How to teach a baby to self sooth

amother

Apple

Mon, May 16 2022, 2:39 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

there has to be a way she can learn to put herself back to sleep.. u just put her down when she's awake? I can't imagine her just falling asleep like that.

I started during nap time. I didn’t touch the night feedings, and also didn’t do all the naps. Whenever I had the time, I sat with her and helped her fall asleep herself, oxymoron I know! It wasn’t a huge project, just a bit at a time and now she falls asleep in minutes bh! And I still nurse to sleep at night and we cosleep. Just naps she does on her own or when she wakes up before I’m ready to go to bed.
I gave her a pacifier and taught her to hug a soft rag doll because she needed to hold something and kept pulling her paci out. I put her down and kept soothing her with my voice, without picking her up. Choose a mantra and repeat it again and again. I said “good night baby, we’re going to sleep now sshhhh” on repeat. I patted her if she needed it and only picked her up if she was screeching. I even recorded myself saying it and put it on repeat on my phone, so I was able yo leave the room for a minute or two. Bh bh bh a thousand times, it really worked and we have a wonderful schedule now.

amother

Black

Mon, May 16 2022, 3:05 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

there has to be a way she can learn to put herself back to sleep.. u just put her down when she's awake? I can't imagine her just falling asleep like that.

She will learn and she's young enough. The trick is doing it while they are still awake and not over tired. Try it see how it goes. You can shush her or pat her gently at the beginning. I did that with one of mine who needed to relearn good sleep habits. I put her in awake, I shushed and patted until she fell asleep and then I gradually patted less and less stopping before she fell asleep letting her do the rest herself until she reached the point where I put her she cooed and chilled for a bit and then fell asleep.

amother

Mimosa

Mon, May 16 2022, 7:06 pm

amother [ Magnolia ] wrote:

Just let her nurse to sleep. It’s so awesome in my opinion. So nurturing for the baby and you have an easy way to get her to fall asleep. Win, win.

You have an easy way to get her to fall asleep multiple times during the night whenever she happens to stir and doesn’t know how to fall back asleep. Lose.

You have an easy way to get her to fall asleep but nobody else does should you ever need to be away or even (gasp!) choose to go out for an evening. Lose.

amother

Lavender

Mon, May 16 2022, 7:32 pm

Maybe get baby used to a mini fuzzy blanket? Or diaper cloth for comfort? Like in his/her hand and side of face. That worked for my daughter a few years back. Good luck mama! Sending hugs and support your way.

amother

Candycane

Mon, May 16 2022, 8:21 pm

amother [ Hunter ] wrote:

It doesn't sound like she is ready for self-soothing.

You are already teaching her to self-soothe. But she still needs you.

I really understand you, I have an 18mo who still needs me to fall asleep at every nap and who sleeps with me at night. It's exhausting.

But they end up so much better emotionally developed and so much better able to self-regulate when you just nurture nurture nurture. It really pays itself back in the years afterwards.

Hunter, can we be friends?! I love this attitude and mindset-you gave me chizzuk

amother

Papayawhip

Tue, May 17 2022, 8:36 am

amother [ Hunter ] wrote:

Me as well and I thought I was the only one! Although he can fall asleep himself as well (at times)