Question about self soothing to sleep

So DD BF mostly for comfort and to snack more than to get a full feeding. She usually nurses to sleep if she didn't fall asleep after her bottle. She doesn't like the paci at all, if she does suck on it we have to hold it there...but she spits it out after a little while.

DH read on one of the babycenter emails about bedtime routines and putting the baby down half asleep to self soothe to sleep. Of course he half ass read it and it mentions the sooner the better to do it but all babies go at their own pace. I feel like he wants to rush her to do things....like letting her cry and not picking her up or helping her to sleep. I am like she's still little!

She is 5 weeks and this does not work for her right now. She has to nurse or be rocked before she is put down. She doesn't have that self-soothing down yet.

How many weeks did you allow your LO to soothe themselves to sleep? I feel like she is still so little and it's ok to help her get to sleep....but then again I am wondering am I setting her up for horrible sleeping later on?

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

IMO 5 weeks is too little to let her self soothe or cio. They dont know any better yet.

Then again, my DD will be 5 months Sunday and I still nurse her to sleep.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Coming from where you are now, I really think they are just too young to self soothe at that age. My girls are older now and will tak a paci (1 didnt care for it early on but grew to like it). One was fine going to sleep but the other needed to be rocked to sleep. Now we went cold turkey at 3/3.5 mo and moved them to cribs but with pacis. Then we started unswaddled without pacis this week. They sometimes wake for pacis and wake for their night feeding. But when they do wake they might whine a bit but mostly fall back to sleep. Sometimes they need their paci back. I can just tell they are more content without intervention now.

Question about self soothing to sleep

Yea she only can sleep when swaddled too. That right there tells me she's still so little. He interprets those email things as set in stone. N not as suggestions or remembering all babies go at their own pace.

I'm like let her be a baby!!

Message edited 3/8/2013 2:29:49 PM.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

IMO too young.

No book is set in stone. Personally I believe each baby and each family is different.

CIO never really worked for us. I felt like the crying woke DD up more and made it more difficult to sooth. It wasn't the right fit for us but I totally understand the logic behind it.

Question about self soothing to sleep

We started teaching DS to self-soothe when he was about 2 months old. Now he's a pro and usually falls asleep on his own for naps and for the night.

5 weeks would've been too early though. He only ever fell asleep in our arms at that point.

Question about self soothing to sleep

Shes def too young. They dont know how to self soothe until 3 months. At this point your not creating any bad habits but just showing your dd she can trust you.
Habits start to form around 3 months as well.
And every baby is different. And there will be good nights and bad nights. Trll your dh to remember what she just went through. She spent 9 months in your belly where everythjng was taken care of. Now shes in the world and has no idea whats going on. Give her time. Shes way too little still.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

IMO 5 weeks is way too young to expect a baby to self sooth to sleep. They are still trying to figure out the outside world. Everything you read on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt.

My dd was 3 months on the 23 of Feb and she has just begun to self sooth.



like you said let your baby be a baby it goes way to fast.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

I BF and rocked DD to sleep until she was 9 months and decided on her own that she was done. I would have continued for a while longer, I loved that time at night.

Question about self soothing to sleep

Thanks ladies!!! I knew I was right on this one!!! Lol.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

I think there's a huge difference between a fussing baby 'self soothing' and a crying baby.

I would let the boys fuss a little here and there at 5 weeks - some people rush over and swoop up a baby the second they open their eyes or make a peep - (even it they're just listening to their own voice) - I'd let them fuss a few minutes and then go get them - but at that age I wouldn't let them cry -

Question about self soothing to sleep

I think she's way too young still. And there's also a difference between self soothing and CIO. I rocked DD to sleep until she was like 9 months old. IMO, enjoy it while you can because there will come a day when you wish she'd snuggle just a little bit longer. Now at 20 months there are nights my DD will go right to her crib and won't snuggle with me.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

DH did the same thing when DD was younger. Reallly I let her lead the way. I think she was 4-5 months before we put her down to self soothe. She was pretty good though i would feed her and shed be out. Its not till just now (8.5 mo) that she really does put herself to sleep. 5 weeks shes still little and still needs the comfort of her mama.

Message edited 3/8/2013 7:46:00 PM.

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

This is why I don't like babycenter

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep

Re: Question about self soothing to sleep