent fall asleep to silence.

He may like to switch it up!

 

[sezzolou]

Fingers crossed things are settling here. I put new batteries in his sheep with the White noise as it had gone really quiet. Also I have started putting him in his grobag for naps too. Last 3 naps he's settled with no crying and slept for 1.5 hours.

 

[Indi84]

My son was just like this, he'd scream and cry even in my arms. It was incredibly hard work! He grew out of it eventually but I had a tough first year. He's never really been calmed by hugs etc even as a older toddler now a hug doesn't help if he's in a mood!