Need some advice....

[Jewels]

#1 Kali wakes up once between 4 and 5 am. I get up with her and give her a bottle, she seems quite awake and alert. She has only been drinking 2- 2 1/2 oz's. She hasn't had a bottle since 10:00- 10:30 pm. Do you think she is waking up from hunger or just a sleep pattern. She isn't crazy about her pacifier so that doesn't work. Plus she seems so awake but after 2 oz's she's back asllep so she doesn't seem all that hungry either?? Any input. Thanks!

#2 She won't sleep in her crib. I have been trying to put her in her crib for naps and she lasts about 10-20 minutes tops. (at night she sleeps in her bassinet) During the day she prefers her swing. I REALLY want her to like and sleep in her crib HELP!
Heather

[A_A_AMom]

Heather-

When Kali wakes up, you could try to comfort her and see if she will go back to sleep. (pat her back, hold her, etc). I would be lying if I said that is necessarily what I would do, even if it is the best. At 4 am I usually go for what is easiest/fastest for me. So...feeding her might be fastest, and maybe she is a little hungry and that is enough to get her back down. You could always experiement if you wanted.

As far as the crib I don't have any real words of wisdom because I have a hard time even getting Addison down for a decent nap in her bassinet. Do you know if she will sleep in her crib at night or her bassinet during the day? Just wondering if it is the crib or just that she doesn't like to lay down for whatever reason during the day and nap. (my first was a catnapper FOREVER!) Other than that I would suggest making it as much like the bassinet as possible. Put her up near a corner so she feels like she has the close sides like in the bassinet, maybe. Make sure you use the same type of blanket, if you use one, at nap time during the transition. Not sure if that is any help, but I wish you luck.

[Jewels]

Nope, she won't sleep in her cradle during the day either, but she sleeps great in it at night. Heather

[JandBC]

It is tough getting my baby to nap at all during the day...except on me, so I have no words of advice but am curious to hear what others have to say.

Bella will only sleep in the day if I'm rocking her on the front porch, walking in the bjorn, or driving...all involve me! I can't get anything done!

[eClaire]

First, BABIES ARE A MYSTERY! I am convinced I will never figure them out.

Second, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING! So any advice I could give would be a guess.

That said, I think that if she is looking for food after 6 hours, at this age, that's not habit. Sometimes I find Henry needs an ounce or two to "top him off" and that will help him sleep so much better. I think I read in my Baby Whisperer book that the "habit waking" thing doesn't really kick in until after 4 months.

You are definitely in the majority with a baby who doesn't like to sleep in the crib. They just like the close snuggly feeling of the car seat/bouncy/swing/arms/bassinet for the first 3 months (in my experience).

Henry is sleeping in his crib at night, but on his side/stomach (long story) and also with the crib pulled up next to my side of the bed so that I can literally put my hand on his back between the bars while laying down. It's kind of like co-sleeping in a jail.

[A_A_AMom]

Just thought I would add, Addison is currently napping in her swing as we speak. I valiantly tried the bassinet again, but nope, it was a no-go. Like your little one she sleeps fine there at night.

[ctd]

first about the waking at 4 and drinking only 2 ounces or so... this is what Meredith started doing about 4 days before she started sleeping through the night. She would wake up about 330 or 4 and drink about 2 ounces and be back sound asleep. After a couple nights of this I decided to see if she was truly hungry or just need to suck. So I stuck the paci in and wrapped her up good and she went back to sleep. It took a couple of nights doing that and now she doesn't wake up until 6. So maybe that's where she's headed...

Like Claire said, I've read somewhere that they don't really get into patterns/routines until after 4 months so I wouldn't think it's a habit.

second for sleeping in the crib, luckily that transition was easy for us we switched at 4 weeks. However, during the day, naps are not so easy. She usually wakes up after about 30 min. or so if she is in the crib or bassinet (unless she is on her tummy) So I let her sleep where ever she will, swing, car seat, on me, whatever works, I try to make sure she gets a really good nap (at least an hour and a half) in the morning and another really good one in the evening.

Hope things get easier...parenting is definitely a trial and error type situation.

[andika]

samuel also wakes at 4am to eat, I think he might be thirsty -sometimes I just give him fennel tea.
the crib-they feel lost in their crib, so put the baby near the edge-either side of the crib, on her back or side with her back along theside of the crib. they feel more cozy, like in our bellies...works for us!

[BC-nette79]

I have to admit we don't even have a crib for Lillie yet! Graceyn didn't start sleeping in her crib until 5 months. We use the bouncy seat as a bed basically because the incline works so well. On a positive note, Graceyn sleeps like a champ in her bed now.

[Jewels]

Thanks everyone, I am going to just try yhe pacifier tonight and see if she'll go back to sleep without eating. I'll let you know how it goes!