Can't get my six month old to fall back to sleep by herself

[aaf716]

I'm new and I know it!  Just last week we started putting my daughter who will be 6 mos. On the 28th in her crib for naps.  The first 3-4 mos.  She napped in her bouncer, then when she got to big for that I rocked her.  We have only started with the first nap for nap training.  She wakes anywhere between 20-45 minutes in her crib.  If I hold her I could be 2-3 hours.  I just need some tips for extending these naps and getting her to fall back to sleep by herself.  I don't have a schedule to type, but I can tell when she isn't ready for bed.  If she isn't ready.  It is usually 2.5-3/hours after she wakes for her naps.

[Kellyjs]

Hi and welcome to BW, I hope we can help 

It might be an idea to start a log of the next few days so we can see a pattern as to what's going on. Do you think you could do that? I'll post a link for some easy log downloads for you at the end.

It sounds like she's not learned to transition through the sleep cycles on her own yet. Typically at 20mims there is a jolt as that's when they go into deep sleep and waking at 45mins could signal she needs a slight push in A times as she can't transition to the next sleep cycle there either. All fixable, don't worry  .

Starting with the first nap is ideal. I would try and put her down around the 2hr45mins mark (average A time link to follow too) and establish a nice wind down routine for you both so she can learn when to expect sleep is coming. Use ssh/pat to settle her initially if she's crying and adopt a sleep phrase like 'it's ok honey, mummy's here, it's time for sleep'. After she's asleep I would do w2s around 15mins into the nap, then again at 35mins. Again, link to follow (sorry for all the extra reading, but the links explain it far better  )

How does she fall asleep at BT? Are you rocking her then too? I think the key might be teaching her to sleep independently, then hopefully she won't rely on you to keep her asleep for her naps for the whole time so you can get some you time in  . I won't lie, there might be some crying but you'll never be told to leave her to cry alone here.

How does that sound to start off with?

Average A times- BOOKMARK ME!

EASY Log downloads

Shush-pat - How to
What does a good wind down consist of (Includes 4S ritual)
How do I address habitual wakings? (wake-to-sleep and other methods)

[aaf716]

She falls asleep by herself at bedtime.  She also does this for her first nap.  It may be controversial here, I'm not sure, but we let her cry for bedtime at close to five months when it would take me 8-10 times trying to put her into her bed.  We so this for her first nap too.  We have been doing it for a week as of yesterday.  She doesn't cry long if I catch her being sleepy, if she is under tired she cries. 

Here is a somewhat schedule:
Wakes up at 6.
Solids 6:30
Bottle of formula 7:30
Nap 8:45 or 9
Sleeps to 9:45 or so
Naps again at 12 or 12:30 (I hold her for this one, she sleeps on me for 2 to 3 hours, sometimes I put her in her PAC n play)
Another short nap around 5:30 with a bottle after last nap.
Bedtime routine starts at 7:30 in bed by 8.

[Kellyjs]

Obviously it's your decision but we don't believe in CIO here. The reason being Tracy believe it broke the bonds of trust between a LO and its caregiver. I'm more than happy to help you find a gentler way of helping her to sleep 

I would work on extending that first A. Perhaps add on 15mims and do the w2s I mentioned before at 35mins if her nap is usually 45mins. I do think that's an UT nap.

As you've got such a long day the amount of sleep in 24hrs looks ok, but I do think she's heading towards the 3-2 transition now. Have a read of yet another link and let me know what you think?

Cry it out (CIO): 10 reasons why it is not for us
Regaining Trust of Your Child

All about the 3-2 transition- 5/6 months