XP: Sleep Training

ceamac0127

Disclaimer: I know everyone has their own parenting styles and I am not looking for an argument here. After doing my own research along with consulting our peditrician this is the method I have choosen. No flaming please.

My LO has been sleeping through the night since 1 month old (trust me, I know how lucky I am) but the past 3 weeks she has been waking up all throughout the night. Not being fussy, not hungry, just awake. I am assuming its the 4 month sleep regression. We go in, put the pacifier in her mouth, and she'll go back to sleep MOST of the time. Some nights she will spit it back out and we will continue the cycle all night. She eats approx 30oz throughout the day so she is not hungry. My peditrician suggested letting her CIO because it is just behavorial and around 5 months the object permanence sets in and if we continue going into the room every time she wants us to, it will never end. After doing my own research on object permanence I have decided that is the method that is going to work best for our family. She is such a happy, non fussy baby 95% of the time so I know hearing her cry is going to be so hard on me. Any moms that have let their babys CIO have any advice to make it easier for us? Most forums and discussions I have read sounds like its an average of a hard 3 nights and things are usually better. Also, since we are not putting the paci back in we are going to try to phase that out as well, any advice or thoughts on that?

Bensmom13

I have a really great night time sleeper who goes 8-530 eats then down again until 830 so I didn't need to do night sleep training (yet) but we were having a horrible time with naps so we are doing CIO with naps.

Honestly it was 1 bad day where he cried 10-15 minutes for each nap but after that day usually I can plunk him in his crib, he'll roll around for 5-10 minutes and then go to sleep.

He's happier, I'm happier and I don't spend ALL day trying to get him to nap like I was doing before. I say go for it.

LindseyLooMagoo

We started sleep training my son on Monday night he cried for 22 mins and fell asleep.. He only woke up once to eat... Last night he cried for 8 mins and fell asleep.. Only woke up once to eat.. Tonight put him down he didn't make a sound and fell asleep within 3 mins!! The first couple nights were tough but soo worth it after going through 6 weeks of waking up 4-5 Times a night!! Good luck!! We really feel like the Ferber method worked for us

kellyrn9956

I am not posting this to flame - just to give you a little more information. The 4-Month Wakeful is not about baby wanting attention. It's related to baby being so excited and stimulated at all the new wonderful things around him or her that baby is too busy to sleep. Baby is tired, but just can't get to sleep because he or she gets distracted. It's the same reason that 4 month olds tend to take their bottles slowly - they are totally distracted by every little thing. I am all for CIO if it works for your family - my sister did it successfully, and I might have to do it someday, so I'll never judge. However, I believe that this particular phase of development will make it very hard on you and your SO. 4 months is hard on all involved - baby and parents. I've had probably 6 hours of total sleep in 3 nights. Ugh! 

Yes, object permanence may set in around 5-6 months. Your baby is 4 months. A month is a long time in baby world. So I really think you are experiencing the 4 month wakeful rather than her noticing that you are missing and crying for attention. 

Good luck with whatever you choose, and if you go ahead and go with CIO, best of luck and I hope that it goes easily for all involved! 

VPGIRL06

Ok,. so is she crying when she wakes up? You said she is just...awake. If so, let her be! She may eventually just fall asleep on her own.

I will say usually CIO is for getting baby to fall asleep initially. How to you get your LO to fall asleep for the first part of the night? Is she putting herself to sleep or are you putting the paci in, nuring, etc? I think your best bet would be to get her to learn how to fall asleep without any sort of aid. This will solve the night time wake up problems better than letting her cry in the middle of the night.

In that case, from what I see, it will take 3ish nights. Maybe 2 if your lucky.