Bad habit started, how to break?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Bad habit started, how to break?
3
Fri, 03-12-2004 - 3:25pm
Okay ladies, I am really in need of some tips and advice as I'm clueless on how to solve this blunder. My dd was running a high fever (upper respiratory infection) and was cranky and whiny all the time, waking up several times a night for over a week. So, to save myself from having to go to her room a million times, I brought her into my bed...at first just to get her to sleep and then carrying her back to her crib. However, she got smart and started screaming (no kidding)when she woke up and realized she wasn't with mommy. Knowing that she should be in her own bed, I tried the tough love routine (letting her cry for a few mins) but she'd just cry harder until she was shaking and all sweaty. For sanity's sake, I gave in and brough her into our bedroom (hubby is in another town working)and it's been several nights now that she's been sleeping in our bed. Now, hubby is due home in a little while and will want to sleep on his side of the bed where dd is. Help! I need to put an end to this bad habit! How do I get dd to sleep in her crib again?

TIA,

Laura

Avatar for lisacolette
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
Fri, 03-12-2004 - 6:44pm
Tough one! I had a similar problem with my 4yr old. I explained that he had to sleep in his own bed and Mommy could only be with him during sick times. I put him in his bed and lay there with him until he falls asleep then he knows I leave for my own bed. I used to joke with him that Mommy would roll over and squish him and I didn't want a pancake son in the morning.

Your DD sounds young though so I'm not sure how much she'll understand. Your best bet may be to let her cry and if she gets sweaty and exhausted, go in with a cool washcloth. Wipe her head & calm her down telling her the whole time that she has to sleep in her own bed. Emphasize that for safety reasons, she needs to be in her own bed. After she's calm, leave the room and repeat as necessary. You may want to get a Fisher Price Sweet Dreams Monitor. It's a baby monitor that projects a light show of stars and moons on the ceiling if the baby cries. It has a remote control that can sit by your bed that you can use to monitor her, talk with her (works like a walkie talkie) and (my favorite) a button you can press to activate the light and music. They have different versions of this type of monitor and you could probably get a great deal on eBay (where I got mine). It really diverts my kids' attention and helps them to sleep.

I wish you patience and good luck - you're going to need it!

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Wed, 03-17-2004 - 1:22pm
Thanks for your advice Lisa! :) My dh seems to have put a stop to her sleeping in our bed. He came home Friday night and took her to her bed after she fell asleep on our bed. She's been sleeping in her bed ever since. She sometimes still wakes up around 3am (she's almost 8 months old, btw) but we're letting her "talk" and such before we rush in. If she starts to scream, then we go in but not before then. I think she's learning that she needs to stay in her bed until the sun comes out.

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Thu, 03-18-2004 - 9:27am

Have you tried puttin the playpen in your room and letting her sleep in that? I kno its not out of the room, but she will still be in there and not in your bed.


After a little while, you might be able to change her back to the crib.


I do that, since we have a 2 story and I just can't go up and down when I am half asleep just to pat my son or feed him, or put his pacifier back in his mouth. It has been a lifesaver and I still have my own bed.

Mel


Andrew 3-4-99


Dalton 12-4-03

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