Sleep Issues

Hi D., Now listen to me,,,this is the one bit of advice that I got from friends who had children before me: LET HER CRY IT OUT!!!! I have two daughters who are now ages 5 and
2 1/2. I started this when they were around 6 months old. My pediatritian was all for it. He had a sign that read "Don't feel Bad, let them cry". If you feel that you have fed her, she has a clean diaper and all her other needs have been met when you put her to bed, then when she gets up crying, she is just being a "scuuutch".....She is spoiled by you picking her up. I listened to friends tell me all the problems they had with their kids and bedtime and the loooooong process they had to go through every night. I listened when they told me "they should have let them cry it out". It is hard to do, believe me, the first time I did it and my older one screamed, I cried. But after maybe a little under a week, she got it and betime was a joy...same for my younger one. So because of following that bit of advice, my husband and I can look forward to a peaceful evening together everynight.

Hi,
your daughter is definitely old enough to let cry it out. i unfortunately didn't let my son cry it out until 10 mths. once my son learned that he wasn't going to be fed in the middle of the night (it took 2 nights of crying) he has been sleeping through the night since. if i were you i'd let her cry. i know it's hard to listen to, but it is so worth it in the end.

I agree that you should wait until she is older to let her cry it out. I believe that you can't spoil a baby under age 1. They are not old enough to manipulate you yet and their only way of letting you know they need something is to cry. I would feed her......she is rapidly growing into a beautiful girl:o).

Let her cry! You've got to nip it in the bud....the "crying it out" gets WAY harder as babies get older. Six mos is a great age for her to learn this...old enough that you don't need to worry you're starving her and little enough that she can't talk to manipulate you("mommy I miss you" "mommy I'm thirsty")!!!!

I wouldn't worry about letting her cry it out just yet! She is probably going through a growth spirt and just needs the extra feeding right now. My son did that. Any way if she continues for months then I would consider letting her cry through the night. Hope this helps.

A.

Hi D.,
I was in the same boat as you at the 6 mos. mark and once we all settled for 'crying it out'..everyone was happier. It is not a bad thing at all. In fact, putting her down earlier and letting her play and talk to herself (maybe cry a little) is what she wants (although she may not know it yet). Babies need a little alone time. We read the same book (Healthy sleep, healthy baby..something like that) and agreed to put her down earlier (7:30pm) and it took about a week, but now she sleeps form 7:30pm-6:30am (my daughter is now 8mos.) Remember, every baby is different ... your baby may not take to it right away, but she will eventually - I promise. Do it NOW (this is a great age), if you don't it could get worse before it gets better. For the record: I hated hearing my daughter cry - but you have to be strong (have a sip of wine, stand outside for a few moments, do not be a slpave to the monitor or you will go crazy) After awhile you'll begin to recognize the whiny, I-am-so-tired cry versus the something-is-wrong cry. Every night the crying time should gets shorter and shorter. If not doesn't then, something could be wrong. My daughter used to have to burp (and I am glad I listened carefully to her cry). As soon as I picked her up, she's let out a huge burp and THAT is what was bothering her. Then, I would give her a kiss and squeeze and put her back down again. After that she was fine.
Have some faith and give it a try - You'll be GREAT!!

Hi D.,

The first thing I'm wondering is; are you not putting her to bed until 9:00 p.m.? Because if that's the case she may just be completely wired from over-exhaustion. I'm reading a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby" and it insists that babies get far too little sleep generally. I put my 3 month old down at 7:00 at the very latest and he eats again at around 2:00 a.m. and then doesn't get up until I do at 7:00 a.m. Is she getting naps during the day?

I see many people suggesting letting her "cry it out". She's 6 months old. That's too early to let her wail for 30 minutes. Babies don't train adults; they need their Mommy.

Try putting her down much earlier. It may be difficult at first, but she'll appreciate it and you will get more rest ultimately.

Let me know what happens.

Regards.

J.

D.,
6 months is a time of transition and growth for your little one. Her wakeful times will come and go as she gets older, so just ride it like a wave and it will pass. Crying it out isn't the way to go- she's still so young! Your body reacts to her crying for a reason- it's a biological, built in protection system for your baby! When she cries, respond! Babies know no difference between wants and needs. What she wants is only what she needs- YOU! Letting your baby cry it out goes against all that is instinctive in you as a mother. You don't need to work against that. In fact, work with it. Try reading "The No Cry Sleep Solution" or " The Baby Book" by Dr. Sears. Be consistent in your bedtime routines, don't play with her when she wakes- calm, soothing feeding and back to bed, and be patient. She'll go back to sleeping all night again in time! Remember- this is a short amount of time that you won't sleep well. Giving her yourself now will make her a more secure, independent, and well adjusted child later on.

Sounds like she's going through a growth spurt or other big change, and really needing you to nurse/feed her... in the very least she's needing to know that you're there for her at night too. PLEASE do not fall into the "cry it out" trap. I'm certain that you did not become a mother to "train" your sweet child into doing what is convenient for you. Trust your instincts. If you feel like you need to be responding to her, do so! The frequent night-wakings will pass, you will one day (soon!) find that she's going down easier, staying asleep longer... Letting her cry it out communicates that you're there for her during the day, but she's on her own at night. Sleep will become a scary thing for her and it will be harder for her to learn how to fall asleep and stay asleep in the long run. And don't think that a few days or a week of "crying it out" will solve the problem - in a few months she'll be going through something else and it'll disrupt her sleep again, and you'll have to endure another week of "crying it out." A really great book that has proven priceless for us (and our trouble sleeper) has been "The No-Cry Sleep Solution." Lots of practical advice and based on solid science. Good luck!!!

Hi,

My daughter does the same thing. I find that she does it when she is getting a new tooth or is having a growth spurt. I find that just giving her 4-6 oz of formula will put enough in her belly for her to fall right back to sleep. I feel like if she is crying she needs it. I do let her cry herself back to sleep sometimes, but if she is screaming I will feed her.