How do I get my 10 month old baby to fall asleep herself?

Question

I have been trying for months to get my 10mth old baby to fall asleep herself. I used to hold her arms and legs down in bed, and face away from her, until she drifted off, which normally took 2-10 mins. She stands up, roams the cot,  screams and cries otherwise. I am now trying to train her to go to sleep herself, without me having to do that.

She is now in a bedtime routiene, (bath, milk, relax, then bed)  but her daytime naps are the main trouble.  I have tried the Cry it out method, and all she ends up doing is screaming her lungs out at me, and standing at the end of the cot, where her bedroom door is, crying and screaming until she is hysterical, and out of breath, and she gets herself to the stage where i'm worried she might pop a blood vessel in her head or something!  Is it safe to leave her to that stage?

 Any ideas on how to get her to nod off to sleep by herself without me holding her down?

? · Accepted Answer

Maybe you should get some baby bedtime music, turn out the lights and rock her to sleep. When she does fall asleep, keep the music on lightly.
The cry it out method is the wrong way to go!

Added: I understand what you mean about holding her down. Sometimes my baby starts moving like crazy and the more she moves, the more she wakes up...and also rips her binky out of her mouth and gets angry. So somtimes i put a little pressure on her arms to make her moving a little more difficult. It seems to help because she falls asleep easier that way!

daa · Answer

Why not just rock her to sleep and then lay her down?  Most babies aren't developmentally ready to fall asleep by themselves until they are older.  Letting her cry until she is hysterical is awful, and holding her down doesn't sound a whole lot better.  Do you really want these to be what she associates with bedtime or naptime?

Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful to Babies
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp

Sleep Index
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp

Bonnie C · Answer

does she have cartoons or music she can lay and fall asleep to?  I dont see why you cant let her cry a little, i would check on her every 10 mins though im not saying shove a tv infront of her face but my daughter likes it on just to fall asleep she is asleep within minutes with the tv on, remember a baby will only sleep if they are tired and they will also scream not knowing they are tired, if she doesnt fall asleep in 30 minutes she is probably not tired

LittleBarb · Answer

HOLD HER DOWN to get her to SLEEP?  oh my GOODNESS that is HORRIBLE---that's as bad as TYING HER UP WITH ROPES... that's VERY CRUEL and COULD cause her little bones in her arms and legs to actually BREAK---at the LEAST she must have brusing all over and that could and very well SHOULD be considered CHILD ABUSE!!!!!   Why not try sitting in a rocking chair and SINGING HER TO SLEEP and then put her in the crib already asleep???  that is how I put my child to bed EVERY NIGHT for the first 5 years of his life...   it was calm, it was peaceful, it was quiet time and the gentle rocking and light music in the background soothed him to sleep... there was NEVER any RESTRAINING by PHYSICAL MEANS!!!!   and there NEVER SHOULD BE....you will give that child a trauma that will last a LIFETIME... please stop that HORRIBLE restraining NOW.... give her a bath. and put her in her pjs and then rock her even if it takes 1/2 hour---it's still a peaceful quiet time that you BOTH might need and the closeness could actually bond you two together more...

Anonymous · Answer

My son wanted me to hold him every night and day until he fell asleep but I got tired of doing that so what I did was since he liked sleeping on his stomach better that his back I would put him in his crib he rolls onto his stomach and I pat him on his back each one lighter than the last and I would sing him a song until I could move without him knowing I was gone and by the time I finished he was sleep. If she sleeps on her back you could rub she tummy and sing her a song.

surfer lover · Answer

my sister has a ten month old baby and you dont restrain the baby you let it play its self to sleep they love to play music can hurt a babys ear drums and you should try warming up the milk to room temperture then feed before you go to put the baby down for a nap. need anymore help contact me at soccerchick4_ever@yahoo.com 

p.s and for afternoon naps you should try to sleep with the baby and you know cause it would be good for you and the baby

darkcarnivalprincess1 · Answer

IF YOU SHOW HER ANY ATTENTION THEN SHE WILL KEEP IT UP IF SHE REFUSES TO TAKE A NAP WITHOUT YOU THEN KEEP HER UP TILL BED TIME I HAVE THREE KIDS AND IF THEY WONT DO IT WHEN I TELL THEM TO THEY DONT DO IT. IF THEY DONT EAT WITHIN 2 HOURS THEY GO HUNGRY IF THEY DONT LAY DOWN FOR A NAP THEY DONT GET ONE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRUEL BUT DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES UNLESS SHE CRIES HERSELF SICK JUST LEAVE HER ALONE SHE WILL LEARN IF THAT SEAMS TOO CRUEL THEN TRY MUSIC OPERA OR CLASSICAL.

Anonymous · Answer

http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/6058.xml

http://www.askdrsears.com//html/7/T070300.asp 

hope this help! =]

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How do I get my 10 month old baby to fall asleep herself?

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