My 5 month old daugher will not stay asleep when I lay her down how can I break this?

Question

She is crawling, pulling herself up on things, and sitting up on her own so Im not sure if leaving her in the crib while she is awake is a good thing or not because she is tall enough that she could stand up and lose her balance and fall out. I admit yes she is use to be held but she is my first child and I guess you could say I give in to her real easy. Some say to let her cry it out and I have tried that but she turns almost blue in the face and some say let her fall asleep in your arms, Well I do that now and once I lay her down she wakes up. How can I help her out in falling asleep on her own. She doesnt take naps because of this as well. Please give me advice if you can. Thank You. Just to add she is on soy formula and cereal by spoon.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I remember my first baby.  I did the same thing.  I would always let him go to sleep in my arms, then when he got to be a little older he would wake up when I layed him down. The problems only got worse.  I ended up laying down and sleeping with him by the time he was 2 yrs.  Bad situation, he'd only go to sleep if I was laying in bed with him (he was in a normal size bed by then).
Well I learned my lesson!!  I was much smarter the second time around.  With my second baby, I let her learn to put herself to sleep.  I did not let her fall asleep in my arms all the time (on occasion ok).  She had to cry it out a couple of times, but that is fine.  Mothers let their babies cry to sleep all the time, it does not harm them.  
At 5 months she should not be able to crawl out of a crib if it set on the lowest mattress setting and the side rail is up to the top.  If you are overly concerned you can buy tents to put on the top.
My advice is get it under control now or she will have ALL the control!!!  
Start your bedtime routine and stick with it.  It may take several weeks before they catch on, but they will catch on!  Feed her the final feeding of the night, read a bedtime story, give a bath, give her a pacifier or blankie or stuffed animal or whatever you choose to use.  Give her hugs and kisses, lay her down pat her on the back, have a soothing CD playing every night.  Stay with her soothing her calmly til you see she is relaxing and on her way off to dreamland.
Then after she is used to this slowly work on shortening your time in the room with her.  Keep the same routine every night.  Kids love the security of routine!  She will get to the point that she looks forward to the relaxing time you have together before laying down.

Good luck!

peanut · Answer

I'm a first mom also one reason why she won't go to sleep is because you are her mother and she is attached to you and she feels safe with you but if you want her to go to sleep try baby bath helps the baby go to sleep.Give her a warm bath and a bottle and rock her to sleep. if that don't work lay her on your chest while both of you are laying down and rock her to sleep. an if you are trying to get something done you put her in the crib and she cry let her cry its got for her.if you keep picking her up that what she want you to do at all times.

Debby B · Answer

When it is time for her to go to sleep - you can lay her down and pat her w your hand- also you can lower the mattress on her crib and raise the bar and there is a tent you can put over the top of her  crib- D

smm · Answer

get her a blankie (perferably with your scent on it).  get her used to the idea of equating the blankie with sleep.  you could also try a teddy bear but some parents don't want to keep toys in the crib.  

good luck

Brandi D · Answer

let her sleep in a swing or vibrating chair. my daughter had an illness that I was suggested that she sleep sitting up so it must be ok

Trending News

My 5 month old daugher will not stay asleep when I lay her down how can I break this?

5 Answers