Baby Won’t Sleep Unless Held: How to Put Your Little Baby to Bed?

Won’t your baby sleep unless held?

That’s a common problem of almost all parents in the world. However, it can significantly affect their health and their daily activities. I don’t know anyone who can work well without sleep.

Therefore, in my article today, I will show you the most efficient methods to put your slight stubborn baby right to bed. Based on the experiences of 5 years raising two kids, I think they will be a massive help for you.

Understanding The Reason Behind This

Before learning how to put your little kid to bed, you need to know the reason why your baby won’t sleep unless held. It can be because:

Your baby does not have a bedtime routine

Symptoms: Perhaps, your baby cannot sleep without your arms because you don’t give them a chance to go to sleep on their own. You always hold them when bedtime comes, which makes him, her think that whenever they sleep, they have to be held.

Your baby cannot put himself back to sleep

Symptoms: Your baby keeps interrupting their sleep. After you sing and rock them, they go to sleep for five or ten minutes. But then, they wake up again, and you have to sing and hold them all over again until they are back to sleep.

Your baby still has much energy at night and still wants to play

Symptoms: Your baby can either be passive or yearns for interaction in this situation. If they are inactive during the day, they may still have much energy at night and want to play with you.

In contrast, if your baby has too much energy and still craves interaction, they will want to be up and communicate.

Your baby cannot distinguish between day and night

Symptoms: This is a common problem of 1-2-month babies. Sometimes, they take a nap throughout the day. However, at other times, they are awake all night long. It can be due to their misunderstanding between day and night. You will have a hard time holding them to sleep.

Your baby already has enough of sleep during the day

Symptoms: Baby’s sleeping all afternoon can give you much time for housework. Nevertheless, that is harmful to them because they will sleep less at night, and/her brain development will be limited.

If they take a nap more than four hours by day and less by night, they need to change.

The most efficient ways to put your baby to bed without your holding

1. Create a quiet environment 15 minutes before bedtime

It is a part of wind-down routines, which signals your baby to sleep and makes them tired. If you have two kids and the older one may disturb your baby, it’s best to go into a different room where you and your baby have some privacy.

This action will gradually change their routine and make them think they can go to bed without holding them all night. Also, your baby will have the best relaxation and sweet dreams when they sleep.

2. Change the way you soothe him

You can change them a little and turn to hold them upright if you often rock them. Your baby will feel safe when having your chest lean on and not afraid of falling while sleeping.

You can hold them upright while sitting or standing. Buying a glider chair will be a great idea when your baby doesn’t sleep unless held. They will feel incredibly comfortable when you have them on the chair and push it forwards and backward.

3. Turn down the light

Various mothers usually leave their lights on to make it more convenient when their babies cry at night. If you still have this routine, it is recommended to give it in. It can accidentally create long-term sleeplessness for both of you and your kid.

Instead, you can turn off or leave a dim light in your baby’s room while soothing them. Darkness is an integral factor to signal your baby to sleep and comfort their eyes. Besides, turning down the light can also make apparent differences between day and night and help them follow your nighttime schedule.

4. Put some small soft toy or a blankie inside his/her crib

Toys and blankies can replace your arms. The root cause of your baby’s inability to go back to sleep without your holding is the love with your pleasant and comfortable warmth. Therefore, you need to change those when you want to sleep well at night.

Try introducing them with some small and soft toys first. They can distract them from their surrounding. And when you start cuddling and singing for them, wrap them inside a blankie. You should measure your baby’s size before purchasing the right one.

Otherwise, they will feel uncomfortable. And remember to choose only small and soft toys to put into their crib. You had better altogether avoid blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals due to the high risks of suffocation.

5. Lull your baby and leave before he/she falls asleep

It would help if you did not wait until your kid is sound asleep to leave them. Your baby won’t sleep unless held when already familiar with your arms and warmth. They will immediately cry again when you don’t cuddle them anymore.

The most efficient way is to lull them and put them in his crib or bassinet while they fall asleep for 2 or 3 minutes. Then, sit beside them for a moment and leave the room quietly. Your kid will sleep until the morning.

6. Encourage your baby to play during the day

This part involves not only mothers but also fathers. If your child does not participate in so many activities during the day, you can apply this tip. Sometimes, they will not even miss your arms when he is too tired. Tell your husband to play with them and pull them into activities.

Going to the nearby park, playing with a slide, or flying with a swing are some simple things to keep your baby active by day. And they will be tired by night. Just do whatever creates vestibular stimulation for them, and they will sleep safe and sound every night.

7. Create calm activities before he/she sleeps

Is your baby restless?

Don’t worry! Some activities can calm them down when you want to put them to bed, and you need to work on them before he sleeps. Massaging, feeding, and bathing is what experts recommend.

Giving your baby a warm bath can increase their temperature, which can drop at night and prevent them from getting irritated. Massaging can create the best relaxation and help you lull them to sleep much more accessible. Feeding is even better, which can make your baby warm and comfortable from the inside.

However, pay attention to the maximum weight for feeding before bedtime. If your baby is over 12 pounds, you should avoid it because they may consider providing time for sleep.

Conclusion

Have you been finding my methods useful?

I hope the answer is yes. If you have any questions or opinions, comment on them under this article. I would love to reply. And if you are interested in my writing, do share it with other parents. I’m sure they will love it as you do.

Regardless, thank you for reading my article about “baby won’t sleep unless held” until the end, and I hope that your kid will thrive solid and healthy in the future.