Cry it out method for sleep training - alternatives?

[mefordis]

I did CIO and I remember reading that you shouldnt try it before 6 months. We did it at 9 with GREAT success.

Yes, I think I read that too. She is only 5 months so I don't want to let her cry too much. I like the Baby Whisperer method. I'll try that tonight.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[tinker&belle]

Okay, here is what I did for DD. I did NOT want to do CIO, I know it works for some families, but it wasn't for us.

DD slept with us in our bed until about 5 or 6 months in a co-sleeper. We tried (with no success) to move her into her room in her crib. We realized we were changing too many things at once.

I moved her co-sleeper into her room and slept in the twin bed we had in there next to her. I did this for a few weeks sleeping in there for the whole night. After she got comfortable with that I would leave once she was asleep and come back if she woke up. At about 7 months she gave up nursing so she woke up less.

I would still go in and out through the night until she was about a year old. It was kind of sad for me not to be in bed with DH for a few months, but it was much better for us than still having her in our bed now!

So that is not a three night solution, but the gradual weaning of being with mom worked for us. We transitioned her from co-sleeper (dropped to the floor) at 12 or 13 months. Although it wasn't quick or easy, it was what I was comfortable with.

 

[IWantMickey]

Yes, I think I read that too. She is only 5 months so I don't want to let her cry too much. I like the Baby Whisperer method. I'll try that tonight.

Thanks to everyone!

My daughter used this method with my grandson and it worked like a charm. Still took a few days for success and she had to go into his room pretty frequently at first. It got better each night and now he's almost 2 years old and a GREAT sleeper.

Good luck OP. I'm sure you'll find a method that works for you and your baby.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

We did what I call a 'modified' CIO with DS.

We would put him down and if he started crying, we would wait five minutes to go back in. Gave him a quick kiss and reassured him everything was fine then left.
If he continued to cry, we would make it ten minutes, kiss, reassure and leave.
The next time, it was 15 min.

I don't remember how long it took us, but I remember he was probably 3-4 mos old when he started sleeping through the night. I'm not sure if this had to do with the fact that we did a modified Babywise or modified CIO or both. Probably both though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there an alternative to the cry it out method for sleep training that is actually effective? I have a 5 month old who has only slept with us in our bed at night and now we are trying to transition her to her crib. She does take naps in her crib. I really don't have it in me to do the hard core cry it out. If I go in there I HAVE to pick her up. I just can't stand there. I'm weak, I know.

Any advice? Thank you very much!!!

Good for you for not making baby cry and cry.

I do not know how to transition a baby to the bed, as we have a family bed (though DS has asked for a bed in his room for his 5th birthday!).

And no you're not weak; you love your baby and don't want to do anything bad to her.

 

[SDFgirl]

We did what I call a 'modified' CIO with DS.

We would put him down and if he started crying, we would wait five minutes to go back in. Gave him a quick kiss and reassured him everything was fine then left.
If he continued to cry, we would make it ten minutes, kiss, reassure and leave.
The next time, it was 15 min.

I don't remember how long it took us, but I remember he was probably 3-4 mos old when he started sleeping through the night. I'm not sure if this had to do with the fact that we did a modified Babywise or modified CIO or both. Probably both though.

This is what we did with our DD. I started it at 4 weeks old. Some people think that's too young, but it absolutely worked with us. DD slept through the night by 8 weeks old.

Before she was sleeping through the night, when she woke up crying and it was meal time, I would nurse her (of course). But if she was well-fed and dry and warm, I'd let her fuss.

It took about a week - first she'd fuss for 30 minutes (with some pats from us), then 20, 15, 10, etc.

I agree with the PP who said there's a big difference between hard-core CIO and fuss-it-out. If my DD ever screamed bloody murder, like she was absolutely terrifed, I'd go in. But if she did the kind of rhythmic, ehhh-ehhh-ehhh, tired cry, I'd let her fuss. I think that's what most people mean when they say "CIO" anyway.

She is such a wonderful sleeper now!! It was soooo worth it. She goes down awake, cuddles up with her Elmo, smiles at us, and goes to sleep. She loves her crib and asks for a "Nooze" (snooze) when she gets tired. She is the happiest little girl. I understand when someone says they don't want to do CIO, but I HATE when I hear people say that CIO kids are maladjusted, hate their cribs, feel worthless, etc. (Not that you're saying that - I have just heard it from others).

One of the nicest things about CIO (or modified CIO) is, once they can go down without crying, you know that something's *really* wrong when they do cry. Every few weeks my DD will wake up and cry and I go right in to her room. Why? Because I know something's wrong - like teething, earache, wet diaper, etc.

Don't regret it at all.

 

[leagirl12]

We did what I call a 'modified' CIO with DS.

We would put him down and if he started crying, we would wait five minutes to go back in. Gave him a quick kiss and reassured him everything was fine then left.
If he continued to cry, we would make it ten minutes, kiss, reassure and leave.
The next time, it was 15 min.

I don't remember how long it took us, but I remember he was probably 3-4 mos old when he started sleeping through the night. I'm not sure if this had to do with the fact that we did a modified Babywise or modified CIO or both. Probably both though.

This is similar to what we did....we would go in and pat them and rub their back but never pick them up. Just let them know we were there. Usually didn't last more than 30-45 minutes. It only took a few days before they were both able to be put down and have no fussing at all. Not sure if it matters but neither of mine slept with us but were in a bassinet beside our bed so they were used to being in their own space.