How To Get 2 Month Old Baby To Fall Asleep

How To Get 2 Month Old Baby To Fall Asleep

by Alana
(Montreal )

My son is 2 and a half months old, and to be honest he never had a bedtime because I thought he didn't need one since he would fall asleep on his own. So after reading something on the internet about it I decided to give him a bedtime which is 8pm. So I am at home now hearing him crying and screaming. He has been fed, been changed, bathed and was held for a while but now it's breaking my heart to hear him cry. I just want to run in there and tell him I am so sorry.

Please help me! How can I get him to go to sleep when it's bed time. Is it too early for him to have a bed time?

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How To Get 2 Month Old Baby To Fall Asleep

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Jun 20, 2008

Follow your instinct!
by: Baby Help Line

You know what, Alana, if you have a routine that works for you, don't listen too much to all that is written on the Internet... says on online baby helper.. ;-) But really, if your son falls asleep on his own when he is tired that's great! And at his young age many babies, probably most babies, don't go to sleep until 10 or 11 pm. That stabilizes and becomes an earlier bed time over the months to come.

I know many moms and experts advocate very tough routines, but in my view, that depends very much on the baby too. One of our babies went to bed early, but never on his own, our daughter was a night owl for several months, despite all my efforts to introduce an early bed time and our third baby went to bed early and on his own... We probably did something slightly different with all kids, and of course the more experienced you get, things may become slightly easier. But really, babies are different too!

And having a little darling that is lying in his bed crying, is not that great, right!?

What you can do is to start logging his eat and sleep times and see if you can find a pattern. Then try to enhance that pattern if you like it. For example put him to bed just before the time when he usually gets tired, to let him fall asleep on his own. Implementing a sleep routine that is not too cumbersome for you is great too, but don't overdo it (massage, bath, story, singing etc... ) You baby will start going to bed earlier anyway if you just give it some time. Pick one routine so that you don't spend the entire evening putting your baby to bed.

This was a long answer, but what I really want to say is - follow your instinct! You seem to be doing great already. And don't implement huge changes in your boy's routines, small steps are much easier.

If you want to read more about improving your baby's sleep habits without tears, I can really recommend the No Cry Sleep Solution; read my review of it here.

Go get your son if it makes you feel better! And start all over tomorrow, with slowly implementing a routine that makes the two of you happy, not sad.

Congratulations to being a new mom!

/Paula

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Jun 20, 2008
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Submitted by: Baby Help Line

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Comment
You know what, Alana, if you have a routine that works for you, don't listen too much to all that is written on the Internet... says on online baby helper.. ;-) But really, if your son falls asleep on his own when he is tired that's great! And at his young age many babies, probably most babies, don't go to sleep until 10 or 11 pm. That stabilizes and becomes an earlier bed time over the months to come. I know many moms and experts advocate very tough routines, but in my view, that depends very much on the baby too. One of our babies went to bed early, but never on his own, our daughter was a night owl for several months, despite all my efforts to introduce an early bed time and our third baby went to bed early and on his own... We probably did something slightly different with all kids, and of course the more experienced you get, things may become slightly easier. But really, babies are different too! And having a little darling that is lying in his bed crying, is not that great, right!? What you can do is to start logging his eat and sleep times and see if you can find a pattern. Then try to enhance that pattern if you like it. For example put him to bed just before the time when he usually gets tired, to let him fall asleep on his own. Implementing a sleep routine that is not too cumbersome for you is great too, but don't overdo it (<a href="http://www.easybabylife.com/baby-massage.html">massage</a>, <a href="http://www.easybabylife.com/bathing-babies.html">bath</a>, story, singing etc... ) You baby will start going to bed earlier anyway if you just give it some time. Pick one routine so that you don't spend the entire evening putting your baby to bed. This was a long answer, but what I really want to say is - follow your instinct! You seem to be doing great already. And don't implement huge changes in your boy's routines, small steps are much easier. If you want to read more about improving your baby's sleep habits without tears, I can really recommend <a href="http://www.easybabylife.com/baby-book-tips.html">the No Cry Sleep Solution; read my review of it here.</a> Go get your son if it makes you feel better! And start all over tomorrow, with slowly implementing a routine that makes the two of you happy, not sad. Congratulations to being a new mom! /Paula

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Jun 20, 2008

Drive your baby to sleep
by: Steve

Had a similar problem for several months - from around 4 months old.

Only thing that worked was taking him for a ride in his buggy - or for a drive in the car.

Jun 20, 2008

2 1/2 mo old not sleeping
by: Carla

At 2 1/2 months old setting a bedtime is next to impossible.

I am a mother of three children and all three were different in their sleeping behavior.

Most babies have a routine; eat, poop, play and sleep. This routine will continue until they are between 6 months and 1 year, sometimes longer. No one can tell you what is best for your baby.

All babies are different. Let your baby develop their own sleep patterns until they are a little older. You have the next 18 to 20 years of your life to make an 8:30 bedtime, now is not the time.

However, if you are persistant on making 8:30 the bedtime; bath your child right before, a warm bath always makes you relax.

Jul 01, 2008

Bedtime
by: Jason

You should set a bedtime for your baby. We got our baby set up on a schedule. It will be hard for a few days to get him to go to sleep on his own. I like to give them a warm bath, a fresh diaper, wrap them up nice and snug, the give them a bottle with the lights out and some soft music playing in the background. Good luck with your little one they grow up way to quick.....

Jul 01, 2008

My thanks
by: Alana

I want to say thank you to everyone who comment on my question. hearning everyones advice made me more at ease.

i put him to bed now at 11pm and he sleeps to 6am with the odd night of him waking up
its great

thank you again

Sep 01, 2008

what to do with a baby who has night and day confused!?
by: Anonymous

my two month old preemie (9 weeks early) sleeps
all day (except for feedings), and then stays
awake for most of the night! we have tried so
hard to keep her awake during the day, but, she
refuses to wake even with great stimulation such
as wet cloths to the face, tickling the feet, etc. Help!

Sep 25, 2008

sleepless baby
by: wwhisnant

Do what your heart tells you to do. If you don't want to hear your baby cry (good for you!) then pick him up. At 2 1/2 months there could be other factors, like colic, that is making him cry. Possibly the smell of dinner bothers him at an early bedtime.

Dec 29, 2008

How early is too early for a routine
by: Anonymous

My son is five wks old and wakes every 2 hours to be changed and fed. What are we doing wrong??

Dec 27, 2009

2nd go round
by: Anonymous

Everyone knows not all children will be the same my daughter was sleeping through the night in her basanet at 2 days old by 2 mths old she was in her crib. Now my son he is now 2mths old wants to be held all the time and at first he was waking every 2 hours to eat now he crys all the time, he can be fed changed and bathed but nothing works. i dont know what to do i dont think at 2 mts a child should be left crying. but i need sleep and my efforts to keep him from cring now consist of holding him so i can sleep.

Jan 04, 2010

Non sleepy babies!!
by: Anonymous

To the second to last comment, you arent doing anything wrong!! 5 weeks is still very weeny! I have a two month old who is only just managing 5 hours and sometimes not that! Remember he has a very tiny tummy! One thing you could try is try to leave him longer between feeds, can be hard but even if it means, a dummy, or listening to them cry for a bit longer, not very nice but worthit, then should take a little bit more at feeding time and go longer around. You have to stick with it and be persistant first few times though. Good Luck.

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