[jennifr]

I rock Sofia to sleep for her naps and bedtime. I was told it's a bad idea to do this because she won't learn to fall asleep herself and we'll have problems later. Did you rock your babies to sleep, and when did you stop?? How did they do falling asleep on their own?

[Slatond10]

I did not rock Sabrina to sleep, however, I do hold her for her naps. I know I am giving up precious time to do things around the house but I love holding her while she sleeps during the day. She takes naps @ daycare just fine not being held so it does not appear to harm her in any way.

She is 17 mo old and when she is not asleep going non-stop so it is my only time to really have a strong connection during the weekend.

Others may have stronger opinions but I believe you have to do what feels right to you.

[allido]

It's only a bad idea IF you think so and it starts not working for your family. We started when we brought my bio. son home from the hospital. He wasn't a "sleeper" and needed to be rocked to start with. Then, once I went back to work and realized how much time I was spending away from him, that rocking him to sleep was a way to steal a few more presious minutes together. He's now 4 and we still have "snuggle time" every night- which is often the BEST part of my day! (Oh, and he does go down for naps at daycare and grandma's without me or Daddy). You need to trust your "mommy heart" and do what's best for her, you, and your family. If my daughter will let me, I plan to do the same thing with her!

[pmgor]

I have rocked or held all 3 kids and they do eventually learn how to fall asleep on their own but it may not be when you are ready. My almost 2 year old falls asleep by himself but I'm in the bed with him or seating nearby, he still sleeps very well all night. Maybe what you may want to do is to rock her until she is pretty groggy and then lay her down and either pat her to sleep or sing her to sleep or something like that. I do that often with Miguel and he falls asleep really quickly when I put him down.

[Gabri]

I agree. I also rocked my son to sleep every night, and it was the best part of the day. Now that he's 3, it's still part of our bedtime routine. We read books in the rocking chair (he calls it his 'rock you'), turn out the lights and rock while I hum or sing for a few minutes, then he moves to his bed. I pat his back for a minute and then stay by his bed until he falls asleep--which most of the time takes about 15 minutes. Yes, the total routine still takes about an hour, but it's the best hour of my day. He went through a stage where he didn't want to fall asleep in his bed, but some tips from 'Toddler No-Cry Sleep Solution' had him falling asleep (and staying asleep) again in no time.

Good luck and follow that mommy instinct. If it's a time that you both enjoy, I wouldn't worry about it!

[bekalynn]

DH and I rock our son to sleep every night and for almost every nap he has at home (sometimes, he's so sleepy or already out of it, we can just lay him down)..

He's 9 months old.

He is already starting to slowly teach himself to self comfort. His daycare teachers are able to get him down for naps without a huge fight, and obviously, they can't afford to spend the kind of time I can on him, because they have 7 other babies to take care of, too.

I do want him to learn more independent sleep, however right now I enjoy rocking him...it is time I will not get back.

I intend to slowly start laying him down awake in stages (rocking him to the cusp of sleep, then eventually rocking him as part of our wind down time and laying him down awake, keeping the rest of our bedtime routine the same..)
However, right now, I am in no hurry to change things. It takes us less than 10 minutes on most nights to get him down for his bedtime and even less than that for naps...

(and some may remember, I had HORRIBLE HORRIBLE issues with sleep and naps when I first brought my son home 4 months ago... Getting him on a great routine and sticking to it was key for us)

[bekalynn]

jennifr,

I noticed you've only been home with your daughter for a few weeks...

In my own, personal opinion, I don't see a huge, urgent need to push your daugher to self soothe right away, because you can also use this sweet, great time to continue your bonding with her.

I know for my son and I - our bonding was a process and not instant - and this time we spent and spend together was IMMENSELY helpful and beneficial (and not to mention memories I will have forever of holding his tiny little body in my arms, snuggling close!)

Whatever the outcome is, I am confident, you will do what you feel is best for your family and daughter!

[deborahromero]

So glad to hear about all of the rest of you.

My daughter sleeps just fine all night long in her crib and most nights goes down quickly after being rocked. But without the rocking at night and especially for naps, it just isn't enough. She is a physical contact girl!!!

At night I put her down partially asleep so she learns what it means to go night night. But this little girl was rocked to sleep, sleeped with Foster Parents and was held for naps for 9 1/2 months. She is not attached to her bottle or a binky, so after fighting with myself and hubby about this, I decided today, she deserves that time with me and as a matter of fact she is entitled!!! I am going with my heart on this one as well. I lover holding her and she loves it right back. It is for me as well, the best part of my day!

Thanks for sharing.

[beachdreams]

Another rocker and proud of it. It does not bother me one bit when someones says "ooooo you should not be doing that". There is no right or wrong way to parent. Parent the way you feel best and the way it works best for the two of you and do not fret about the rest.

Rocking is a great bonding/settling down time for Bailey and I (or Bailey and her daddy depending on who is doing the rocking) and it is something she desires and something we enjoy doing.

[shellysarita]

Rocking is very good for attachment and I wouldn't be in a hurry to eliminate that from your routine. Non-adoptive parents may have a different take on this, but my parenting style has always leaned toward attachment parenting.

Blessings!
Shelly

[dyardley]

I'm in the 'rock them if you've got them' category!

My ds is almost 5 and just recently rediscovered the joys of his 'rock-rock' when I set up the glider in his sister-to-be's room.

It is, without a doubt, the best 15-20 minutes of my day.

We rocked from the time he came home from the hospital as a preemie. It became a very meditative time for me. I often knew he was only going to be alseep for 2 hours before he would need to eat again, but I was not going to give up that 15 minutes of perfect calm and rest and warmth and love. I would sit holding his tiny body and cry as I imagined the day he would no longer want to be rocked to sleep. (Thankfully, he still loves it!)

He is able to fall asleep just fine on his own when he needs to and he has told me over and over that he remembers rocking in his chair when he was a baby (I know he doesn't really), but that he has created such fond 'fake' memories of it, let's me know he enjoyed it as much as I did.

SOrry for the long reply, you can probably tell, I am longing to again have a tiny baby to rock!!

[joyfulme3x]

I have this old poem on my wall:

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep!


Your baby has been home for such a short time. I do not know what type of care your little one was in in Guatemala but chances are she did some self-soothing there. It's time for her to be a newborn with YOU. There will be plenty of time for her to learn to put herself to sleep. As long as you are staying sane (getting enough sleep yourself, etc.) keep rocking her and don't worry about what all the modern wisdom about self-soothing says--it's intended for bio kids anyway, not adopted kids who really need that extra measure of attachment parenting.

Enjoy your little one. I talked my 4-year-old into letting me rock him for a while today and it was so precious for both of us.

[brandydawn]

I rocked my daughter when she came home, however I also worked on putting her to bed awake as well after she had been home some time.

I rocked her at night and for naps (works especially well when they are cranky).

I then wanted more of a schedule and started putting her to bed when she was tired, she would lay down and immediately go to sleep (around 10 months). Now she is on a regular routine at 15 months that when it is bedtime (between 8-830) that she is put in her crib and she goes to sleep.

I still rock her, just not to put her to sleep at night. She is on the sippy cup now but she will still crawl in my lap (any time of the day) when she has her cup and I hold and rock her (just not to sleep).

I agree, it is a great bonding experience.

Something you have to think about...your child will only be small and allow you to do this sort of thing for a short period of time. Soon they are too big hold and too cool to even hang out with you. Enjoy every single cuddly moment and don't worry about bad habits.

My daughter still gets into bed with me, I don't care...I like the bonding/cuddle time.

Regards,
Brandy

[P.E.Z.]

Yes, I rocked both of my girls to sleep and loved every minute of it.
Time goes so quickly , our oldest will soon be 16 and I wonder where those days went.
I waited a long time to be a Mother and I wanted to spend as much time as possible.
Both of my girls can go to sleep on their own.
I wouldn't change it if I could.
I'm sorry that Loida will be close to 5 years old when we bring her home as I don't think she will indulge me and let me rock her to sleep , but I would if I could.

[marty419]

I rocked both of my kids to sleep every night until they were about 17-18 months old. That was the age they went into toddler/twin beds rather than a crib. I figured that was as good a time as any to transition them to learning to go to sleep on their own. Both Tyler and Taylor have made the transition very well and now at ages 2 and 3.5 they go to bed awake every night and sleep all night in their own beds. I wouldn't have traded my times rocking them for anything in the world. It was a very special time for bonding and just sharing love that I will always treasure.