NJD- Self soothing is hard at first but it does get easier. My Paed tells me that crying doesn't do babies any harm. As I said in an earlier post, they don't have the emotional capacity or neural pathways established to feel like they are being abdandoned or betrayed. They are crying because its a survival instinct and the only way they know how to communicate at this stage. If they cry and we pick them up simply because they want to be picked up, they learn that crying will get them what they want. My 2 year old is still learning, but knows that if she wants something, we only pay attention to her if she asks us politely, not whine and whinge at us. It is something that starts from such an early age. The best way to start if they are already established into being rocked to sleep is to put them down when they are sleepy, not asleep. Then talk to them soothingly without encouraging them to play. Leave the room. Listen. If baby is crying, I do the ten minute rule. As the mother, I know what cry means what. If it sounds like they are in pain I will go and analyse the situation. But usually they will just sound out that whinging cry. If the crying hasn't stopped in ten minutes, go in again and talk to him. Soothe him with your voice. Touch his chest. Then leave. Wait another ten minutes. You may have to repeat this process a few times. You may find that this takes a week or so for him to catch on. Or he may never need to cry to go to sleep again. But I swear this technique works! Some people think its cruel, but both of my girls are the happiest little girls and they never have to be rocked to sleep. If they are sleepy, all I have ever done is put them down, and it's amazing how independant they can be if we just give them the chance! Make sure too you dim the room at night, so they learn the difference between night and day. I still like to have dangly toys for them to play with or bat at incase they aren't ready to sleep straight away.
By the way on the subject of play things. I had a walker for India. But we moved into a town house and it did take up a lot of room. So I then switched to a jolly jumper which you can get for about $40 from Big W with a noise mat for an extra $20. Plus I have one of those high chairs that clamp onto the table. They take up no room at all and I find it much easier to share the same table with her. She feels like she is being included to. They only cost about $50 from kmart or Target. It is very secure. India is 2 now and she still sits in it. Plus they are very portable. Hope that helps.
Just wanted to reply to you! I should be in bed now its 2am lol.
Well ciao for now.
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