A non-sleeping baby can really change the mood in a home, and we don't mean for the better. Here's how to make sure baby - and by extension, YOU - gets some quality sleep!
Paid close attention to his inner clock.... When he started exhibiting signs of falling asleep we would quickly lay him in his crib or bassinet instead of letting him fall asleep on one of us. Sometimes he would fuss for a bit after we laid him down. The length of the fussing time grew shorter and shorter.... Sleep time grew longer and longer. At six months he was sleeping through the night and continues to be an excellent sleeper. I can't say for certain if it was our technique or if he was just a baby who loved sleep. Maybe a bit of both.
Amy F.
No night light. Swaddle snugly. Make sure they are tired but not over-tired. I believe in strict sleep schedules - and let them sleep. Don't wake a sleeping baby, and don't keep them up to suit your schedule. Tanya M.
We tried everything: snuggling, swaddling, breastfeeding, even the late night car rides. That one so backfired; she just sat there ooing and gurgling at the street lights. We came upon the solution quite by accident. Hubby used to lounge around in the evening without a shirt on (it was summer), and it was common for Sunnie to end up stretched out on his chest. We began to notice she always doze off. After observing her for a short period we realized she'd rub her face and fingers in his chest hair and fall fast asleep. Weird, but it worked. I would even have to phone him at work to come home and snuggle her for a few minutes. Thank goodness he worked locally for a family run business and the owner was very understanding. Eventually my husbands chest was replaced with a fuzzy blanket. Karen B.
The white noise machine and a soother. Andrea P.
I'd swaddle him up and rock him while rubbing his forehead lightly with my fingers - did same with all my kids. Michelle L.
Holding her while bouncing up and down on an exercise ball! Mari C.
Swaddling....as snug as you can get. I also found a light hat (like a skull cap) really helped. With a new born they say it is all about mimicking the womb experience so we also did the white noise. Lisa S.
Carry her around the apartment with music going and add some dancing. I only did this for a while as I did not want that to be the only way she would learn to fall asleep, though. Brenda N.
Let my son hear my heartbeat with skin to skin contact. You have to remember that when the baby was inside, your heart beats were his lullaby that soothed him/her. Ushma D.
Turn the vacuum cleaner on and swaddle them - worked for both my babies. Amanda T.
With my son I would hold him close and rock him and very lightly, saying shhhhhhhhh near his ear. Also, I would slowly move my finger to the bridge between his eyebrows and touch leave my finger for a second and he would be out. Tina W.
Walking while bouncing her, with lots of shhh shhh shhh. Worked like a charm for my girl. Paula G.
My son would never - I mean NEVER - sleep. But for some reason he would zone out to the sound of the vacuum, but I couldn't run it for two hours without burning it out and/or driving myself crazy. (Although the house would be clean!) A friend of mine with access to recording equipment burned a 3 hour CD of vacuuming for me to play in my son's room. I owe that lady my sanity from '04- '06. Jeni M.
The sound machine/white noise machine and a bouncy chair that allows you to bounce with your foot. Meghan R.
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