Screaming Before Sleep
By MaylaJay
@MaylaJay (349)
January 10, 2013 7:28pm CST
I am the mother of a 4 and 1/2 month old. I am pretty lucky because she sleeps through the night almost every night. However, she screams for at least 10 minutes before going to sleep every night. Has this happened to any of you? If so, did you find a way to get your baby to stop screaming before sleep?
6 responses
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
11 Jan 13
Babies can have the same trouble going to sleep as us adults.
Will she stop if you hold her for a little while? Before doing so, make sure that you aren't feeling frustrated or tense in any way. She'll pick up on that and become fussier.
Remove any items or toys anything that might cause sensory stimulation from view. Any toys attached to or laying in the crib should be removed. This includes those bed mobiles.
Turn on some soft music or sing to her.
You could also try a tummy massage in case there might be a gas problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKJv3EujsUM Sometimes burping doesn't do the trick.
Other than that, there's no harm in just letting her have a good cry.
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
11 Jan 13
Don't stress about it.
I used to do that with my first child. It was at the point where I wasn't able to properly take care of myself because I was too busy worrying about her crying.
My step mom told me "Leave her alone. Take a hot shower, get some food and just let her cry to her hearts content. Babies need to do that sometimes.'
That's exactly what I did.
It takes some time, but the more you do this the sooner you'll get used to it.
@ZoeJoy (1392)
• United States
11 Jan 13
Do you just put her in her crib and walk away? Do you comfort her first and slowly put her down? Perhaps, play some quiet music as you put her down to sleep or rock her to sleep would help.
Sorry, I don't agree with just putting a young baby to bed and then, just letting her scream. She needs comfort and needs to feel secure. She is too young to be trying to get her own way.
If she was 14 months or 4 years, then I would say she might be manipulating you to get her own way. But at 4 months, it sounds like she needs to feel more secure and needs more comfort.
Play some quiet music, talk to her in a soothing way, rub her back, rock her. She is a BABY - so baby her. She will outgrow being a baby in just a few more months. But while she is a baby, then comfort her.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
11 Jan 13
Babies younger than 14 months are a lot smarter than you think. They do pick up on the fact that they're crying gets a response from you.
Mine wasn't but a few weeks old while I was having this problem with her. After I applied "leave her alone" method all that crying cut down completely.
Not saying she never did it again, but it wasn't as often because it wasn't with some legitimate reason.
However, if holding and rocking her is working for you, then go with that.
@MaylaJay (349)
•
11 Jan 13
I know what you mean. Everyone says to just put her down and let her cry, but I don't think that's good for her. I always hold her and try to comfort her. I try talking and playing with her. It never seems to work, so I just hold her and rock her and talk to her. Eventually she passes out.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
11 Jan 13
Screaming before going to sleep? Why would she do that? Is that her sleeping ritual?
But seriously, what cause her to scream?
But seriously, what cause her to scream?@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
12 Jan 13
Your kid must be still full of energy even if it was time for her to go to sleep. And she cries about it coz she really doesn't want to go to sleep yet. Have you tried telling her storied before bedtime? I am sure that would interest her.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
11 Jan 13
Sounds like and over tired baby. A lot of babies cry before they go to sleep because they are tto tired and they don't want to go sleep but they do.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
12 Jan 13
It happens a lot. My daughter she cries a lot when tired or gets grumpy.
@reddog25770 (212)
• United States
11 Jan 13
My son cried himself to sleep every night until he was about 10 months old. After that it got a little less and eventually stopped.
@reddog25770 (212)
• United States
11 Jan 13
After he reached the 10 month mark it was smooth sailing. Nights were a blessing. He slept great and all night long. I found with him the more I tried to calm him the worse it was. So I just let him cry and he slept so much better for it. We did really well until the potty traing night mare came along. I wish you luck with that as my son was a terror. You are about to hit the funniest age with your little one. My favorite years with them were when they were 18month to 4 yrs old. The things they do in a day is amazing. Best wishes to you and your little one.
