How do we break this sleep habit? Please help!

[margarita1979]

DS is almost 7 months. At around 5 months we were able to get him to fall asleep in his crib for nap time and bed time (there was some struggle, but he would eventually fall asleep). A sleep regression or wonder week or whatever hit at around 6 months and we ended up having to soothe him in his swing in order to get him to sleep (we would then move him to the crib once he was asleep). I've been trying lately to get back to putting him in the crib drowsy to sleep for naps and bedtime and he's NOT HAVING IT. The only exception is if he wakes during the night - I can put him in the crib drowsy and he'll fall asleep. We've been having to feed him most times in his swing because it restricts his movement - he's so squirmy in our arms and will suckle on the bottle for a bit and then pull away. This morning I tried once again to put him in the crib to sleep for his nap. He's calm at first and then after a while starts to cry, at which point I go in to see him (I don't like to hear him cry for too long ). He doesn't settle so I eventually put him in the swing, offer him food and he falls asleep eating. And then I move him to the crib. I don't even turn on the swing anymore - I just feed him there when he won't eat calmly in my arms. Arrgh, what have we done?!?! Does anybody have any advice on how to get DS to fall asleep in the crib that doesn't involve some sort of CIO method? Or is this the only way to break this bad habit? DS is getting close to the weight capacity of the swing, so we have to kick this habit as soon as possible. Any help is appreciated.

 

[belle254]

As he is over 6 months you could try your own version of the controlled crying method, maybe putting him down awake drowsy but not quite there, and when he cries return to console him every 1 minute, then 3 etc slowly extending with timings you're comfortable with? He'll know you haven't abandonded him but will get the message soon enough. Worked for our DD and now she falls asleep brilliantly within 10-20 mins. good luck xxx

 

[tigerlilly]

we put this down to separation anxiety.

 

[margarita1979]

As he is over 6 months you could try your own version of the controlled crying method, maybe putting him down awake drowsy but not quite there, and when he cries return to console him every 1 minute, then 3 etc slowly extending with timings you're comfortable with? He'll know you haven't abandonded him but will get the message soon enough. Worked for our DD and now she falls asleep brilliantly within 10-20 mins. good luck xxx

Thanks for this. I'll give it a try tomorrow. How long did it take your DD?

 

[margarita1979]

we put this down to separation anxiety.

Did the crying when you leave the room also happen during the day? We haven't seen this yet with DS - only at sleep time and only when we leave him in the crib (for example, we can leave him in the swing and leave the room and he won't cry).

 

[tigerlilly]

we put this down to separation anxiety.

Did the crying when you leave the room also happen during the day? We haven't seen this yet with DS - only at sleep time and only when we leave him in the crib (for example, we can leave him in the swing and leave the room and he won't cry).

not so much a cry but he shouts louder and louder to get us to come back, then he cries.

 

[Noelle610]

I think he just got into the habit of swinging to sleep. It happens!

I would just put him in his crib and stay with him while he falls asleep, but don't pick him up unless he's hysterical. Help him through it. He'll learn to sleep normally again!

 

[seaweed eater]

I wonder whether there's something you could use to make him feel snug if that's what he's missing from the swing. I assume he is rolling so swaddling is out of the question? Someone on the sleep thread uses a Zipadee-Zip with her older baby. If those are available in CA, that might be something to try.

Otherwise I would do what Noelle or Belle suggested. Either stay with him or check on him in intervals, depending on what works best. Intervals were a disaster for our LO but they work well for some babies.

 

[margarita1979]

I think he just got into the habit of swinging to sleep. It happens!

I would just put him in his crib and stay with him while he falls asleep, but don't pick him up unless he's hysterical. Help him through it. He'll learn to sleep normally again!

Thanks, Noelle! When I put him in the crib and leave the room, he babbles and coos for about 10 minutes. And then all of sudden it's like he notices that he's alone and his coos turn into cries. I don't actually turn the swing on at all anymore. He's so fussy when he eats that the swing is now just a place to feed him (and unfortunately, he falls asleep while eating most times). This is going to be a tough habit to break.

 

[margarita1979]

I wonder whether there's something you could use to make him feel snug if that's what he's missing from the swing. I assume he is rolling so swaddling is out of the question? Someone on the sleep thread uses a Zipadee-Zip with her older baby. If those are available in CA, that might be something to try.

Otherwise I would do what Noelle or Belle suggested. Either stay with him or check on him in intervals, depending on what works best. Intervals were a disaster for our LO but they work well for some babies.

I wonder about that. We have the snugabunny swing and it is nice and cozy. We never really got into the habit of swaddling him (only for the first month or so) - he would always find a way to break out of it. Yes, he's rolling quite a bit now and often sleeps on his side. I'll look into the Zipadee-Zip - thanks!

I tried doing the intervals today, but he got so hysterical that I eventually had to pick him up. It ended up that he was hungry, so I fed him and he fell asleep. I wonder if he's now just looking for that bottle when he's tired so he can get to sleep.

 

[seaweed eater]

Have you tried feeding him to sleep and then waking him up? Perhaps during the move to the crib?

 

[margarita1979]

Have you tried feeding him to sleep and then waking him up? Perhaps during the move to the crib?

Not on purpose. We move him almost right away after he falls asleep in the swing - he's in a deep sleep and doesn't usually wake. When he's woken up during the move to the crib, it's about 50/50 if he falls asleep on his own or wakes up.

 

[seaweed eater]

If he does fall asleep on his own after waking up, does he sleep any better? It sounds like a very small sample size so maybe you have not noticed a pattern.

 

[margarita1979]

If he does fall asleep on his own after waking up, does he sleep any better? It sounds like a very small sample size so maybe you have not noticed a pattern.

Hmm, no, haven't noticed. I'll start keeping track of that, though. Thanks!