The only thing is, it's becoming a pain putting her down. See, what we've been doing when she's tired is taking her in her room, closing the blinds, turning on the air filter (which creates white noise and makes it so that I can actually DO stuff around the house and not worry about waking her up), giving her the pacifier, and then cradle-hold her while bouncing on an exercise ball. This was fine two months ago. This girl is upwards of 16 pounds now, and only growing, while my muscles are not. She's getting heavy!
Plus, now that's she's way more aware of her surroundings, she's arching her back and fighting naptime. (This "awareness" is also making breastfeeding more challenging, as she constantly wants to look around... especially when her daddy's in the room, and definitely if he's talking.)
[waking up.]I've tried just laying her down in the crib and laying my hand on her without looking at her or talking to her, but then she starts "playing" - kicking her legs and flapping her arms. Like she's getting a second wind. Exasperating for me, to say the least, when all I want is a desperate 30 minutes to get something to eat or start some laundry.
And I've tried leaving the room, but then she'll play for a few minutes and then whimper and then cry and cry and cry, and I just can't do that. Crying-it-out doesn't seem right to me.
So we've been trying this out: let her stay up for longer periods so she's more tired when we start the bouncing routine. This has been working a bit, but I can't bounce her forever. So I'm trying to research and think outside our little box.
How to put her down without making her cry-it-out, and without such a physical routine from us? Any advice mamas? I'd love to hear what worked for you, and any advice you've got. I'm going to read The No-Cry Sleep Solution, but other than that I'm at a loss.
Ahhh I went through all of this with isobel when she young, finally I was tired one day of gently putting her in her crib while she was asleep only to have her wake up, sooo I left her to it & she cried for a bit & then went straight to sleep. That ended our nights & days of frustation trying to rock her to sleep etc etc. I would suggest putting her down to sleep maybe before she is defintely tired (yawning, rubbing eyes, whingeing) & when she is still happy & see if she talks to herself for a while before drifting off. Do you have little teddies & a mobile she can look at & talk to? Isobel seems to love having things to chatter away to, & maybe perhaps try not having the air filter? Sometimes things that have been working suddenly stop being necessary as they get older. Good Luck & keep perservering,it does get easier!
ReplyDeleteFound you through the Alexa Blog Hop on Spearmint Baby! I highly recommend the book, "Good Night, Sleep Tight". It was life changing! I used it with my now 2 year old and am using the techniques with my four month old twins. Good Luck! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
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