https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 09:59:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187707 Sat, 23 May 2015 10:17:16 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2187707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gentlelunette: Pshh! Don't worry! I have a 13 week old. She was the same at 8 weeks old. Those books are stupid...babies are so different. I didn't have one of those sleepy babies that tools hours long naps in her crib. She slept (and still does) like a champ at night in her crib, but naps were in my arms or in the carseat/stroller on the go. </p> <p>So...I decided not to force it until after the forth trimester. I tried to enjoy every snuggle while I was on maternity leave, and ignored the mess. Lo and behold...she started daycare at 12 weeks, and took 15-20 minute naps in her crib immediately. Within 4 days, she took hour long naps. Now she takes 3 naps a day, the longest being 2 hours. I don't know if you SAH or WOH, but I think the improvement is a combo of her age and the fact daycare is exhausting. </p> <p>So...don't sweat mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187683 Sat, 23 May 2015 08:54:21 +0000 shellio 2187683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did early sleep training. But that isn't for everyone. It sounds like your baby is approaching a predictable routine and I agree with others that say, stick with a naptime routine, and attempt to put LO down even if she doesn't fall asleep. Do you use a pacifier? My kids didn't take them but I know that really helps a lot of people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187681 Sat, 23 May 2015 08:42:04 +0000 Zbug 2187681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just enjoy your sweet baby. Put the baby books down. You're doing great! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187632 Sat, 23 May 2015 03:04:57 +0000 miramira 2187632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As hard as it can be, don't put all your trust in so-called experts or parenting websites. Go with what is right for you and your little one. Babies are raised differently and perfectly well all around the world without the expectation that they need to sleep in only one place or eat, sleep, wake and crap at the exact same, regimented times every day. They even survive without bedtime routines, which we all seem to find so important.</p> <p>6 weeks is so, so little still. Your baby will probably fall into a pattern of sorts on her own. She'll be driven by instinct for a long time to come and she knows more about what she needs than any parenting expert does. Enjoy getting to know her :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187600 Fri, 22 May 2015 22:18:43 +0000 Jone0603 2187600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we transitioned to putting out DD in the crib for naps I had read to keep them into the device that they were napping in (her mamaroo swing in our case) and move the device right next to the crib. This gets them used to the environment and then the learn that is the space they sleep in. We had been having her sleep in the swing out in the family room. This really worked for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187564 Fri, 22 May 2015 21:02:16 +0000 catomd00 2187564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gentlelunette: throw away the books and listen to your baby and your instincts - they won't steer you wrong! You can find an"expert" for just about anything! These days might feel long but it will be over in a blink of an eye and you can never get this time of warm baby snuggles back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187525 Fri, 22 May 2015 20:15:03 +0000 Tanjowen 2187525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did swing naps until 6 months because they were awesomely long :grin: I chose to focus my energy instead on LO sleeping in his crib at night. The weaning from swing to crib wasn't too terrible either because around 4-5 months he started sleeping on his belly and it helped so much for sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187514 Fri, 22 May 2015 19:56:40 +0000 gentlelunette 2187514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: @SweetiePie: @FaithFertility: @Anagram: @BabyTsMom: @miramira: @msplatypus: </p> <p>Thank you all for making me feel so much better about this! I definitely have been subscribing to the "fourth trimester" idea and really let DD do what feels right for her since she's driven purely by instincts right now. However, I keep getting thrown by all the books and websites saying that by six weeks, baby should be on a predictable routine, with 3 naps a day (sometimes we get three... sometimes five) and that I should be putting her down drowsy but awake. I like the idea of doing a consistent "nap routine" before she falls asleep. Maybe once that gets established and is familiar to her, it'll be easier to start putting her down.</p> <p>Thanks again for the reassurance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187358 Fri, 22 May 2015 16:17:52 +0000 msplatypus 2187358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't get crib or even swing naps until 3 months. Drowsy but awake started working around 4 Months. You're totally fine. It sucked holding her for every nap and short naps but it eventually got better. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187263 Fri, 22 May 2015 14:32:19 +0000 miramira 2187263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It will come with time. She needs to be near you at this stage. And I completely agree with what @catomd00 said! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187135 Fri, 22 May 2015 13:12:33 +0000 BabyTsMom 2187135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your LO is still very young so I agree that you do what it takes to get that baby to nap! I went through this with my LO and it was hard. After sleeping anywhere and everywhere during the early newborn stage, somewhere around 8 weeks he began to refuse all naps unless he was held. Though I enjoyed the snuggles, I did not enjoy sitting in a dark nursery for upwards of 4 hours a day for naps! (Although I got to watch a lot of Netflix on my tablet, lol). Unfortunately, I don't have good advice. I just sucked it up and held him until he was old enough to nap train. </p> <p>I agree that establishing a good routine, though, is helpful, even if she doesn't nap in the crib just yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187082 Fri, 22 May 2015 12:14:01 +0000 Anagram 2187082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO took all naps in my lap (propped on a pillow) until I did some light nap training at 4 months before I went back to work. </p> <p>The nap training was just creating a strong nap routine and sticking to it (darkened room, white noise, swaddle, paci, go-to-sleep song) and then I would let LO fuss for about 5-10 minutes, as long as it didn't escalate to full on crying. And if it did escalate, I would do pick up/put downs until she fell asleep.</p> <p>After about a week of that, she started napping on her own in the crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187070 Fri, 22 May 2015 12:01:27 +0000 FaithFertility 2187070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gentlelunette: I think you are doing good!<br /> I started with making 1 nap a day in crib at like 3 months if I got that I was happy!<br /> I still have to shush her and bounce her for naps at 5 months and every now and then she will fight them<br /> I have tried to do drowsy yet awake many times but for naps she just won't<br /> If you want to nap train there are many ladies with great advice on here! I am sure they will help you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187067 Fri, 22 May 2015 12:00:21 +0000 SweetiePie 2187067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @catomd00: that it's still early and they say in the first 3 months or so you can't spoil them. It's survival mode.<br /> HOWEVER I do think it's never too early to start good habits. I have a friend with a 10 week old and for the first 2 months she would ONLY sleep in their arms. But she continued to start naps/sleep by putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake. She may not have stayed there for the nap but it was like a constant reminder "hey this is where you're supposed to sleep and it's ok if you're not asleep when I put you there". All of the sudden at 10 weeks she was just ok with it one day. She went o sleep in the bassinet and stayed there for several hours.<br /> So while I agree that you can't spoil NOW, it can eventually happen and it'll just get to be a harder and harder habit to break. So try to slowly introduce it now.<br /> ETA: I did drowsy but awake from the get go and he has been able to go to bed drowsy but awake every time (except for blips on the radar) for his entire 8 months of life.<br /> Just my experience and advice, but do what you feel at ease with. Some people are ok with rocking and holding for sleep for a long time. I'm just not one of them :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187062 Fri, 22 May 2015 11:51:51 +0000 catomd00 2187062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's still in the fourth trimester! You can't spoil a baby. Drowsy but awake didn't work for us until 6 or 7 months at least! Just do what works now and don't worry about bad habits that may or may not form. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-have-i-created-a-monster-already#post-2187058 Fri, 22 May 2015 11:45:45 +0000 gentlelunette 2187058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help! I think I've created a sleep monster already. </p> <p>My daughter is 2 months old (as of yesterday!). Up until now, naps generally take place in my arms or on the go (in her car seat, Beco or stroller), with the occasional nap happening in her bouncy seat or crib (if I'm lucky!). Night time sleep is okay- she will sleep in her bassinet with no issue, but she does need to be dead asleep before I put her in there. In general, we get a 5-6 hour stretch from about 8:30pm-2:30am. From this point on, we tend to get back on to a predictable 3 hour schedule from feed to feed for the rest of the day. </p> <p>I need to get this baby out of my arms and into her crib for naps. I have tried, many times, to put her down "drowsy but awake" but the second she is down, her eyes shoot open and she starts fussing and trying to bust out of her swaddle. I've left her to fuss for up to 10 minutes, but she just will not fall asleep! The second I pick her up, she nestles in and starts dozing off. :meh: </p> <p>I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to get this baby to start napping in her crib! Mi just bought black out curtains, so I'm hoping that helps some. </p> <p>So, what worked for you? Any suggestions are welcome! </p>