Letting Older Children Cry It Out Isnt As Effective
Once your toddler is out of a crib and has begun communicating their opinions, cry it out becomes a less appealing option.
Why is that? Well, a toddler who isnt in a crib has more say in where they sleep. They dont always stay put.
Some of them will throw a pretty epic tantrum if allowed to cry themselves to sleep. In many cases, these kids will totally trash their bedroom as a way of expressing their outrage.
Plus, its a lot harder to hear a child crying it out when they can talk.
So letting an older child cry it out as a sleep training method isnt going to be as effective or as easy for anyone involved.
If youd like to know more about how to sleep train older kids, Ive got a whole guide for working with toddlers up through teenagers right here. There are actionable steps you can use today to make progress immediately.
Heres How To Get Your Baby To Self
Every eveningbefore the last feedingswaddle your little one in the SNOO Sack and let her fall asleep in your arms. BUT, right after you slide her into bed use wake and sleep. A few seconds later she will close her eyes and slide back into slumber-land. Shell be aided by the white noise and gentle motion provided by SNOOs smart technology.
When she wakes later that night, SNOO will provide the same rocking and shushing. If thats all she needs shell drift back to sleep promptly. But if shes hungry, uncomfortable or just wants YOU, she wont settle. Then its your turn to meet her needs. Every time you lay her back down again after a diaper change or feeding, be sure to use wake and sleep.
Does using noise and motion cues really count as independent sleep? Not exactly, but Ill explain.
Many adults use white noise because they like it not because theyre dependent on it. Heres whats so smart about SNOO: It gives infants the calming they really need in the first months , but it automatically and gradually weans your baby off sound and motion by 6 months, so they dont rely on it in the long run.
Finally, you can teach the self-soothing skill using wake and sleep with any baby bed, but if your goal is to avoid cry it out altogether, youll up your chances by pairing it with SNOO! We got fantastic feedback from many families who tested SNOO that transitioning to the crib by 6 months was easy peasy. Their babies had learned to self-soothe.
Understand Possible Causes For Your Babys Crying
Before letting your baby cry for too long, you need to assess why your baby might be crying in the first place. Here are some possible reasons you may have a fussy baby on your hands:
- Overstimulation. If you have been around a lot of people, shopping in stores or at any event with lots of people and noises your baby may just be done. Try taking your baby to a quiet place to calm down.
- Hunger. Try feeding your baby. If your baby has already been fed, it is possible he or she is going through a growth spurt and may be ready to increase feeding amounts.
- Wet diaper. The new disposable diapers are so efficient these days, your baby may be wet but the diaper feels dry. Try changing the diaper anyways to see if your baby calms down.
- Too hot or too cold. Babies cannot regulate their body temperature as well as we can. If it is hot, dress them cool and if it is cold bundle them up.
- Needing cuddles. Your baby may just need some cuddle time and affection. Try holding your baby for a little while and talking or singing.
- Needing movement. Your baby may be bored with lying still and need to move around a little. Try putting your baby in a swing, stroller for a walk or an infant backpack while you do housework.
- Wanting a pacifier. Babies have an innate need to suckle. Sometimes the bottle or breast is not enough. Try using a pacifier if your baby is making excessive mouth movements or putting his or her hands to mouth and not hungry.
Categories
Also Check: When To Change From Newborn Diapers To Size 1
Start With Letting Your Child Cry For Short Periods Of Time When Going To Sleep And Then Slowly Increase The Increments
For parents who are interested in using the “cry-it-out” method for babies over three months of age, Klein recommends starting off with 10-minute intervals.
“Babies can get upset, but you start off with 10 minutes at a time, you might decide to go in and check on the baby by putting your hand on the baby and assuring the child that they are OK. You’ve got to make it quick, though, and walk right out,” she said.
She adds, “I would say a parent should wait as long as the parent can tolerate waiting.”
Similarly, in the middle of the night, Klein said it’s OK to let a baby who is fussing put themselves back to sleep. Klein said infants who are six months or older are capable of sleeping through the night. Although, if an infant is fussing, they may just need a little guidance from their parents’ mom and dad.
“What I would tell parents is whatever you’re doing right now, let the baby cry for five minutes and that’s it,” she said. “Now, try to lengthen it until 10 minutes just double it. By doing that, you feel OK about going back in if you need to, but you have to make it quick.”
How Do I Get My 6 Week Old To Sleep
YES, I WANT THIS! #1: Have realistic expectations. #2: Set up a proper sleeping environment. #3: Do not let your baby sleep longer than 2 hours at a time from 7 am to 7 pm. #4: Keep wake times to a minimum. #5: Perfect your swaddle technique. #6: Feed your baby every 2.5 to 3.5 hours during the day.
You May Like: How Much Is A Newborn Supposed To Eat
Which Sleep Training Style Should Parents Choose
Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician based in Southern California and author of Mommy Calls, advises her parents to start sleep training almost from birth. It starts with newborns having a comfortable, safe sleep environment, typically a crib or bassinet. By the time the babies are 2 to 3 months of age, parents should put them to bed when they are drowsy but not yet asleep.
It can really benefit them in the long run because self-soothing and sleeping techniques really stay with them throughout their entire lives, said Altmann, who is also the author of What to Feed Your Baby. However, it can be helpful to try sleep training for babies who are still having trouble sleeping by 6 months, she added.
As for which method to choose, the two methods in the study appear to help in different ways, which could help guide parents.
If you have an infant that only has nighttime awakenings, it appears from this study that bedtime fading is not as effective, whereas both methods could help if your problem is getting your child to fall asleep in the first place, said Daniel Lewin, a pediatric psychologist and sleep specialist at Childrens National Health System in Washington.
In the real world, you could do a combination of the two, Lewin said. Parents could put their child to bed later and delay visiting the child if he starts crying, for example.
The thing I often tell parents is that it only takes three days, and is effective, Weinraub said.
Need Help Sleep Training Let The Baby Sleep Site Help You
If youve tried sleep training on your own without success, you are not alone many, many parents struggle to get their babies and toddlers sleeping well. What you may need at this point is an expert to help you through the sleep training process. Connect with one of our expert consultants today shell craft a Personalized Sleep Plan just for your baby, walk you through every step of sleep coaching and schedule-making, and provide detailed answers to your most pressing sleep questions.
Want more information about how personalized help works? Check out our FAQ page here, and get answers.
Or, join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! And dont forget that as a member, youll also enjoy an ask the author feature, and weekly chats with an expert sleep consultant, which is perfect if you have truly tough, pressing sleep coaching questions that require expert help.
Also Check: How Many Oz Milk For Newborn Baby
How To Handle A Crying Baby
The babys cry can be frustrating, upsetting, and overwhelming. After some investigation and common sense, you may be able to figure out how to handle your crying baby. No one knows the baby better than the parents. It may take some time to calm down the baby. Place your baby in a safe place or hold your baby for a while. The following tips might help:
Attachment Milestone : Shared Joy
Sharing joy with your baby establishes a connection between sensory experiences and safe and loving interaction with another person.
Your baby seeks engagement with you and participates in the back-and-forth exchange of gestures, smiles, sounds, and movement. Your baby will probably need frequent breaks from interacting.
You continue to let your baby lead the exchange. When your baby wants to interact, you respond with playful activity. If your baby wants to take a break, you slow down.
Also Check: How To Reduce Colic In Newborn
Is Your Baby Unresponsive Or Indifferent
Most babies use crying to communicate and they will continue to cry or show that they are upset until a parent or caregiver responds to their needs. Other babies, instead of crying, become upset and then tune out and fail to show any emotion. If you think about it, you probably know more than one adult who acts this way when faced with difficulty. An unresponsive baby might seem like an easy baby, because they may be quiet and agreeable. But a baby that doesnt respond to you, the environment, and sensory influences needs help. Call your pediatrician right away.
NEVER NEVER shake a baby
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is shaken. The blood vessels in a babys head cannot tolerate the impact of shaking and can break.
- The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome estimates that there are about 1,300 reported cases each year in the U.S.
- Shaking is the leading cause of child abuse deaths and can also result in brain damage, mental retardation, seizures, or blindness.
- Shaking usually happens when parents or caregivers become frustrated or angry when they are not able to stop the baby from crying.
- Shaken baby syndrome is 100% preventable.
How To Calm A Crying Baby
Try some of the following ways to comfort your baby. Some may work better than others:
- If you’re breastfeeding, let your baby suckle at your breast.
- Having some gentle noise in the background may help distract your baby.
- Some older babies like to use a bit of cloth or a blanket as a comforter.
- Hold your baby or put them in a sling so they’re close to you. Move about gently, sway and dance, talk to them and sing.
- Rock your baby backwards and forwards in the pram, or go out for a walk or a drive. Lots of babies like to sleep in cars. Even if they wake up again when you stop, at least you’ll have had a break.
- Find something for them to listen to or look at. This could be music on the radio, a CD, a rattle, or a mobile above the cot.
- Try stroking your baby’s back firmly and rhythmically, holding them against you or lying face downwards on your lap.
- Undress your baby and massage them gently and firmly. Avoid using any oils or lotions until your baby’s at least a month old. Talk soothingly as you do it and keep the room warm enough. Some health centres and clinics run baby massage courses. For information, ask your midwife or health visitor.
- Try a warm bath. This calms some babies instantly, but makes others cry even more.
- Sometimes too much rocking and singing can keep your baby awake. You might find lying them down after a feed will help.
- Ask your health visitor for advice.
Also Check: How Much Can A Newborn Eat
Tips For Settling Your Baby
- Once youve checked the basics theyre clean, dry, comfortable and fed consider if they just need to be close to you. Often, babies dont need anything ‘done’ for them, they just want to be held by the people they feel emotionally connected with.
- Hold your baby close to you and gently pat, rock or sway. Use a soothing, reassuring voice to let them know youre there. Sometimes the only way youll be able to settle your baby is to hold them until they fall asleep. See your child health nurse if your baby always needs to be cuddled to sleep.
- Take a walk outside and have a change of scenery this can help because its distracting.
- Try holding them in different positions in your arms. Offer skin-to-skin contact if theyre still very young.
- Offer a dummy if your baby has one.
- Give your baby a warm bath and a massage afterwards. Be sensitive to your babys cues some babies love baths and others dislike being undressed.
- Offer your baby a comforting breastfeed. If your baby is bottle feeding, they may need some extra milk.
- If your baby is younger than 3 months, swaddle them with a light cotton or muslin wrap.
- Put some music on, try humming, singing a song or reading to your baby. The sound of your voice may be enough to soothe them.
- Hand them to another trusted adult. Have a break from the intensity of your babys crying.
Hogg And Blaus Method
Baby whisperer Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau say that by the time a baby weighs 10 pounds, theyre ready to sleep through the night. That said, they recommend cluster feeding in the evenings and doing a dream feed.
With regard to CIO, the authors say that babies will do three crescendos of crying before sleep. Parents tend to give in during that second peak. In this method, parents are permitted to respond but encouraged to leave again immediately after baby settles.
Recommended Reading: What To Give A Newborn That Is Constipated