when to put 4 week old in the cot?

[herewegoagain]

Hi
I think i saw a thread about this once, but can't seem to find it now.
When putting My 4 week LO to sleep we have our ritual, then set the scene, swaddle and sit. he is usually reasonbaly relaxed at this stage but I have been waiting until his blonking start to be heavy befofe I put him in the cot....is that stage 3? and is it too late? to help him learn how to fall asleep independently, when best to put hi, down in cot?
Thanks

[firsttimemummy]

I am not sure about that thread or what the "correct" answer is, but I used to put Oliver down at the first yawn and he would lie happily in his cot then drift off to sleep in a wee while - he has always been an independent sleeper (unless really OT!) and I put it down to laying him in his bed early/in time.  There is something in BWSAYP book about the window but I don't have the book to hand, sorry.  

[*Kara*]

Heavy blinking is just stage 1 of sleep... stage 2 would be eyes closed and starting to jolt a little... stage 3 - baby is entering deep sleep and isn't easily woken.  Takes about 20 mins to get to stage 3 from drowsy.

[*Ali*]

I just checked the Secrets of the BW book for you (pg 175) and it says
Stage 1: The Window - yawning and showing tired signs, get her to bed
Stage 2: The Zone - baby has a fixed focused stare, the 7-mile stare, eyes are open.
Stage 3: Letting Go - Baby resembles a person nodding off on a train, closes eyes, head drops forward, eyes suddenly open and head whips back. Repeats 3-5 times before entering dreamland.
Tracy says on pg 178 (in my book anyway) to put the LO in bed at the beginning of stage 3 to give her the chance to develop teh skills she needs to go to sleep on her own.

But this is for early days when you are first getting started with independent sleep, the final aim is to be putting them in awake.

HTH

Ali

[*Kara*]

My bad - I thought you meant the actual stages of sleep

[herewegoagain]

thanks that's very helpfull.
sounds like I am putting him doen at the begining of stage 3. thats a good start. it looks like the further into the day, the more difficult it is for him to let go or fall asleep for that matter. 1st nap yoday i just left him and he dossed off, second nap had to stay with him and out dummy + hand once and the he dossed off, 3rd nap am still in room with him.... first 40 minutes he was restless but not crying. all I did was put hand on him and shush occasionaly. he dossed off for 15 min and has seince been very restless with a lot of wind. keeps waking up and dosing off. from past days I am pretty sure that he will not sleep for his next nap. I am following his cues and I don't think that he got iver tired for this nap.... does this sound like a normal pattern at this young age?

[*Ali*]

Yes first nap of the day is normally the easiest especially if his naps aren't full and restorative.

[firsttimemummy]

that sounds pretty good

[*Kara*]

yup - sounds normal to me!

[Nauvoo]

Ali, would this apply for an 8 week old as well?

[*Ali*]

Yeah, I'd say so, especially if you're just starting with independent sleep. I just meant to point out that as your LO gets older s/he won't necessarily go through all those stages visibly and as they get more independent you will be able to put them in sooner and sooner. So if your 8wo were getting good at inde sleep you could put her in sooner but if she needs a little more help still then beginning of stage 3 would be fine. Hope that makes sense. 

[Nauvoo]

thanks