[tigger44]

We have been home one month with our precious little girl, who is twelve months old. She is a very happy and wonderful baby and has attached very, very well. Our problem is helping her to fall asleep. Since the moment we took custody of her, it takes her at least 30 minutes to one hour to fall asleep. I just cut out her morning nap to see of that would help. It did for a day or two, but now, even with one nap a day, it can take her up to an hour, and sometimes two hours, to fall asleep. I try to get her to sleep in my arms, in the rocking chair. Sometimes she will fall asleep that way, but she really likes to just be put in the bed to go to sleep. She loves to snuggle with her blankets, and just roll around and sooth herself to sleep. I give her little massages on her feet, hands, arms, face, etc. trying to help her get to sleep.

I usually give her a bottle and rock for a while before bed, for about 30-45 minutes. Then I lay her down and she can take another 30-60 minutes to fall asleep. It feels like a part time job just getting her to sleep, and it is exhausting and frustrating for my husband and myself. Anybody else experience this? Any suggestions for what we can do?

[britfish]

She sounds a lot like Grace! Personally I love that she falls asleep on her own. Grace rarely will fall asleep in our arms as she prefers to fall asleep on her own. I read her a book and give her a bottle. Then I rock her for aobut 5 minutes and put her in bed. Sometimes she will play in her crib for 20 minutes, she rolls around on her blankets, etc. It is so cute! I peek through the door and watch. When she is tired she lays down and goes to sleep. Why not just let her fall asleep on her own? I think it is what some of the children are used to.

[waxhawfamily]

Our DS takes a long time to fall asleep too, he is 29 months, and has been home 3 months.

Our routine is this, begining at 7:15:

*Bath time
*PJ time
*Read 2 books
*Sing 3 - 4 songs (with hand motions - he loves music)
*Lights out, and he is put in his crib (no night light to stimulate him, he isn't scared, so dark is better)
*Prayers, his first (repeat after me prayer), then mine (aloud)
*Stories (I tell two short stories that I make up in the dark sitting by the crib)
*I turn on his lullabye CD
*I sit in the room quietly for 2 songs
*I tell him goodnight and that I love him and leave the room

8:00 - done. 45 minutes is our total bedtime routine

Listening to the monitor, I can tell that it takes him 30 minutes to 2 hours to go to sleep. Sometimes he babbles, or he sings (I think ), occationally he calls for me (although I don't respond). He will toss out his pillow, or have a wrestling match with his blankie. Eventually he goes to sleep.

Once I leave the room, I don't go back in (they catch on to getting you back in the room really quick - they're smart little buggers). I also don't worry about how long it takes him to fall asleep. I consider crib time as restful time whether he is actually asleep or not.

Funny story: One night DS was actually crying after he had been in his crib for an hour. He sounded upset, so I thought that he was either stuck in some odd position, or he did fall asleep and had a nightmare. In either case, I decided this night that I would go back in to his room and check on him. I went into his room in the dark and was just going to pat his tummy to tell him that I was there, and to settle him down. I reached down and touched him and he was naked fromt he waist down. DH had put him to bed that night (we alternate nights) and I thought that surely DH didn't get distracted in the process and leave off his diaper and PJ bottoms.

Well, apparently DS was so bored with trying to go to sleep that he decided to take off his PJ bottoms himself, then he took off his diaper. The only reason he was crying was that eventually he wet himself, the bed, and his discarded PJ's. DS got a little treat that night by getting to get out of bed at 10:00 and run around while I resheeted his crib. The next night he wore the PJs that have snaps to attach the top to the bottom.

[Kendal]

My little guy is 16mo and it usually takes him 30min to an hour to fall asleep as well. As long as he is not upset I just let him fall asleep on his own. The one thing I did do that has cut down on his "play time" in his crib is I took out most of his stimulation. Like toys, pillows, blankets, etc.. Now he only sleep with one favorite stuffed toy.

[tigger44]

Thanks for the responses. It's comforting to know that there are others out there who have not so sleepy babies sometimes. I got our baby used to me sitting with her while she dozed off to sleep. I also wanted to try getting her used to me rocking her to sleep. Both of these have helped our bonding and attachment even more. I like that she can go to sleep on her own. Once she falls asleep, she is an excellent sleeper. I never have to go to her during the night, and she will take good naps too.

We have her on a good, consistent schedule, but I was just feeling concerned that she might have some hyperactivity problems. Just new mother worries I guess. I may try leaving her room for a while after I lay her in bed, and see how she does. I don't want to do anything to cause any attachment setbacks. Thanks again for the advice!!

[melis-2004]

Our babies have all learned to fall asleep in their cribs, so that is what they are most comfortable doing. We loved them up during the day and at night time too, but they went to sleep in bed. A couple of them actually could not fall asleep in our arms. They seemed to feel overstimulated and needed the peace of a bed and their normal sleeping position. Three of mine fall asleep right away and the other two were/are the roll, toss, and play variety. Kiddos are all so different! Like the others have said, I would suggest that she is doing fine with lots of cuddling during the day, and it is OK if she needs time to fall asleep in her own bed.

Get some rest!

Melissa