Hates His Crib!!!

Updated on August 17, 2007
C.H. asks from Colorado Springs, CO
9 answers

My 10 month old son HATES his crib at home. He will sleep with no problems in my in-law's crib or his pack-n-play when we are away from home. Put him in his crib and he has a tantrum at the sight of it! I've tried letting him cry it out andhe just gets hysterical. I'm not sure what to do now. Hewon't sleep in it until he is ABSOLUTLY exausted.

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K.C.

answers from Grand Junction on

Maybe try getting him a toddler bed they have rails on the side to keep him from falling over the sides. That way at least you and him can get some much need sleep!!!

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P.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

This situation sounds like my kids reaction when I tried to wean them from breat milk. In order to get their cooperation I had to let them cry it out several times before they understood that I wasn't going to let them run things. When the baby is so young and cries a lot it is always hard to deal with. I wonder if you should check the crib mattress out. Maybe it has an odor baby is sensitive to. Maybe it pokes the baby somewhere. Maybe baby is allergic to the soaps you are using. There are some possibilties like that you could look at. Try and figure out now your crib compares to the others baby does like. Babies are a challenge because they can't talk. All we can do is guess what is wrong. Good Luck! I hope you figure it out.

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T.D.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi there,
Sleep issues are so tuff. My son's doctors told me I had no choice but to make him cry himself to sleep. But I refused to do so. I tried it a couple times but it only made him fear his crib and he would panic at the site of it even during the day. He would get so histerical and even gag and that would lead to him gasping for air. I ended up just putting his mattress on the floor and he like that much better, and now he sleeps in a toddler bed. It's hard at only 10mths because he can't be in a toddler bed yet. But if he's fine sleeping in his pack 'n play why force him to cry and cry until he can't fight anymore just to have him sleep in the crib? Soon he will associate his crib with fear and being alone and it will become even worse at bed time. Well I'm not an expert so I should say it could get worse. That's how my son was. He's 17mths now and all his sleep issues turned out to be that he has asthma and had trouble breathing and so he was not comfortable. But from what you said your son sleeps fine in other cribs or the pack n' play so it sounds like his crib for some reason is just creeping him out. So hopefully that helps. I'd just let him sleep where he is happy and comfy. No need to toture him or yourself...lol Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Is it his crib? or could it be sleeping in his room? I'd try the Pack-n-play in his room and see if that helps, maybe the crib is a trigger for him, when my son was little, (him being my first) I put him in his crib and let him cry until he went to sleep, I thought it was what parents did, that was all the suggestions I got, but then I read a book about getting kids to sleep in thier beds, and one reason he'd cry out is because he wanted to know if he needed me, I'd be there, so I followed the suggestion in the book aobut put him in his bed, let him cry for 1 min, go in and re-assure him that I'm here if he needs me, go out and let him cry for 2 min, go in again and give reassurance, then 3 min (which usually by then, he'd trust me and fall asleep) but the bed I left him in had bad memories of when I did leave him in there to cry (I feel so bad about that now, but I didnt know) But We got through it, and over time he learned his bed is safe, that I wont abandon him when he goes in it. Good luck with your little one.

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S.M.

answers from Denver on

C.,
I had the same problem with one my kids. I tried two things. I took the crib down for one. I didn't feel like it was serving it's purpose. I put him in his pack n play and that worked for a while but eventually what I did was put a regular twin size mattress on the ground and he has slept in it ever since.
Good Luck, S.

M.W.

answers from Fort Collins on

Hi C.,
I would have to agree with most of what adivce has already been given. My first thought was is there something in his room or crib that is freaking him out? Have you seen him look at any specific thing in the room when he starts to cry? Try changing around what's inside the crib, sheets, bumper pads etc. Or maybe even re-aranging the room. My second thought was well if he's comfortable in the pack-n-play then I'd just let him sleep in that. Why torture him and yourself??
One thing that really helps my 11month old daughter go to sleep is we have this musical light show toy. It's wonderful! It's shaped like a star and plays two different kinds of relaxing music and also shows different light shows on the ceiling or wall! I have used this pretty much everynight since she was a newborn and she just loves it. It's to the point now where when I put her in her crib she waits for me to turn it on. She also has a blanket that she is VERY attached to that she Will not sleep with out...does your son have anything like this to help him relax?
I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any luck!

M. F.

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D.J.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi C., have you tried putting it in a different room or putting up colorful posters or things to look at around it? Sometimes if you change the surroundings it will calm them. Good Luck!!

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S.A.

answers from Grand Junction on

I suggest changing his sheets or mattress or getting a mattress cover of some sort. My daughter had issues with sleeping in her crib (not as bad as your son) but when I took out the mattress pad, she slept much better. Good luck!

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L.

answers from Denver on

Does he have a special blanky or stuff animal that helps him to calm down? Another thing is playing a Lulaby tape, a relaxtion tape or just some calming music on the radio. Try this along with the other suggestions.

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