https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:26:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2251216 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:53:06 +0000 MsHangry 2251216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to update that my LO was super squirmy last night in my arms so I put him in his crib and gave him a pacifier. I had to help him keep the pacifier in for about 15min but he went to sleep!!</p> <p>I can't believe it, but I wanted to share that there is hope that we won't be walking and bouncing to sleep forever :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246363 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:58:02 +0000 jape14 2246363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Drowsy but awake starting working for us once I stopped nursing to sleep and we sleep trained around 4ish months.** We did Ferber (i.e., checks) and it worked within 3 days with minimal crying (no more than 15-20 minutes). We only night trained but naps followed without any additional training. We also introduced a lovey at that time, which helped immensely with soothing. Ever since then we've been able to do drowsy but awake for just about every bedtime and naptime, so for us anyway, Ferber was the key!</p> <p>I basically switched nursing in the bedtime/naptime routine by nursing, then putting him in his sleep sack (effectively waking him up if he had fallen asleep), and singing our bedtime song. We were also pretty strict with awake time - started with around 1.25-1.5 hours and went from there. The Baby Whisperer site is really helpful for scheduling/awake time tips!</p> <p>**right around 4 months, we were on a long overnight car trip where we couldn't rock him to sleep, and he soothed himself to sleep pretty easily by "snuggling" with his lovey. To us, that was a good indication that he could self-soothe, so we went for it (and our ped was in favor of it, too). Now when he is tired, he reaches for his lovey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246326 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:17:51 +0000 SweetiePie 2246326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Mrs. Lion: @mae: I was going to say what each of you did.<br /> 1) I started it from the very beginning. I just didn't hold him a ton and made sure he didn't sleep on me. (Obviously you're past that but I think it can still be achieved with hard work).<br /> 2) yes, I looked for sleep cues, but I also know that newborn - 5 months the absolute most they should be awake is 2 hours, usually less. So just like @mae said, as soon as it was 1.25 or 1.5 hours since he woke, I started nap routine and put him in the crib awake. It was never an issue because I never ever let him go more than the recommended amount of time awake so we avoided the tired-but-wired conundrum. Now that he's older (10.5 months) I am a bit more daring with his awake time, but 6 months and younger I was militant about it. </p> <p>I really think it's hard for people to achieve because naturally they want to hold their babies a lot when they are little, and that then sets the expectation and need to be rocked or nursed to sleep. Maybe I'm the mean mommy but I just really felt like I needed to put him down a lot so he got used to it.<br /> Of course now he wants to be attached to me when he's awake, but sleep routine has fortunately remained in tact. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246296 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 17:04:16 +0000 namaste 2246296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Same. We started putting her down drowsy after week one, when she stopped nursing to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246292 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:54:47 +0000 blackbird 2246292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I start by doing whatever it takes to get him almost asleep, then stopping so he falls asleep easily, then lengthening that period of time without the activity, until he's just tired and drowsy. I haven't gotten there yet with T </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246286 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:42:47 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2246286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: we did something similar too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246284 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:35:16 +0000 YouGotMe 2246284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So naps for us are still a struggle but her night routine is easy. </p> <p>It didn't start until after she was 3.5 months old, I just happened that I had done her whole routine, and nursed her and she was still awake but clearly ready for bed and I put her in the crib awake and she went to sleep. </p> <p>I think it's just something that we stumbled into. I would keep trying it if I were you, however if your LO nurses to sleep and you're fine with it then why not keep going? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246277 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:12:24 +0000 FaithFertility 2246277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: ohhh absolutely! I'm right with ya I nurse her right before bed and 90% of time she falls asleep and I keep.it that way....lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246276 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:09:25 +0000 Happygal 2246276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like this is the unicorn of sleep. I've accomplished it only a few times. The thing for us is that she falls asleep nursing, and I'm not so into the idea of jiggling her awake to the point where she's drowsy. Glad to see I'm not alone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246271 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:53:59 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2246271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: the troublesome tots website is a really great resource! that's where I first heard of it:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246257 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:25:24 +0000 lilyofthewest 2246257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad to know I'm at least not alone!</p> <p>@Mamasig: @MrsKoala: Yes to the two modes! Sometimes he does seem to get cranky and overtired, but more of the time he's pulling off the boob cooing and giggling, then I turn my head, turn back and he's out.</p> <p>@Mrs. Lion: Oooh, this seems worth trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246248 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:59:37 +0000 looch 2246248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What worked for us was a combination of two things: watching for sleep cues and modifying a awake time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246235 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:10:16 +0000 FaithFertility 2246235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: That is good idea </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246233 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:00:29 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2246233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started this from the very beginning and it was never an issue because we had relatively sleepy newborns. so by the time they were a little older it was already the norm. it is definitely not a myth, and while I'm sure it's not this easy for everyone, I think the earlier you start the easier it will be. </p> <p>you can use the swing to transition...start by putting them down awake in the moving swing, then when they master that try a non moving swing with just a push to get a little swinging in, then a completely still swing, then the crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246232 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:00:24 +0000 yellowbird 2246232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly think only certain babies can do this. It never ever ever worked with my daughter at all no matter what i tried. With ds it's easy though. I watch him and when he yawns one time i take him up for a nap. put on white noise and put in a sleep sack and his eyes get heavy. I lay him down and he falls asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246231 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:55:07 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2246231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's one of those things where you just keep trying it and eventually it works. I never had to do CIO at that age (did at 16m for other reasons) but lo did do it. I didn't think she could and it was only at nights but my mom actually tried first and then it became our routine. Part of it is just luck. And it's not like we never had sleep problems later or never had to bounce/rock/swing. She still exclusively napped in the swing til 4m. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246225 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:27:58 +0000 Rockies11 2246225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I think drowsy but awake is also a disposition thing! LO#1 wouldn't go down drowsy but awake for love or money. She either nursed to sleep, or fell asleep in her carrier or in a moving car. When she was about 13 months, she started going to sleep on her own, but we put her in her crib awake, and she would babble and coo and then fall asleep. I felt like a drowsy but awake failure. However, LO#2 is a great sleeper and since birth has been able to be set down drowsy but awake. She fusses for a minute, then goes to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246223 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:25:46 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2246223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think drowsy, but awake is something that is learned, and doesn't come naturally for most babies. My LO is 10 months now, but I used to have to bounce her to sleep. Around 3 months, I started to put her down when she seemed tired (yawning, rubbing eyes, fussy), and would put her down awake, and let her fuss. Honestly, its a form of CIO. You need to let them fuss a bit so they can find a way to soothe themselves, learn to fall asleep on their own. Now, for sleeps, I can put her in the crib awake, and she'll go to sleep on her own.</p> <p>You can take baby steps, and start by not being quick to respond, and see how your LO does. At 3 months though, the tired signals aren't that clear, so you can start by trying to put him down every 1.5-2 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246222 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:24:04 +0000 FaithFertility 2246222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsHangry: I say keep doing what you do until it doesn't work anymore :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246221 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:23:12 +0000 FaithFertility 2246221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried many times with my DD but figured it wasn't worth the battle and I can't do CIO even for a minute, she will nurse at night and either fall asleep or be 1/2 out and I just lay her down!<br /> Naps.....I usually pat and shush her for a few on my shoulder she is 7 months<br /> So far it hasn't been hard, I say do what works until it doesn't </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246216 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:18:34 +0000 MsHangry 2246216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for posting this! </p> <p>I have been trying "drowsy but awake" and it never works for us. I don't know why, but I keep doing it and he flips out and starts screaming and eventually is having an overtired meltdown. Thank you for giving me "permission" to continue nursing or walking my son to sleep. </p> <p>Seems so silly that I would keep trying something that clearly isn't working for us, but you know...exhaustion... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246214 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 13:14:42 +0000 Bubbles 2246214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to always feed / bounce DS to sleep and I will try not to do that again next time - but fwiw he started doing drowsy but awake all on his own around 4 months I think? Only at bedtime though. One day he just didn't fall asleep while feeding so I just put him in his cot and he drifted off! Naps I had to very gradually break the bouncing habit over the course of a few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246201 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:50:39 +0000 Mae 2246201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me what worked at that age was a really solid routine/schedule. 1.5 hours after she last woke, on the dot, I'd take her up and swaddle her and turn on white noise and turn off the lights and set her down in her pack n play. The swaddling in particular was really important for her to sleep on her own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246198 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:37:07 +0000 Tanjowen 2246198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the whole drowsy but awake didn't start working for us until closer to 5 months...At 3 months, I just tried to lay him down every 2 hours for a nap with our routine (swaddle, lovey, song, white noise). We did a lot of swing naps though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246188 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:16:56 +0000 youboots 2246188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it's about timing. DD does not do well when awake for 3+ hours so I change her, feed her and put her down. She may cry for a minute or two- but goes to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246187 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:15:24 +0000 MrsKoala 2246187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Drowsy but awake was unattainable for us at that stage because he only had two modes: asleep and awake. We put him to bed asleep. He started putting himself to sleep around 14 months and we can put him in his crib awake and he'll be asleep in 5-10 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246186 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:13:52 +0000 Mamasig 2246186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my experience, drowsy but awake is a myth. DS1 never has been "drowsy." He goes from awake and fidgeting to asleep within about a minute. There is rarely anything in between - he's almost 3 and he stills needs me to fall asleep 95% of the time. </p> <p>DS2 also still needs me to fall asleep at 14 months. The bottle makes him sleepy and cuddling usually puts him to sleep. </p> <p>I've never sleep trained and just have done what works for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowsy-but-awake-how#post-2246184 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:10:27 +0000 lilyofthewest 2246184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 3mos old and I don't think I have ever managed to put him down to sleep "drowsy but awake". How do you do it?</p> <p>He has fallen asleep on his own in the swing sometimes, but otherwise he either has to be walked or nursed to sleep for naps and bedtime. Even in the car he won't fall asleep on his own -- when he starts to get tired and fussy we have to stop and nurse him or walk him and then put him back in the seat sleeping. </p> <p>Perhaps part of it is that I'm not sure how to identify drowsy. The only cues I've identified (fussing, rubbing eyes) show up after he's already cranky and definitely won't just happily drift off on his own. Are there earlier signs that I'm missing?</p> <p>If you also had trouble with "drowsy but awake", how and when did your kiddo start going down on their own? </p>