"Drowsy but awake'.... then what?!

[Cindy1802]

I'm interested to hear from those who have followed advice to put a baby down to sleep drowsy but awake to teach them to self settle. What do you do once they are in their cot?! My LO would just waken himself up fully again by thrashing around and whining... what's the secret?! He's only just 3 months old for ref. I'm not particularly bothered by having to hold or rock him to sleep at the moment, just genuinely curious as I know how he would react if I put him down drowsy but awake - as I know there will come a time when I would like him to be able to self settle.

Well all babies are different and react differently. At that age both our children were fed or cuddled to sleep. We did a sort of gradual retreat with them both, DC1 was going to bed awake around 12 months and DC2 around 8 months.

My daughter is 5 months and I’ve realised drowsy doesn’t work for her she just thrashes about but awake seems to work, where she then finds her rhythm to soothe herself to sleep usually within 15 mins of putting down. I find however it’s not as successful for naps but I think that’s probably partly my fault as I’m always clock watching whereas at night I just sit in a chair away from her reading. (She can’t see me) so I give her the time.

right now I think your little one is young but no harm in seeing what would happen if you put down awake. So a feed cuddle good night. If they cry then just pickup and leave it but can try again another time.

Tbh, I often go with "ungently put down heavily asleep"!

Aka, I plonk him down, he stirs a bit, realises where he is but is too drowsy to resist.