I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

I know that I created this monster but now I need to fix it! DD is 4 months and around 2 months we finally worked out a bedtime routine that saved us from her freaking out from being overtired. Basically we do a bath, a book and then I sit with her in my lap in my bedroom with the lights low and I give her the last bottle of the night. I would wait until she was asleep before putting her in her crib (the nursery is right off of our bedroom). This has been working just fine for two months. All of a sudden last thursday night as soon as I put her down in the crib she startled awake and I had to get her back to sleep and then lay her down still holding her and slowly pull my arms out from under her until she finally stayed down. But she has been doing it every night now. I know that I need to start helping her learn to fall asleep on her own, but I have no idea how to go about it. Any advice you could offer would be so appreciated.

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

My DS went through this too for a little while it was a phase. What if you put her in the crib when she falls asleep and if she wakes up, stay with her there and rub her belly or back so she feels comforted?

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

DD was the same way, she had a 4 mos sleep regression, it wasn't fun, but it worked itself out after a little bit

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

4 mos its extremely common to have a growth spurt/sleep regression. Its a phase and should pass soon.

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

Thanks that's kind of what I thought too. Dh is getting on me about her learning to fall asleep on her own, which I agree she will need to do, right now she just seems so little to me that I like her having that comfy safe feeling as she falls asleep. I don't think she'd understand if I suddenly changed our routine. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully it will work itself out.

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

I think 4 months is a little young to start any type of sleep training. They're only beginning to get sleep patterns at 3 months. The only thing I can say is just go with the flow and wait another month or so before any kind of sleep training. I knwo every baby is different and some may be ready to STTN more than others, I didn't have such luck until DS was past 5 1/2 months. Like you said I would just continue with what you're doing. Babies change things on us all the time!

Message edited 4/22/2010 2:37:14 PM.

Re: I really need sleep advice! Help--LONG Sorry

I agree with the others that is normal at four months