My daughter who is now 10 1/2 months old is not a great sleeper. Up until about a month ago, she was up several times throughout the night. Finally we decided to try the cry it out method. The 1st night she cried for about 45 minutes, not hard just whining and then went back to sleep. 2nd night it was only about 15 minutes of whining and then the 3rd night she woke up for just a few minutes, barely upset and went back to sleep. We had 8 or so blissfull nights of her sleeping through the night. Then all of the sudden we are back to up twice a night. I thought maybe she was teething so we tried to comfort her hoping this was just a blip and eventually she would sleep all night again. Its been almost two weeks of the up at night again. My question is, has anyone else had a similiar experience and should we re-do the cry it out method again to see if it sticks this time. Please do not respond if you are going to tell me how awful it is to let a baby cry because its hard enough as a parent and negative, mean comments don't help anything. Thanks!
Crazy enough, we didn't even make it to the weekend (we were going to try the cry-it-out method again on the weekend) and she slept through the night three nights in a row. I guess maybe it was her teeth bothering her. Thank you for all of the support and suggestions! It really does help a lot!
you are doing the right thing by teaching her how to comfort herself. As long as you know she is not in trouble, don't worry. This too will pass.
S.
Stick it out - It's a form of seperation anxiety. They wake up and you're not there. The difference between the teething crying and the crying when they want us is that when we go in to give the pacifier back to them and leave, if it's their teeth that's bothering them they are usually still asleep and crying in their sleep. If they just wanted us to come and get them, they are awake.
J.
my daughter has always slept through the night, however, we have struggled off and on for months with her going to sleep on her own. she would do great for a while, and then she would cry and we would think "oh, she's been doing great, something must be wrong," so we'd comfort her and then we would fall into that trap again! just stick with it. you know now that she can do it...you may have to do this a few more times, but each time is better and better. you are doing the right thing...i know how hard it is... i always wished someone was there to assure me while i listened to her cry that it would work...well, you know it does. stick with it and she will be better for it in the end!
M.,
As long as you know that your baby is OK, I think it's good to help her learn how to self soothe. Otherwise you will never get a good night's sleep (and neither will she!) I recommend using the same method you've used before. Luckily, at this age, bad habits are pretty easy to break (as you found before when it only took 2-3 nights). On that same note, bad habits are easily formed which is probably why your baby is back to not sleeping through the night after you started comforting again. There isn othing wrong with walking in her room, rubbing her belly lightly and saying "it's OK" then walking back out - this helps her know that you're still there but still allows her to put herself back to sleep (the Baby Whisperer Method). Good luck! And don't let anyone talk down to you for your method. You're doing nothing to hurt your baby and every parent is different!
M.,
It could be a growth spurt, teething, ears, etc. If you know your little lady isn't sick let her cry it out. You're not being a bad mommy for doing this either. My son started sleeping through the night at nine months because we finally started letting him cry it out. He would still occasionally wake up and want me. I would talk to him and rub his back to soothe him but didn't pick him up. He, of course, still wasn't happy with this option but soon started to realize it was all he was going to get. He's now 4 1/2 years old and sleeps in his bed but occasionally comes to mine. I then take him back to his room, snuggle a few minutes and then go back to ours. He's perfectly happy with this situation and it's better for everyone in the family. :)
Hang in there mom! It will happen :)
Hi M.,
We didn't use the cry it out method. But I think each family chooses what they feel is best. Heck, you know your family and its needs better than anyone else. I understand that relapses of night waking can happen, even when using the cry it out method. It's basically starting over and doing it again.
Hope this helps.
S.
As tough as it is, you will undoubtedly find yourself "retraining" her more than once. Our kids would often get in the habit of waking up when they were sick and then we would have to go throught the whole routine again when they were well again. (Of course the waking up at night always starts when you have stayed up late to finish a project and really need those few precious uninterrupted hours of sleep!)
Best wishes!
M., I am enduring the same thing with my one yr old and it is killing me as well, infact Lacy and Jennifer who responded to you also responded to me and I am gonna stick to my guns as long as we know they are not hurt in anyway we need to let them cry it out even if it kills us. Please feel free to write me when you need to vent it out, read my request our issues are so similar. Maybe the 2 of us can help each other thru this tough time. big hug to you
Maybe it's a growth spurt or teething.. it sometimes last a few weeks and then the sleeping was better.
Things happen.. as children reach different stages, sometimes they go back to previous patterns. At a certain age they figure out that you are seperate from them and it makes them anxious. You will be fine. Comfort without picking your child up and making as litte eye contact as possible, then leave the room. This is letting them cry it out, with reassurance, a win for both your sanity.
Whether you are a fan of crying it out or not, don't let anybody judge your parenting skills based on that! This all boils down to teaching your children that immediate gratification is not a right! When baby's needs are met, they should be content. Babies cry...our pediatrician says it's good for their lungs...LOL! I say redo the CIO if that is your method. You are intelligent enough to know if baby has an unmet need, or just needs to put herself back to sleep. Our children have always learned to sleep well, and that is the number one thing that saved our sanity! People cannot believe how well our children sleep and I cannot believe there are moms in this world who still get up several times a night with 2 and 3 year olds!!!! A peaceful night-time household is so easy to have! Be firm, mommy...
~L.
I know you don't want to hear anything about not crying it out. I only want to say that babies have very few ways to tell you their needs. They're not born knowing how to verbalize what is upsetting to them, their fears, their pain etc. Therefore, they cry or they learn to shut down which has an emotional/psychological price for them both now and later. They are dependent on us to meet all their needs until they are old enough to care for themselves. We have a larger perspective, can understand time and space and how much the adults in the house need their sleep. They cannot.
Babies can often go through a growth spurt around this age. Also, many babies are more mobile at this age. Both these scenarios require extra calories. I would make sure baby is not hungry.
I know you are trying to CIO. However, you need to make sure there is nothing else going on. I would try making sure she has a GOOD dinner. Fill her up before bed. Or, if she wakes up offer something to eat.
