When Baby Cries at Bedtime

If your baby cries at bedtime and she’s not hungry, sick or wet, what should you do? “She’s probably crying because she’d prefer to be held until she falls sleep,” says pediatrician Michael Schwartz, M.D, of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

If you can’t bear to hear the baby cry or are losing sleep yourself, go ahead and hold her. Some parents even attach a sleep extender to their mattress to safely keep the baby close. The downside here is that your baby won’t be able to fall asleep without you.

“Babies can learn to go to sleep on their own,” Schwartz says. “You can begin as early as 2 to 3 months. Establish a pre-bedtime routine before putting her to bed. She’ll still waken for night feeding, but you’ve started her on an important skill.”

With a crying 4- to 6-month old, you can use the countdown method: wait five minutes before responding, 10 minutes the next night, and so on. (Breastfed babies, who are used to falling asleep while nursing, may need to be somewhat older than bottle-fed babies for this approach.) It’s best not to begin sleep training with a 9-month-old, Schwartz says, since separation anxiety is typical then. And in any case, adjust your strategy to what fits best for your family. l

Want to Know More about setting a bedtime routine? Call 610-402-CARE.

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