Q:
My 8-month-old daughter doesn't sleep well. I’m planning to start training her, but I want to know if I should let her “cry it out” only at night or during naps, too.
She has never slept more than 20 minutes at a stretch; she cries almost every two hours at night. Is it already late for her to be trained?
A:
If your daughter has never slept longer than 20 minutes at a time, you should consult your pediatrician to see if there’s a medical reason behind this behavior.
Generally, babies cry out while in their cribs when they’re awake and even a bit while asleep. I suggest you wait a couple of minutes when you hear your daughter cry before going to her. Lots of times children will cry and go back to sleep. If she doesn’t stop, walk into her room and gently stroke her back while singing or speaking to her in a soothing way. You might be able to put her back to sleep this way.
I know parents who brought their car seat into the house and let their baby sleep in it, because that’s where she slept best. Maybe that technique would work for your daughter. For more advice, take a look at William and Martha Sears’ book, The Fussy Baby.
Kenneth N. Condrell Ph.D Child Psychologist
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition.
