Baby Parenting Guide

How can i get my baby to go to sleep?

I know the right thing is what ever works, but I have tried everything. My son is 6 wks old and he is very inconsistent in his sleep patterns, i have been reading this book called babywise and it says that a baby needs to have a good sleep pattern for their development. It talks of putting the baby down when they are still awake but I can't do that my baby cries when i do that, and isn't letting the baby cry even worse, so how do i accomplish this to get my baby sleeping better.

Public Response to How can i get my baby to go to sleep?

1. The best thing you can do is throw out your copy of Babywise. The author of that book knows NOTHING about babies or sleep or anything else relevent. (His books are based on a Christian parenting program that goes by the theory that God thinks that babies should be fed on strict schedules, and should not interfere with their parent's lives or relationship in any way.) Feed your baby when he's hungry and let him sleep when he's tired. Dont' be afraid to nurse him or rock him to sleep if that's what works. Don't try to enforce a 'playtime' after meals -- most young babies fall asleep soon after eating. He's still a newborn and is COMPLETELY incapable of 'self-soothing' ... he doesn't even understand yet that he's a separate person.
2. At 6 weeks old, you are still developing a bond with your baby, and it is still very important to build your baby's trust in you. He needs to know that when he cries (which is the only way for him to tell you something's wrong or that he needs attention) you will be there to help him. The Cry It Out method is not recommended for babies under 6 months for this reason. At 6 weeks, it's hard for your baby to have a set schedule. Their tummies are so small, and only hold so much food, so they are hungry all the time. The first couple of months are really hard, because really you are running on the baby's schedule rather than the other way around. But it will be over before you know it and your baby will start to create a pattern of his own. At this time, just give your baby all the love and comfort he needs and enjoy it. They grow up WAY too fast, and it's amazing how quickly they start to show more independence. My son is 7 months old today, and at 5 months, he started wanting to play and roll around on his own rather than sit in our laps most of the time. Good Luck, and Congratulations on your little angel.
3. Don't listen to the people who tell you that the author of Babywise is an idiot. He's helped plenty of new parents (including myself) successfully learn effective methods to help their children. Don't throw out your copy of the book, but don't follow it like it's gospel. The methods in the book are always (and he says so in the book, if anyone's ever read it) subservient to the mom. People always mistake the Babywise theory for the Cry-It-Out theory, which is completely wrong. Babywise wants you to respond to your baby's needs appropriately, not just offer him food whenever he's crying. If you as the mommy determine that he's hungry, feed him. If he just took a full feeding a half hour ago and he's now crying again, it's not very likely he's hungry. All babies cry - it's their only method of communication. A million other things could be wrong, so why do so many women jump to offer more food? It's because they just want to stop the crying no matter what it takes, and they're not actually responding to the real problem. A Babywise parent understands that crying is not the problem - it is the indication that something else is wrong. If you know your baby is tired and he cries when you put him down, he is crying because he hasn't learned how to put himself to sleep yet. And at 6 weeks, that is FINE. He is waaay too young to know sleep mechanisms. He wants and needs his mommy. I don't think babies are ready to learn sleep mechanisms until 4-6 months. In the meantime, the more important pattern you need to establish is the feed pattern. A good Feed, Wake, Sleep pattern will follow if you're feeding him sufficiently. I followed Babywise from the beginning, my daughter was sleeping through the night at 3 weeks, and now at 6 months sleeps 12-13 hours a night and 2 2.5-hour naps. But her naps did not regulate until around 4 months; before that she only napped 45min to 1 hour. Good luck, mommy, and always remember: Do what YOU think is the best thing for your baby, you are the best judge. And don't let people make you feel bad for doing something they don't agree with.
4. Seriously ditch the book. http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/aneyaap.htm "Babywise, has raised concern among pediatricians because it outlines an infant feeding program that has been associated with failure to thrive (FTT), poor weight gain, dehydration, breast milk supply failure, and involuntary early weaning." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywise "Babywise has, however, been criticized by health care professionals in infant growth, feeding, sleep and development. Critics include, for example[...]Richard Ferber, MD..." the same Ferber who advocates cry it out. That alone should be a HUGE red flag.
5. Look at the resources available at www.all-about-babies.info