How to Get Baby to Fall Asleep On Her Own?

How to Get Baby to Fall Asleep On Her Own?

by Kyla
(Canada)

My husband and I have recently got our 8 month old to fall asleep without breast feeding, but she still needs to be rocked and cuddled. I would like to just be able to put her to bed at night and for her naps and have her fall asleep on her own.

How can we do this with minimal crying? I have tried just putting her down, but I tend to give up and get her when the crying escalates too much and I know that doesn't help.

Thanx Kyla

Oh, and my husband works shifts so sometimes he is not home at night!

Baby Help Line Response:

How about a two step method; instead of putting your daughter down in her own bed, consider putting her down in your bed and lay down next to her. This way she'll get used to falling asleep in a bed rather than in your arms.

If you first let her be in your arms for a while, until she is really sleepy and then put her down and lay down beside her, she will probably accept this at least after a while, since mom is still there.

After a while, start skipping the rocking all together and just lay down next to her.

Once this works fine, you can start trying to lift her over to her own bed when she has almost fallen asleep in yours.

This method might take a while, but it has worked for my babies, when they have had periods of refusing to fall asleep alone.

Being 8 months old, it is not strange that she wants to be close to you, considering the separation anxiety many babies experience at around this age.

Do you think this could work out for you? It might not be as fast as just letting her cry it out, but it seems to me you don't like that (I agree!). Also, 8-9 months is a sensitive age so I'd recommend a gentle method!

Hope this works, otherwise get back to me!

/Paula

Comments for
How to Get Baby to Fall Asleep On Her Own?

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May 21, 2009

same proplem
by: amira

i have 9 monthes girl baby too , she hate to sleep alone , i had all the time to carry her in arm and shaking , walking , singing till she falls in a sleep , but now she got heavier and i cant do this any more , but she still hate to sleep on her own , during the day and in night , this is making our day a horrow ..
i tried this way to put her with me in bed till she sleeps , yes it works , and then i move to her own bed , but after some few days , she refuse to sleep except in our own bed ,, and even if she do and i ry to lay her down in her bed ,,, she feel it , and she wake up screaming like crazy ..
but simply to let her sleep in our own bed is not acceptable by any way ,, and i dont know wht to do
her grandmother tell me tht i should let her crying in her own bed , whtever how she cry or how long , at end she will sleep , and may be one week and she will use this way and accept it then
but i have fear to do this , to let her cry tht much i feel she cant breath any more . and her face comes really full red .. or may she got a psyco proplem ... or she is a baby and this will not hurt ....
please please please help me sooooooon
my life is destroyed

Jan 19, 2010

Similar Problem..
by: Anonymous

I co-sleep with my 5 month old baby girl, but am having a tough time getting her to fall asleep on her own. I have been rocking her to sleep in my arms since she was a newborn. Now she needs to be rocked EVERY SINGLE time she wants to sleep. It is extremely tiring for me as I am the one looking after her for the whole day and I am simply exhausted. Can anyone teach me how to let her fall asleep on the bed without me carrying and rocking her?

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