Baby won't sleep in crib!?

Ok, I know you are flooded with different opinions, so I can only tell you my experiences. While my second son was breast-fed, he slept in a "moses basket" for 4 months. Then we bought him a crib and began the process of transitioning him into it. During the beginning months it was horrible. He would wake up every hour or so, more frequently than he had while breastfeeding. My pediatician actually suggested that I let him "cry it out" and it was horrible for both of us. We tried it for 3 days and I just couldn't torture him anymore. I felt like making him suffer wasn't helping, especially because he is slightly more "clingly" than my first son. While my first son was totally independent, my younger son was always more of a hugger, cuddler-we'd pick him up after letting him cry and he'd just squeeze as tight as he could. Let me tell you-those 3 days was enough. Heres what we do-at bed time, both children get a bath, and book time. The older one gets in his bed, and I rock the younger one to sleep while sitting with the older child so he doesn't feel neglected. If the baby wakes up-I rock him back to sleep and put him back in the crib. If he wakes up again, I rock him back to sleep and put him directly back in the crib. It took months for him to sleep through the night, but he began sleeping till morning at 12months. Yes it was exhausting, but in the long run it was best for both of us. Best wishes-and do whats right for you.

Most parents keep a newborn in a bassinet in their bedroom for a couple of months just so the baby is near and the mom needs to nurse the baby. A baby is perfectly safe in a crib as well. Just make sure you always put the baby on his/her back, not on their belly, and make sure there isn't fluffy comforters or bumpers in the crib so that the baby can somehow get twisted up in or have her/his head covered with. Having a tiny baby sleeping in the parent's bed can be very dangerous-rolling on the baby or accidentally covering their face so they can't breath. I'd ask your mother-in-law for an explanation. Do some research on SIDS. Congrats and best wishes on the baby.

Ultimately you need to do what is best for you, your husband and your baby. First and foremost you need to protect your baby, and that means preventing any sleep position that will risk injury. If she is in the bed at all in the future, I would recommend getting a wedge pillow or guard rail to prevent her from getting wedged between the bed and wall again. As for your sleep situation, since I'm not sure of the parenting style you and your husband have chosen to follow there are many possibilities, most rely heavily on the parenting philosophies you have chosen to use with your baby. If you are comfortable with letting her cry it out, you may want to look up some information on Ferberizing and self-soothing as a guideline for how long and under what circumstances to let your baby cry during this transition. If you prefer not to then I would recommend something by Dr. Sears. If her sleeping in the crib is the best choice for your family you may have a long road ahead of you either way to change her sleep association. Babies are creatures of habit and she does not associate her crib with sleeping, and therefore it may take time to teach her that cribs are for sleeping and for her to become familiar and comfortable with that association. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you and your husband are on the same page and able to support each other.

DO NOT LET YOUR BABY CRY IT OUT. These people are ridiculous. OK, so you made some mistakes and let this go on, but the way to fix it is NOT to let your child be terrified/alone/crying. How could this ever fix anything??? It's horrible and causes psychological harm. Disagree and give me a million thumbs down...I do NOT care. It goes against a mother's instincts to let her baby cry knowing that she can fix it, and for good reason. You have those instincts for a reason....listen to them.

If the baby sleeps OK with your husband then why not let her??? If he works nights, can you sleep with your daughter?

Co-sleeping is amazing for a baby/toddler. There are many great benefits. You should never co-sleep on a couch. Make sure the bed is safe for the baby, and your good to go! You should look into co-sleeping because you will find that it's very good. Your baby is crying for a reason, don't ignore that (if you're even able to get through it, which you shouldn't really be able to).

Look up how to make your bed safe for the baby. Please don't let your baby CIO. Think of how she will feel, EVEN if you plan on comforting her. The best comfort you can give is allowing her to be with you. =] Good luck.

If you want to put your baby to sleep in 20 seconds you must get the "Instant Baby Sleep" MP3 sound track. Here is their official web-site: http://www.instantbabysleep.net/

The sound track gently produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the Alpha state well known for drowsiness and sleep induction.

Absolutely let her cry it out. It will seem like she's going to die, like she's in trouble, like she's choking...but don't go near that door. Don't close the door unless you have a baby monitor in there, just leave the door ajar, and don't go and check on her or she'll fight to get you back even if it's just to the door.

Don't stop talking and huddle on one another, mortified at the sounds, but keep sounds in the house going that she is used to hearing, like doing dishes, television, talking to one another, the shower running, etc. and that will provide some comfort to help her through her ordeal. She may put you through this for three or four nights but she has to cry it out, fall asleep and then learn that you aren't coming. She'll settle down and accept that sleepy time is in the crib, and you'll learn that it's just one of many growing pains to come.

Best wishes to you mommy and daddy! =) (((HUG))) for both of you!!!

She sleeps in her crib no matter what. let her cry till she falls asleep. As long as she's still breathing and has all her needs taken care of before bedtime she'll be fine. Don't coddle her or anything, but check every now and then don't even let her see you. Don't let her nap in anything but her crib, so she knows that the crib is a comfortable safe place for her to sleep. DO NOT let her sleep in the bed with you. It will be torture and you'll want to give in, but it will be better for all involved in the long run....good luck.

Youre definatly going to have to let her cry it out. Make sure the crib has things that comfort her. A mobile, pretty colors, music. She wont notice it right now because she'll be crying but eventually she will get tired and calm down to find the music and lights she has to look at and listen to. Alot of people may answer this and say that you should let her cry it out. Alot of people on here have that opinion..but in my opinion if you dont let her cry it out.. you'll have this problem alot longer than you want it. When my son was 6months I let him start going to sleep with a little bit left in his bottle. Alot of people also disagree with this but I use the drop ins so hewouldnt get air in his belly, and I made sure his blanket was tucked under his arms so he couldnt pull it over his head. He went to bed with his bottle till he was 1 year and he never cried at bedtime. Once I took that from him he had to cry it out..which took a few days. But eventually she will give up and go to sleep I promise. U just have to bear through the crying. Youll be glad you did when she doesnt cry anymore after a few days. Either way you go.. she will just have some getting used to to do.! Good luck!

What you did was really bad. I would either let her fall asleep on the couch or a car seat and wait until she is fully asleep, then move her to a crib or let her cry it out. What ever you do, DO NOT LET HER SLEEP IN YOUR BED. It is the worst thing that a child can do.

Sleep well-- you deserve it mom!

For the CIOs-- CIO is cruel. Babies cry because they need help. Human babies are meant to be carried with their parents-- they can't walk, feed themselves or protect themselves. That cranking up that your blood pressure does when your babies cry? Instinctive response to help the baby. All primate babies are deeply dependent on their mothers. Part of the tradeoff for having the big brain (in contrast to a horse for example) is that our babies are born helpless and stay that way for a long time. Ignoring their cries for your comfort is literally inhuman.