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07.21.08, 12:27 PM General Topics
18 replies
Help! 5 mo old DD used to fall asleep at the breast for naps and for some reason no longer can. Instead she begins to fuss after feeding because she can't soothe herself to sleep and the rest of the day she's a big crank and I'm trying to get her down for a nap. She'll quiet down on my shoulder, but won't fall asleep on my shoulder. She just won't nap! Any suggestions? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.21.08, 12:27 PM Flag
 

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please dont read this as being preachy, becasue Ive been there. But this is why they tell you not to develop these sort of sleep crutches. Have you considered nap training? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:34 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:34 PM Flag
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she'll fall asleep in the carseat if i'm driving and used to stay asleep upon getting home but not for very long anymore. i think her finally crashing works [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:45 PM Flag
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i know i know! my dh made the same point to me earlier and i didn't realize that her ability to fall asleep on the breast would vanish! i just thought that it would be a problem when she got older and was weaning. are there nap trainers? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:43 PM Flag
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or: how is her sleeping at night? You dont need to hire someone, but you may have to go the cio route. We had to, but it worked out [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:50 PM Flag
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can't complain there at all. she sleeps through, i think, because she's so exhausted [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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or: beware - eventually, this too can be disrupted if you cant get her naps on track. I agree with poster below - you dont HAVE to cio. read some books for suggestions. At the same time, Im just not the kind of mom who can just take naps on the floor with her baby. #1 dont want to #2 I work #3 ds would never sleep that way,either. you do what works for you [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:14 PM Flag
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sleep crutches? Every child will outgrow this. OP, this is the age when sleep gets really difficult for many babies. Some will tell you to let the child cry it out now and force them to learn how to self-soothe. I suggest to get the No Cry Sleep Solutions book and read about some ways to get your kid to sleep without tears. They are not going to work as fast as letting the child cry but they eventually help. All my kids were not able to self-sooth until they were around 18 months old. Until then we nursed (until weaned), rocked, sang, slept next to them on the floor, etc. Now they are much older and sleep like angels at night. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:05 PM Flag
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Have you tried swaddling after she finishes? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:52 PM Flag
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Dh and I are swaddling retards and gave up after a week when she was 1 month old. guess i could try again [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 12:59 PM Flag
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definitely try again. And I highly recommend the "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD, just for the swaddling demo. Get a big blanket - at least 42" sq [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:10 PM Flag
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you could try the "miracle blanket" It looks like a gimmick but it actually made swaddling easier. Don't fret too much if you can help it--what works to get them to sleep one week can be entirely different the next. Just keep trying different things until you find what works, then be ready to change! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:20 PM Flag
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Did you try to walk her outside in a stroller? My first child was a stroller napper and the first 2 years of her life that was the only way to make her nap. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:08 PM Flag
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I have in the early morning and she'll fall asleep towards the end of the walk and it seems to work. But it's too hot out right now to do that in the afternoon with the kind of stroller that i have (believe me, i wish i could walk her outside and just get out of the house). I've noticed that when I transfer her from the carseat to the crib or the stroller to the crib when she's asleep, she'll wake up after 40 min. I found a website that says that babies wake up intermittently after each sleep cycle (20-40 min) and if they see they are in a new place when they wake up they might cry out instead of soothing themselves back to sleep. That is also a problem - once I do get her to sleep she doesn't stay asleep long enough. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:16 PM Flag
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yes. Every human being wakes up multiple times during the night. Babies don't have the experience and the maturity to know that they are not alone and therefore start crying. That said, the weather should not stop you from taking the child out. Get a good sun shield (like a Protect-a-Bub or that Hippo thing), load up with bottles of water, and walk around the block. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 01:23 PM Flag
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Thanks for all the suggestions! Wouldn't you know it? DD finally fell asleep after three hours. Not due to any soothing method I was trying, but finally from sheer exhaustion and hunger - on the breast . . . I guess I'll try again tomorrow. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 02:41 PM Flag
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Try a pacifier. My bf baby wanted it over the breast for falling asleep (that "crutch" business is nonsense, btw. These are all just phases, and will change, as you found out!) Do whatever works for her (ie, not CIO, which will damage your relationship w/ db, IMO) and gl! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.21.08, 08:00 PM Flag
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Yay! DD fell asleep on her own in the buggy with gentle rocking after fussing on me and fussing in the crib (no fussing in the buggy, just head turning and little moans for ~5 min). I'll focus on the buggy for naps now and try to transition her to the crib a little later. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.22.08, 06:52 AM Flag
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