Disclaimer: English is not my first language so I used AI to help me translate the post.
Ok so, I know every baby is different and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, I’m just looking for someone with a similar experience who can give me a little hope.
My daughter is almost 5 months old, and since the day she was born, it has been impossible to get her to sleep anywhere other than in someone's arms. I have several nieces and nephews whom I’ve babysat many times, and I always managed to get them to sleep in their cribs but with my daughter, it feels impossible.
She falls asleep in my (or my husband's) arms without any issues, but transferring her anywhere else is literally mission impossible. We have tried everything:
• Warming the crib before the transfer
• Swaddling
• White noise
• Total darkness
• Low light
• Layering clothes up/down
• Putting something that smells like me in the crib
• Placing her in my bed (thinking it might be a more familiar environment)
• Waiting 5/10/15/30 minutes before moving her
• Waiting for deep sleep
• Keeping a hand on her chest for a few minutes
• Adjusting wake windows (early or late naps so she's tired but not overtired)
• Drowsy but awake (does this actually work for anyone?!)
Nothing. The second her body leaves my arms, her eyes snap wide open and she starts crying. In the best (and rare) case scenario, I manage to put her down while she’s still asleep, but after 5 minutes max, she’s wide awake and screaming her head off.
To make matters worse, she hates the stroller and the car, so those aren't options either. Every single daytime nap for the past 5 months has been in my arms or in a baby carrier, where she’ll happily sleep for hours.
To keep my sanity, she co-sleeps with me at night following the "Safe Sleep Seven," and for now, nighttime sleep is actually good: she eats 3 or 4 times a night without even fully waking up (Did I just jinx it? Probably idk).
I truly believe that the need for contact is a primary need, just like hunger, so I have no intention of sleep training her. However, I admit I’m starting to feel a bit exhausted by not being able to have a single moment to myself. I’d love to have some me time while she sleeps, just so I can shower or cook without waiting for my husband to come home.
My question is: Does anyone else have a velcro baby like mine? Did you ever manage to get them to sleep in their crib? At what age? And most importantly... HOW?
I’m not sure if you can sense the slight desperation in my voice lol. Sorry for the incredibly long post and thank you in advance!