Transitioning into crib

[AGirl]

My daughter is 8months and she has been sleeping with me for about 3 months.  I want to transition her into her own crib. She sleeps in her crib for naps and I use shush pat to get her to sleep.  At night however, after she has gone to bed she wakes up 45 minutes later and won't go to sleep.  I try shush pat but it usually turns into pu/pd and then if I do get her to sleep the cycle continues until I bring her to my bed. 

Any advice to ease the transition for her?

Thanks.

[becj86]

What's her daytime routine? Wonder if she's waking at 45min after BT due to OT.

[AGirl]

She generally hasn't slept more than 45 minutes per nap since birth. 

W/U - 8
BF
Breakfast
Activity
Nap 11- usually 45 minutes
BF
Lunch
Activity
Nap 3 Usually 45 minutes
BF
Activity
Supper 5:00
Bath, book, bedtime at 6

[becj86]

Wow! A 14hr night is pretty impressive at this age - usually more like 11, though naps are usually a little longer. I'd say she probably is OT  come bedtime from so little day sleep. If you increase her A time in the morning, she may do a longer nap - 45min is classic UT and at 8 months, her A time would be more like 3:15-3:30 if she's on an average time.

[AGirl]

Yes but she's up every 45 if she's not sleeping with me. If she has a longer nap than bedtime is from 7-8. I will extend the a time but any advice on transitioning her to crib at night time?

[becj86]

Any medical issues like reflux that causes pain?

Has she always coslept with you? I wonder if you need to do some basic sleep training to help her learn how to sleep through a transition from one sleep cycle to the next. To be honest, I'm not really sure why she would wake at 45min at every sleep, including all through the night unless it was pain or she's never learned how to get through that transition.

I think you really have to get her into a routine we can try to troubleshoot so we can work out if the 45min wakings are routine-related or skill-related. Do you know what she does when she wakes? Could you try hold through the jolts or shush/pat and see if that helps her stay asleep?

How are you putting her down for naps? Is she awake when she goes in the cot and doing some of the settling herself?

[AGirl]

We had suspected reflux before and she was medicated. But I took her off them. If she sleeps with me she sleeps most of the night. Naps I can shush pat her to sleep and has been able to put herself to sleep for 3 naps. Night time is way harder, I suspect because she wants to sleep in my bed.  She hasn't always slept with me. I started co sleeping because she would sleep better.

[becj86]

Why did you take her off the meds? Is she feeding while she's sleeping with you?

There is an FAQ somewhere about this, I will see if I can find it.

Can you do gradual withdrawal - so sleep on her floor so you're with her when she's sleeping in her crib at night and slowly move it away?
 

[becj86]

Some of this info may help you form a plan to get her into the cot (I don't think PUPD is indicated):

from: Regaining Trust of Your Child
Crib Phobia up to 8 months:
(for children older using PUPD is suggested)
1) You must be patient and understanding.  Never rush this process.  This phobia may have been because of a tramatic event and forcing your child to do anything they don't want to right now will just make the situation worse.

2) Always comfort when your child starts to cry.  Do not let them cry alone.  Attend to their needs as soon as possible.

3) Start with the first nap of the day.  At the first sleepiness cue start your wind-down.  Swaddle and Shh Pat your child and when they are calm instead of putting them in the crib put them on a pillow on your lap.  Tracy suggests a firm standard size pillow.  Sit this your back against a wall for support.  Let your child know you are there and will be there to help them sleep.  When they have fallen asleep (20 minutes atleast) uncross your legs and let the pillow plop slowly and carefully on to the floor.  Stay sitting next to the pillow.  For the next week atleast stay next to your child while she sleeps.  This is a sacrifice that you make to regain your child's trust.

4) The second week do the same wind-down but put the pillow on the floor for your child to fall asleep on, not your lap.  Again stay with your child while they sleep through naps and nights.

5) The third week do the same wind-down but put the pillow in the crib.  When you lay your child down put your hand on them so they know you are still there.  For 3 days stay by their side until they are in deep sleep.  On the fourth day remove your hand while staying beside the crib while your child is sleeping.  Three days later leave the room when your child has gone into deep sleep but if they cry for you go to them IMMEDIATELY. 

6) The fourth week you should be able to put your child down in the crib without the pillow.  If not, start again from the previous step.

Tracy warns that this kind of phobia may produce a clingy child and restoring faith in your child now will help prevent this.
(Taken From: Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems pgs 77 (Chapter 2), 194 (Chapter 5) and Secrets of the Baby Whisperer pg 290 (Chapter 9))