Sleep Training

SBMBride406

Marino still hates his crib. He went from STTN (12 hours, waking once to eat and right back to sleep) to generally waking once an hour and crying until he come into his room and rock him and sometimes not sleeping at all for hours in the middle of the night unless he hold him. This change happened once we moved him from the Amby Bed to the crib. Its been 5 weeks. He is also teething, so that further complicates things.

Pedi and EI therapist both recommend sleeping training which IMO is just a nice way of saying CIO. I know the whole idea - let them cry for short periods of time, "check on them," etc. BUT all the books I read when I first had him re: preemies said NEVER let a preemie CIO b/c they can't spare the oxygen or the energy. That being said, I know Marino is not going to have ill effects from crying too much, since I've seen him cry in my arms longer than I thought humanly possible when he was colicky. But I guess I still feel too much guilt about what he went through to let him "sleep train."

Thoughts? Experiences?

gymrat

I'm totally not ready to sleep train/CIO yet and I don't think I'll ever be. Plus, I think sleeping training twins that sleep in the same room is impossible.

I tried the other night to break my daughter's pacifier habit by doing the "pick her up if she's crying but her down as soon as she calms down" thing. Yeah, after an hour she was so freaking worked up that we just gave her the pacifier.

I would feel guilt even if my kid wasn't a preemie. I hate listening to them cry like that and I swear my kids just get angrier and angrier. We'll let them fuss, wimper and talk but I'm not sure we'll "sleep train."

JustMarried2005

We just did sleep training in the last 2 weeks and it really helped.  I don't really think of my 7 month old as a preemie in the sense that your book was written.  I think they are talking about a baby before their gestational due date. 

Anyways, my doctor said to start sleep training at 6 months actual but we waited until 6 months adjusted.  That just felt more right for us...  I would just read some sleep training books and if they don't feel right for you, then don't do them.  You will eventually get to the point where you don't feel guilty   I only say that because the most important thing is to be consistent - if you start sleep training but then run in there because you feel guilty, but then let him cry later because you are tired, it sends mixed messages. 

Sorry you are not getting much sleep

Oh also, we found that Motrin was so much better for teething than Tylenol.  Ask your pedi if your DS is old enough for Motrin.  GL!

 

RubyRed7

I could never let Ruby CIO. Period. That being said, even she were crying all night anyway, I'm not sure what I'd do?

But, I think there may be other sleep training techniques aside from CIO. Like having a bedtime routine, nap schedule during the day, not picking them up everytime they fuss and just patting their back etc. I'm not sure where to start, but I hope there's something out there that works for you! CIO can be last resort if that's something you think you are up for...