Sleeping Habits...HELP?

Parenting is a 24/7 responsibility....and it is HARD sometimes. That means nighttime parenting is just as important as day time parenting. Taking care of kids all day and all night is terribly inconvenient to mom and dad's desire to be comfortable, but so very important. 6 or 7 months is too early for CIO method, the new socially acceptable name for neglect. Good scientific research warns against the danger of it in the following link:http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/science-says-....
Teething is an issue from 5 or 6 months of age and can cause real alteration in sleep patterns. Sometimes babies are just hungry at night, especially as they become more active and distracted during the day. She needs something and crying is her only way to communicate that. Please just comfort her, attend to her needs, and maybe even hold and rock her(does anyone besides myself do that anymore for their little ones?). She won't need you at night forever, but if you fail to meet her needs now, it may have serious consequences. There's a lot of parenting books out there, but very few of them give good, practical advice. Best advice I ever got with my first child was from my dear sister (Mom to 3), "Please put down the parenting book and start taking care of your child." Just know that there's many, many other parents whose kids need us at night, we are just too tired to talk about it. These days pass all too quickly. Don't rush them.

Read the Dr. Ferber Sleep Training book. CIO is counterproductive if you do it by half measures. You will have to commit to CIO until she falls asleep, each and every time. Otherwise, all you will have established is that after 15 minutes of crying, parents will come in and pick her up and take her to their bed. In essence you will have reinforced her proclivity to scream for 15 minutes.

We did CIO. It was hard on us, but it worked well in the long run.

Good luck to you and yours.
F. B.

LEt the child cio CHECK ON HER VERY 15 DO NOT PICK THE CHILD UP BUT JUST CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE CHILD IS OK THEN SAY GOOD NIGHT YOU LOVE THEM AND LEAVE THE CHILD WILL EVENTUALLY GO TO SLEEP THIS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO BECOME A HABIT AND AFTER A WEEK OR LESS OR MORE THE CHILD WILL REALIZE NO MORE MOMMYS BED AND THE cio WIOLL GO AWAY AND WHEN YOU LAY THE CHILD DOWN THEY WUILL BE FINE IN THERE BED. DONT GIVE UP OR IN

it could be teething because she is at that age to when it happens, i honestly would maybe try a new bedtime rutine and see if it helps and keep trying, if you start giving in with having her sleep in ur bed you will probably regret it later on when she is bigger,

She's just on the leading edge of the age babies begin to experience separation anxiety. She doesn't know yet that you still exist when you leave the room, and this can be terrifying for babies who have begun to realize that Mommy (and often Daddy) is the source of all comfort, nourishment, and fun. It might help to play regular peek-a-boo games, and leave the room briefly with the comment, "I'll be right back!" And then be sure you come back quickly, gradually extending the periods of absence as her trust and tolerance grows.

Even if she's not actually frightened, she's still at the age where she's missing you and all you mean to her. Plus, her brain and nervous system are more 'excited' about all the new things she's on the verge of learning. It's normal for babies to go through periods of difficult sleep. Giving her more pre-bed soothing and calming will not necessarily form a new, bad habit. If you are meeting her needs, which will change many times over the next few years, she will be more assured and less anxious overall, and will probably become a 'good' sleeper just as soon as she's able.

Each time you 'give in' after the 15 mins. she KNOWS she is going into M&D's bed! Instead of putting her in bed with you when she is crying try walking with her, rocking her, giving her a breast/warm bottle & comfort her & place her back in her crib, stay with her @ bedside for a few minutes until she dozes off, this may take time but she will learn that she CANNOT sleep in your bed at will & she will feel secure knowing that you are there for her when she cries for you. Just my 2 cents! :)