Teaching A 3-Month-Old To Fall Asleep On His Own

A reader writes:

Hi Dr. Rosen,

I have a 12-week-old who needs to bounced (I sit at the edge of the mattress and bounce him while singing/patting his back). I'm exhausted. He does fall asleep from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (sometimes) and then after that he wakes up every hour.

My pediatrician said not to sleep train him till 6 months! Is this the correct course? I need him to fall asleep on his own, I don't mind waking up and nursing him, but the bouncing/rocking/walking to sleep is driving me crazy. What would you recommend?

Thanks so much,

Aliyah

Dear Aliyah,

I think that it is reasonable for you to put him in his crib awake or semi-awake and allow him to fall asleep on his own, even at this age. While he may have grown accustomed to the physical stimulation as he’s falling asleep, there is no reason that he should not be able to quickly learn how to fall asleep without it. It may take a few days for him to adjust, but as long as you (and his father!) are consistent in your responses, it shouldn’t be too long.

While making this transition to the new sleep patterns, it’s important to make sure that you are not putting him to bed before he’s ready to sleep. Remember that sleep needs change dramatically in the first six months of life, and he may need less sleep than you think. If he needed around 16 hours/day when first born, he probably does not need much more than 12.5-13 hours/day at age 3 months, and if he is in bed for much more than that, it will take him longer to fall asleep and make him more likely to fuss.

Best,

Dennis

_____

Dennis Rosen, M.D.

Learn how to help your child get a great night’s sleep with my new book:

The Harvard Medical School Guide to Successful Sleep Strategies for Kids: Helping Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up With a Smile!