New parents know all too well the nighttime ritual of trying to get their babies to sleep. Shushing, rocking, swaddling and even late night talk shows are employed to help baby calm down and fall asleep. But some babies still cry before bedtime, no matter what is done. Some parenting experts like Richard Ferber advocate a crying-it-out method, while others, like Elizabeth Pantley, prefer a gentler approach. You can combine parenting philosophies to create a routine to put a crying baby to sleep without feeling guilty.
Step 1
Soothe your baby's crying the best that you can my using methods that you know work for you and your child. Putting your baby in bed while she's in the throes of a screaming tantrum will just irritate her even more. Instead, calm her first, so that she's less likely to reject the idea of going to sleep. Try swaddling her tightly, singing a song or rocking her so that she's primed for bedtime.
Step 2
Give your baby a comfort item that is only used in bed, says the University of Illinois. A soother that is only used at sleep time, a stuffed toy or blanket can help him to feel better when put to bed. You may want to use a piece of a shirt that you've worn, cut into a small 5-inch-by-5-inch square for your baby to hold, so he is comforted by your scent even if you're not there.
Step 3
Assess your baby's sleep environment to detect a reason for the crying .It may be too light or too dark, too noisy or too quiet, or she might even be uncomfortably hot or cold. It's a good idea to try sleeping in her room one night to identify those things that could be irritating her and making her cry.
Step 4
Adopt a sleep training plan that is derived from both Ferber's "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" and Pantley's "The No Cry Sleep Solution." Put your baby to bed, and allow him to cry for two minutes. When the two minutes is up, enter the bedroom, pat him on the back and soothe him, but don't pick him up, suggests Alan Greene, M.D., of drgreene.com. Instead, leave the room again, this time for five minutes. If the crying continues, after five minutes enter the room and complete the ritual again. Each time you leave the room, extend the amount of time that you are away. Soon your baby will go to sleep in the knowledge that you're still there, but you won't pick him up.
Step 5
Take a break if your baby's crying begins to make you angry or you think about hurting your baby in any way, warns the Mayo Clinic. A crying baby can wreak havoc on a new, sleep-deprived parent's nerves, so it's important to ask for help and get some restful sleep.
References
- University of Illinois: When Will Baby Sleep All Night ?
- Dr. Greene: When Baby Won't Go To Sleep On Her Own
- Mayo Clinic: Crying baby? How to keep your cool
- The No Cry Sleep Solution: Elizabeth Pantley, 2002
- Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems: Richer Ferber, 2006
