help...sleep

[Fuzzyfeltrabbit]

apologies if this is a stupid question, but we are first time parents and a bit lost. our little girl is 5 months old and only goes to sleep when she is jigged/rocked or fed to sleep.

I have gone back to work and daddy is looking after her in the day, she is ebf, having about 10-12 oz ebm during the day and waking about every 2-3 hours for feeds in the night. she is putting on weight well (was 11 lbs 3 at birth and following the 99th centile since) so no concerns there. until recently she would sleep at night in her moses basket, but only nap on one of use during the day, however we persisted and now she does stay asleep in her basket for naps when we put her on there, but we have to get her to sleep first.

my question is....how do we stop doing the jigging/swaying etc to get her to sleep?? or is this ok still for a 5 month old?? we asked our HV when she was about 8 weeks and she told us to let her cry...which I wasnt prepared to do when she was so tiny (well big - but you know what I mean) and since then I am reluctant to ask the HV for advice.

[valiumredhead]

Depends if it's a wee grizzle before bed or hysterical screaming.

Babies need rocking/feeding to sleep generally, you are lucky if you have one that doesn't ime.

[tinierclanger]

Hi FFR- we gradually weaned DS off rocking to sleep by putting him down just as his eyes were closing, picking him up and rocking again if that didn't work etc etc, then moved on to putting him down after he was starting to look dopey after a bit of rocking, then eventually we got to the point we could just put him down, sing to him and leave. Took a few weeks to get right through the process but you can do it gently and gradually. :) That was for night time - never really sorted it for day and he always slept in pram for day naps.

[CreatureRetorts]

Normal normal normal.

Normal.

At around 6 months, maybe slightly before, I started putting dd down on her front after some jigging etc and she would settle if I kept my hand on her back. We worked up to putting her down (always after a feed so she was relaxed) awake. It went backwards - sometimes she'd want rocking again for a few weeks then back to self settling.

[lolalotta]

I agree with Valium, it does depend on wether it's grizzling or screaming, when my DD was a baby, more often than not she would have a grizzle in bed before dropping off as she was just tired...

[Fuzzyfeltrabbit]

thank you for the responses.

the questions about is it a grizzle or a scream... not really sure what you are asking, I dont leave her to cry if thats what you mean (sorry - bit sleep deprived and confused) if we put her down sleepy/awake - she will mostly just lie there, often smiling at you and then become really distressed, rubbing her eyes and ears (which means she is tired)

I have tried shushing, patting, singing, hand on belly, my face on her cheek (now I have a bad back) warming the sheets, lavender smells etc etc...but she doesnt just go off to sleep.

Im glad to see its normal though - thank you again

[waterrat]

It's very normal - as she gets older you could try to get her sleepy but not quite asleep and put her down while she is still - just - awake - gradually make the gap between the rocking/ feeding and the cot a little bit longer.

Unless it's a problem for you don't worry about it. if it is a problem - I found the whole sleep thing got much easier once they can roll about/ sleep on their tummy, then DS would grab his toy bunny and roll onto his front and sleep - it's tricky when they go on their back, its not the most cosy way for anyone to sleep !

[valiumredhead]

A grizzle is the crying version of a quick moan before bed - you know nothing is wrong and they aren't hysterical.

Full on crying is when they are very very distressed.

I would have no hesitation about letting a 5 month old have a quick cry before bed tbh.

My ds ALWAYS cried before bed, my mum use to say it was him releasing his last bit of energy before crashing out