I know you don't really like the CIO out thing but that is what I did, although I wouldn't really say he CRIED it out. I knew that my son didn't need to eat either. Maybe he is hungry when he wakes up at night, but if you are feeding him enough during the day, then he doesn't need to eat. I sometimes wake at night and I'm hungry, but I don't go down to the kitchen and eat at 3 am (unless I'm pregnant!). When my son would wake I would let him fuss for a few minutes. I WATCHED THE CLOCK! When you don't watch the clock it seems like an eternity. In reality, all he was fussing was like 5 min at the most and then he would fall back to sleep. If he would fuss for more than 5 min, I would have my husband go in because my son would expect to nurse if he saw me. My husband going in helped tremendously. Sometimes that wouldn't work and he would still cry, but I can deal with that. I don't think it's cruel when you know your kids are warm, nutritionally sound, and don't have a sopping wet diaper. If I did have to go in, I would just stand at his crib holding him (I wouldn't dare sit in the chair because thats what I did to nurse him) rock him and sing softly. Eventually he would settle and just put his head on my shoulder. Then after I few minutes I would lay him back down, walk out and not go back in even if he started crying again. I knew he was okay he just wanted my company. I can't remember how long it took, but it was up and down. I don't think you'll accomplish it in a week, but I hope you do. The most important thing you can do is be consistent about not feeding him. It is so easy to just give in at 3 am, but that only puts it back and doesn't help your son to start sleeping through the night. Does he have some kind of lovey like a blanket? Giving my son a blanket really helped him, but I introduced it to him when he was only a few months old. Good luck to you!
