- This topic has 5 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 19 years, 3 months ago by
.
-
Hey guys,
SO(HUGE deep breath),I’m so frustrated. This is going to be LONG so get ready to be fighting a coma
When Kate was at her worst when she was not medicated for reflux she screamed ALL the time and the ONLY thing that made her happy was her swing. She hated being swaddled and all the other things they talk about in The Baby Whisperer and Happiest Baby on the Block
She was in her swing 24/7. Slept there and everything. Well,now that she’s so much better,over the last months we’ve (or her I’m not sure which)weaned her so that now she is ONLY in her swing for naps. Bedtime is a cynch. 
We have a bedtime routine, self-soothes to sleep and goes to bed every night around 7-8. Awesome. Very thankful for that.But naps……arrrrg. See, Kate when she was first born and up untill about 7wks,we couldn’t put her down. She loved to be rocked,sung to,held all the time. That was our issue then,we couldn’t get her to sleep anywhere but with us. But around the worst of her reflux it’s almost like the only thing that soothed her was the swing and even now when she’s hysterical,she’s not even soothed by me sometimes. She’s developed her own personality. It’s weird b/c she likes being held,doesn’t HAVE to be held,but when she’s tired or even sometimes when she’s not and hysterical we always reach for the swingb/c she won’t calm down any other way. She gets MORE mad if we hold her and try to soothe her.I’m sick of it. I’m tired.The swing has been in our living room and we would have to hush the whole house to get her to sleep and stay that way. Here’s what her swing schedule during the day sorta looks like:6:30-7 Wake up8:30-9 Nap for 30 minShe does this up for 1-2 hrs down for 30min untill about 2 when she usually zonks for 2-3 hrs.Then it’s the same thing untill bedtime at 6:30 which is no problem. Even if she naps up untill 6,she’ll still go to sleep fine at 7.So I don’t know what to do. I’m not a schedule type person(more routine then anything) but I’m tired of running to the swing whenever she’s mad. Would it be cruel to take it away at this point?Should we take it away during the day,cold turkey,and put her for naps in her crib since I KNOW she knows how to go to sleep there?Will it be too confusing to keep the swing for just before bedtime when she goes to sleep for a power-nap for 20 min?HELP!! Does anyone have any books to reccomend? Dh and I are at a loss. Should I put her on a schedule?Will that help?SO SORRY THIS IS SO LONG!!!!
I’m just a new mom and have no idea where to look for some solution to weaning her from her swing during the day and finding a way to sooth her without it. Oh, I’m really not open to CIO so anything else!!!Thanks for the help in advance everybody,I’m looking to you to save me again!!Kate’s Mommy 2007-08-04 20:33:49 Sorry,me again. Just wanted to add that if I turn the swing off she usually wakes up and I’ve TRIED putting her in her crib and she gets really really mad. Now,I usually wimp out and give in and put her in her swing at that point b/c I”M tired. Terrible,I know
I hear you and totally feel your pain! Sarah was a swaddle AND swing girl for the first 5 months. When we were trying to wean her from the swing, we would put her in it without motion. I think she needed the incline for reflux purposes and the motion for sleep purposes. So maybe you could try something gradual like that. I know you said she wakes up screaming if you stop the motion, but maybe if she realizes that the swing won’t “swing” then eventually she’ll be more apt to staying in her crib all the time and not just at night??? I know I’m stretching it here and you’re probably thinking “Tried that. Doesn’t work!”.
Oh I just remembered that we had the swing moving initially but once she was asleep, we turned off the motion. At first she would wake up shortly after we stopped the motion but eventually she learned to put herself back to sleep even when it wasn’t moving. Then came the transition to the crib…I don’t want you to think that this process was EASY for us, because it wasn’t smooth sailing. I think the most important thing to remember is consistency. That can sometimes be the hardest part. If you make the decision to be done with the swing because you reallllllllllly want to be done with it, then you need to try to stick with that decision. I know, so much easier said than done…just make sure you’re confident in your sleep training decisions and go with what makes you comfortable from there.
It was EASIER for me to make all the new sleep changes for Sarah because I KNEW she was capable of sleeping UNswaddled and IN a crib at daycare all day. Maybe since you KNOW she is capable of self soothing and sleeping well at night…you can stay strong too and make the changes you’re looking for.
GOOD LUCK!
Good idea but I think it would be sooooooooooooo unsafe with the swing we have. We have that papasan Fisher Price swing and it’s HUGE!! Plus I don’t think the legs will even fit in the crib…..
Today I’ve been sticking to my guns and having her nap in the crib. Her naps are like 30min and she fusses for 45min before she falls asleep with me going in there 30times to tell her it’s okay and go to sleep but so far it’s been doable. This stinks!!!! Am I doing the right thing???
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
