https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:39:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-176003 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:01:15 +0000 Mrs. Pen 176003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: oh my gosh!!! Amazing!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-175697 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:28:30 +0000 loveisstrange 175697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO definitely passed out and slept from 7pm to 6:15am. Mama got 7 straight hours of sleep! Hallelujah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174944 Thu, 31 May 2012 16:28:37 +0000 prettylizy 174944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: she will be 12 weeks on Saturday. She got in one really good nap this morning and a wimpier one this afternoon, so I'm hoping sleep begets more sleep and tonight will be better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174764 Thu, 31 May 2012 14:32:37 +0000 loveisstrange 174764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: I didn't do the arm part super tight, but I wrapped the ends very snugly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174739 Thu, 31 May 2012 14:16:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I think I've seen that one. I'm always afraid of pulling his arms back too tightly though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174698 Thu, 31 May 2012 13:53:08 +0000 loveisstrange 174698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: The video I saw on the double swaddle was done with an A+A blanket and a sack. I used 2 A+A blankets to do it. </p> <p>Still asleep! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174683 Thu, 31 May 2012 13:47:10 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: oh good! Glad to hear it :) obviously we're in very different time zones so it's still afternoon here :) I hope she stays asleep.<br /> I tried having him fall asleep on his own for his nap this morning and it didn't happen. I gave him his pacifier and then he fell right to sleep.</p> <p>He has been breaking out of his swaddle too, we used the swaddle sacks though, so they can't get up around his neck/face. For awhile we had to swaddle with an Aden + Anais blanket PLUS a swaddle sack. Nearly break-out proof :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174613 Thu, 31 May 2012 13:12:45 +0000 loveisstrange 174613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, tonight went pretty easy once bedtime hit. She went to bed early tonight. We started bedtime at 6pm with the bottle. Then I changed her and put her in her PJs. The DH cuddled her for about 20 minutes and at 7pm, I swaddled her and took her upstairs and turned on the white noise machine. She cried for a little bit, but much less that she was earlier. I bounced and shushed her until she fell mostly asleep and then I put her down. She woke up a bit, so I kept shushing and patted her chest while she was still in the crib instead of picking her up.</p> <p>I think one of our issues has been that she's been breaking out of the swaddle really badly. There's been a couple nights where she has broken her whole body out and the blanket has been wrapped up around her neck and upper chest. Not cool. I did some research today and tonight I used a double swaddle. It is WAY more secure than the traditional swaddle we've been using. We'll see how it goes tonight! </p> <p>It's 7:15 and we have a sleeping baby right now. We'll see what happens. Fingers crossed for just one night waking again! Mama needs some sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174562 Thu, 31 May 2012 12:49:38 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@prettylizy: ps, how old is your LO? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174561 Thu, 31 May 2012 12:49:15 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@prettylizy: same thing with me! He woke up at 3am, I resolved NOT to feed him since it'd only be 3 hours and I want him to realize he's not actually hungry and sleep a 5-6 hour stretch. But he was adamant about not going back to sleep. I fed him and he was up until 4:30am! Then he decided to be awake for the day at 7am, and he usually sleeps 12-13 hours.<br /> I gave in at 4am and let him back in our bed, I'm sure that's the only reason he kept sleeping for three hours, instead of two. He will ONLY sleep a two-hour stretch in his co-sleeper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174482 Thu, 31 May 2012 12:10:03 +0000 prettylizy 174482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: @Coco Bee: I think we are all going through the same thing at the same time. I tried to start a nighttime routine last night and it was an epic failure! Did the whole routine and she fell asleep in my arms, I felt like such a success until 10 minutes later when she woke up screaming and proceeded to fight me for two miserable hours. She finally fell asleep at 10 untl 4' but wouldn't go back down until almost 5 (she usually goes right back to sleep). And was up to eat again at 7. Urgh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174450 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:54:25 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 174450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: When I first started putting my LO down drowsy, there were a few days of adjusting on her part. Keep with it and it should get back to normal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174403 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:33:52 +0000 loveisstrange 174403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Normally, she is. She's pretty laid-back and will just hang out by herself pretty well. The only time she gets really worked up is when she's tired... and she's been tired all day. She has taken 2 one hour naps in the last 12 hours. :/ I tried for 3 hours to get her down for what it normally her long afternoon nap of 2-3 hours and she slept for 20 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174394 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:31:09 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: Oh no, oh no!! that is so awful. Is she normally a happy little baby?</p> <p>Thankfully my LO hasn't had any "backlash". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174391 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:29:55 +0000 loveisstrange 174391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: yeah, the fun didn't really stop today. She decided she was pretty much awake after the 4:45am wake-up and then has been a beast all day. We've have like 5-6 screaming, hysterical tantrums because she's tired and will not nap. *sigh* I think this is the worst day we've had so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174377 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:12:42 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I had the same thing happen last night. He was up sooo many times and I'm such a softie, I totally gave in and let him back into bed with us (sighs) the little stinker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174146 Thu, 31 May 2012 06:24:31 +0000 sandy 174146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: oh no!!!! I'm crossing my fingers for you that it will get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174145 Thu, 31 May 2012 06:22:45 +0000 sandy 174145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I am so so so so so happy for you!!! You did it mama!</p> <p>I will say tha I always have to remind myself that babies are not robots. My LO sleeps great 99% of the time but as she developed she went through some regressions - like when she discovered her hands she would take a long time to fall asleep bc she kept clasping them together and would fuss bc she was tired but I left her alone and she would fall asleep. Or when she started rolling onto her tummy or started just rolling around in her crib for hours. Just like adults, sometimes it takes LO more than a few minutes to fall asleep but i just try to be consistent as possible and not get discouraged if it seems like we had an off night or two...it's not the end of the world and she would eventually fall back into her good sleep habits (I know lots babies regress with illness or travel) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174104 Wed, 30 May 2012 22:46:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 174104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: oh no!! I'm so sorry :( Well it didn't work for me tonight either, so you and me both sista!</p> <p>I was just lamenting to my husband - it's SO hard to know what to do!! Do I let him cry, do I comfort him? Do I rock him to sleep, do I give in when he's not sleeping and just hold him/let him in bed with us?! This is one parenting hurdle I have no "gut" to trust. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-174103 Wed, 30 May 2012 22:42:00 +0000 loveisstrange 174103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: *sigh* except it totally backfired. She's been a nightmare tonight. It's only 5 am and she's been up 3 times already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173881 Wed, 30 May 2012 16:50:51 +0000 Mrs. Pen 173881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: wow so happy it worked for you!!<br /> I tried this the other night, I had nursed him, swaddled and rocked him in my arms til he was drowsy, but when I set him down he screamed and screamed. I was sitting right there and he could see me, I patted his chest softly, and he just cried and cried.<br /> I tried this for an hour, pick him up to calm him down, then set him back down - it never worked. I ended up having to just rock him completely to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173645 Wed, 30 May 2012 14:08:04 +0000 loveisstrange 173645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: You're a genius! I tried it out tonight and she fell right asleep! We did our routine and I rocked her most of the way there and then put her down and went downstairs. She woke up and cried for less than a minute and then passed out! She's sleeping like a little rock! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173470 Wed, 30 May 2012 12:18:08 +0000 loveisstrange 173470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: Maybe we'll start bedtime at 6:30 instead of 7 tonight. I think being overtired is part of our issue, for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173456 Wed, 30 May 2012 12:09:57 +0000 sandy 173456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: For me it worked best to put her down before she was too tired. I used to wait until she was very tired and put her down when she was asleep in my arms and that didn't work so well (she would wake up and cry or not stay asleep very long). When I put her down about 15 minutes earlier than I had been (at the first sign if tiredness) she would fuss for a long time but not cry and then fall asleep and stay asleep. I started with naps and once that worked I worked in bedtime</p> <p>Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173452 Wed, 30 May 2012 12:03:36 +0000 loveisstrange 173452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: Thank you SO much. I read those other threads and they were very helpful. LO already sleeps up to 9-10 hours in a night without waking so I know she can do it. We're just having the issue of naps. W e are just barely starting to get a nap routine. She takes a catnap in the morning, a long 3 hour nap from about 12:30-3:30 and then another small catnap in the late afternoon. </p> <p>I haven't really given her a chance to fall asleep on her own. I guess we'll give it a try for a couple days and see how she does with it. I'll keep in mind your tip about waiting 3 minutes.</p> <p>I think one of the issues is light. We don't have curtains for her room yet and we live in the UK. Currently, it gets light at 4am and the sun doesn't really set until around 10. I hung some blankets over her windows for the time being. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173417 Wed, 30 May 2012 11:39:44 +0000 Cole 173417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The way I usually go about this with the little ones I have taken care of is to first decide on what the routine will be so we can stick with it exactly (or at least close to it) from there on out. So maybe for you it would be: pajamas, swaddle, bottle, burp, upstairs, white noise... From there I would rock for a minute before laying them in the crib. At this point, if they are on their back I would smooth their hair for a while or if they are on their stomach I would rub their back. As they get closer to sleep I would just rest my hand on them but stop moving. Over time the rubbing part would gradually get phased out but it was also nice to have it to revert back to when they were just a little off and need extra help getting to sleep.</p> <p>Sometimes, especially as we started the routine, they would cry when first put down, I just shush as loudly as I can manage while still patting gently. If it escalates I pick them up and rock for a minute or two before trying again. With older babies who are on the move I often use two hands, one on their bottom just gently keeping them from shooting up to hands and knees and the other one patting their back. Usually crying isn't a huge issue for me with this method, it seems to happen from time to time, mainly when they are over tired but all in all it has served me well!</p> <p>Hopefully that helps at least a little! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173416 Wed, 30 May 2012 11:39:06 +0000 sandy 173416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I posted the same question. I followed my friend's advice to put LO down earlier than i had been...and it worked. Fortunately for me there was no crying involved when i did it for naps...bedtime was a little more difficult. I could not hold/sway/rock her to sleep bc it would take an hour or more sometimes and she was getting too heavy for me. </p> <p>Here are some of the past threads - see my response where I detailed what worked for me for "putting baby down drowsy but not asleep"<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-before-sleep-training" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-before-sleep-training</a></p> <p><a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-putting-baby-down-drowsy-at-bedtime" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-tips-for-putting-baby-down-drowsy-at-bedtime</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173408 Wed, 30 May 2012 11:32:32 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 173408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just finish the feed and then plop her in the crib swaddled with the binky. In the beginning if she was still really awake and alert, we'd pick her up for a few minutes and rock and then put her back down. We tried to never let her fall completely asleep in our arms because we wanted her to do it in the crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173352 Wed, 30 May 2012 10:59:33 +0000 cvbee 173352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my opinion, if the rocking is working, you can just keep doing it. Why stop now? When baby moves to a toddler bed you can switch it to a back-rub instead. That gives the LO a rhythmic movement without a rocking. My parents gave me a back rub after story time to put me to sleep every night basically until I was quite old, as I definitely remember it well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-start-putting-baby-down-drowsy#post-173335 Wed, 30 May 2012 10:54:44 +0000 heffalump 173335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never listened to that. I was pretty terrified that LO would be dependent on rocking like you said, but I also figured that since she fell asleep already after drinking her bottle, no way was I going to wake her up and ruin that. But as she got older she would start not falling asleep as she ate, and I'd just put her in the crib and she'd be fine. </p> <p>Good luck! </p>