My DS is 4 1/2 months old, and I've always nursed him down for all naps and at night. It works like a charm! He'll go from fussy and tired to fast asleep in 5 minutes or less every time, and I really enjoy that time to relax myself.
The only problem with this system is that sometimes I have or want to do other things ~I have the chance to work very part-time and I love my job and would like to be able to go back like one evening a week or so, and DH is very good about taking his share of baby care. My MIL and SIL also come sometimes and love being with DS and I love getting a little break.
Whenever any of them are taking care of him, they usually have a hard time getting him down, and it often involves crying or sometimes outright screaming before he falls asleep. At first I thought they'd each find their own way with getting him down, but so far that hasn't exactly happened. He naps 3-4x a day so I can go out for very short times and leave him with DH/MIL/SIL only when he's awake, but practically this is a pain because I can't go to work or get anything else done.
They all do the same routine I do (rocking, lights down, singing or soft music), and they've also tried other things like lying down with him and/or having him sleep on them, all of which have some success. He will sleep while going on a walk in the carrier, but with winter coming this is not going to be practical anymore. Sometimes it helps if they give him a bottle w/breastmilk, but sometimes he refuses it unless it's for hunger feeding. He also refuses a paci.
Anyone else BTDT and have solutions, short of me being here for every single nap and bedtime for the next 2+ years? I realize the AP approach might say I should always be the one to put him to sleep and rarely if ever leave him, but he's a high-needs baby and I feel I deserve a break sometimes and don't see why I shouldn't take one when I have loving childcare from family available. I know some babies just need to fuss before falling asleep, and honestly that doesn't bother me so much as long as he's in the loving arms of someone, but when it's outright screaming that is what we want to avoid. Any ideas? TIA!
The only problem with this system is that sometimes I have or want to do other things ~I have the chance to work very part-time and I love my job and would like to be able to go back like one evening a week or so, and DH is very good about taking his share of baby care. My MIL and SIL also come sometimes and love being with DS and I love getting a little break.
Whenever any of them are taking care of him, they usually have a hard time getting him down, and it often involves crying or sometimes outright screaming before he falls asleep. At first I thought they'd each find their own way with getting him down, but so far that hasn't exactly happened. He naps 3-4x a day so I can go out for very short times and leave him with DH/MIL/SIL only when he's awake, but practically this is a pain because I can't go to work or get anything else done.
They all do the same routine I do (rocking, lights down, singing or soft music), and they've also tried other things like lying down with him and/or having him sleep on them, all of which have some success. He will sleep while going on a walk in the carrier, but with winter coming this is not going to be practical anymore. Sometimes it helps if they give him a bottle w/breastmilk, but sometimes he refuses it unless it's for hunger feeding. He also refuses a paci.
Anyone else BTDT and have solutions, short of me being here for every single nap and bedtime for the next 2+ years? I realize the AP approach might say I should always be the one to put him to sleep and rarely if ever leave him, but he's a high-needs baby and I feel I deserve a break sometimes and don't see why I shouldn't take one when I have loving childcare from family available. I know some babies just need to fuss before falling asleep, and honestly that doesn't bother me so much as long as he's in the loving arms of someone, but when it's outright screaming that is what we want to avoid. Any ideas? TIA!
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