Getting Baby to lay down and take a nap?

I made the same mistake with my son when he was little..I would hold him and sing him to sleep when I was feeding him his bottle and then it got to the point where he was a year old and I was still having to hold, rock and sing him to sleep. I eventually just had to put him in his crib and let him cry himself to sleep and I never went back to holding him to put him to sleep ever again. It was definitely the worst thing that I ever started, and it literally broke my heart to listen to him cry and scream the way that he did those first few nights I let him cry himself to sleep. I assure you all will be okay..you just need to break the bad habit now before it goes any further. After she stops crying for a few, walk in a check on her..it's really hard.

Good luck!

As painful as it is you just need to let her cry. She has formed a habit with you and knows that if she puts up a stink you will rock her to sleep. She doesn't do it with you mother-in-law 'cause she knows she won't get away with it. It will be really difficult for the first few days but when she finally figures out that you are not going to rock her to sleep anymore she will adapt.

I had a similar problem with my son. My husband would rock him to sleep every time. Because I would just put him in his crib and not rock him I would always have a difficult time putting him down. My husband went on a business trip for two weeks so it was just my son and I. By the third day he got the hang of it. Now all I have to do is put my son in his crib when he is tired, give him his blanket and stuffed animal and he falls right to sleep.

It's tough at first but it is better in the long run :)

pick up put down you can read about it at www.babywhisper.com

basically you put her in the crib after holding her for 5 mins. if she cries you pick her up and put her down the second she stops crying. then if she cries you repeat the process. it wont be easy but it will teach her you mean business without making her cry it out and she will learn independent sleep

Try putting the shirt you wore yesterday into the crib with her. The smell of you will be comforting.