self soothing 3 m old ?

[ever55]

My 3month old has been going to sleep with sh/pat for the last 4-5 weeks. It is rarely easy but eventually she goes to sleep. Lately she settles and starts looking around I continue to pat for a minute or two but then figure I should leave to see if she will fall asleep on her own. That is when the on and off crying starts, it is not desperate crying, but I don't see it as a mantra exactly. She lets out a cry for about 30 seconds then is quiet for 30 seconds after a few minutes she might be quiet for 3 minutes then cry again for 30 seconds or a minute. Today this went on for about 10 minutes then she went to sleep.  Last night at bedtime it went on and off for 40 minutes as I went in and settled her a couple of times then she seemed happy, but it started all over again when I left the room.
 My question is, am I interfering to go in or is that too much crying for a 3 month old. Should I stay in the room when she seems quiet and looking around? Or should I leave and see what happens. How much of this on and off crying is too much?
 Just a note of interest, she sleeps for 11 hours at night consistently with a dream feed and does not make a peep all night!
 Any one's response would be welcome!

[*Natasha*]

My opinion is leave her unless she is really crying. My DD2 does this sometimes it is her way of unwinding. Could you post your routine though she may need more awake time?

[ever55]

Her Routine
wakes up at 8

E 8:15
A 8:30
S 9:30 usually 45 min

A 10:30
E 11
A 11:10
S 11:45 usually 1 hour in car

A 12:45
E 1:30
A 1:40
S 2:00 this nap is hard to get her down for- usually lasts 45 min

A 3:00
E 4:00
A 4:10
S 4:30 this nap is the hardest to get her down for, sometimes ends up sleeping in the sling while I sh/pat
 
A 5:15 bath at 6:15 and wind down
E 6:30
S 7:30 or might wake up after 45 and not really go to sleep until 8:30
 DF at 10:30 and we don't hear a peep until 7:30 or 8 am!

The short naps have seemed to make EASy very difficult and we have had quite a time with her going to sleep at night sometimes as she seems overtired she was having five 45 min naps in the day until lately, she seems to go longer for A time now than 2 weeks ago.

I'm worried that I'm letting her cio if she cries on and off for more than a few minutes, I need reassurance I guess.
Thanks for your quick response!
E


 8

[*Natasha*]

CIO is when you put them down and they start crying hard and you don't go into them you just leave them. Mantra crying is generally when it doesn't escalate and it is of and on. Do you go by her cues when putting her down for naps or the clock?

[ever55]

Cues mostly, she yawns or loses interest in her activity then starts to fuss a little by the time I start winddown. She also is starting to rub her eyes or rub her face into me when I hold her. If I think I've missed the cues and all I see is fussing and it has been over an hour and 15 of total A I assume she is tired.Her cry isn't too serious but it isn't relaxed either. It sort of starts as a wail for a few seconds then gets more soothing for the last few seconds then quiet, then starts all over after only 30 seconds of quiet sometimes more. I've watched her do the same while I sh/pat and it almost seems like she doesn't even know I'm there. This has been a recent development - 1 week- and I'm wondering if it is self soothing skills starting that I should not interfere, but I would hate to be misreading her and letting her be alone when she needs me. She obviously has no trouble getting herself back to sleep in the night as she never even cries, just rustles around at 5 or 6. Thanks for your help.

[cbald1976]

hi ladies...marking my spot as I have the same question.....