Name: Tina
Angleton, TX
Number of kids: 1
Ages of kids: 6 months
Problem: I have a 6 month old son and he is fine all day long even at nap time, but when it gets time to go to sleep in his crib for the night. The battle starts. When we try to rock him and give him a bottle all he does is kick and twist and turn and fight us. We have been told to put him in his crib and let him cry for about 5 minutes the first time, then about 10 the next time and so on. We have let him cry up to 20-25 minutes before. We have tried to let him fall asleep in his swing, but nothing ever seems to work. I think we have tried it all. If you have any new ideas please e mail me and let me know. Thank you for your time.
Editor's Note: I wrote to Tina and asked how her son finally did get to sleep at night, so you would have a bit more to go on. The following is what she wrote back to me:
I just keep fighting back and forth with my son till he gets so exhausted he finally gives up. Normally he fights it out till about 12 or 1 in the morning. Then sometimes he is up at 5 or 6 am to eat then goes right back to sleep, then sometimes he'll sleep till 9 or 10 in the morning. It all depends on how long he fought his sleep that night. I can tell you that I sure wish he would out grow this, he is really wearing me out. I'm glad that I don't have to work during the day. I don't know how I would do it.
Solution submitted by climbers mom from Chicago, IL: When my son was younger (he is two now) he also did not want to go to sleep. My husband and I fought over how bedtime would go. I was tough and my husband was the softie. I found that having some bedtime rituals helped. After dinner, we washed up, changed diaper, put on pajamas, and played. All bedtime activities were calming. I read to him and nursed him until he went to sleep then I quietly put him down in his crib. I also used a cassette tape called "No Crying/Fussy" by Baby.go.to.sleep. It is a cassette tape of lullabies with a heartbeat sound throughout. It's very soothing.
But sure enough, even if any of my suggestions help, the situation will surely change. I've found that as soon as one phase ends another one begins. Good Luck.
Editor's Comment: Ain't that the truth!
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