just a quick sleep question!

nugget0411

DS goes to sleep no problem. DH gives him his bottle(6-8oz) at 6/630 and then bath, story and bed and he's out like trout by 7. He gets a soother and usually just spits it out after he's totally asleep. 

my question is when he wakes up sometimes at  1 or 3 i can just run in and resoother him and he'll go right back to sleep. most nights he needs to eat by 3 or 4. but i'm afraid when he's waking at 1 or 3 it's just habit. 

would you resoother? learn to CIO or what?? i know that all i have to do is resoother and he cannot find it himself - he can't even put it in his mouth when he's holding it! silly boy...

so i'm just wondering WWYD?? resoother or do the CIO method at that point? he also is having trouble napping where i now usually have to rock him to sleep...

TIA! 

nugget0411

bethy84:

I'd let him fuss for a few minutes to see if he'll just fall back asleep.  If he doesn't, I'd probably go in and give him the nuk again.  Bad habit or not, I like my sleep.  

well that's how i feel too...i also just feel bad for DH who has to get up and needs his sleep for the work day (not that i don't either! but at least i can nap at home if i need to) 

JuMo

Hi there,

I was recently in a similar situation with my 6.5 month old.  Here's what we did and it worked great!  Way better than I expected.  I worried and worried...should I let my LO CIO a little?  I talked it over with my Pedi and he assured me that some CIO would not harm him.  We started with naps.  I knew that listening to LO cry during the day would be a little bit easier than at night.  We had previously been bouncing, etc. for naps.  We laid him down drowsy (more so just tired) but awake.  In the beginning we went back every 5-10 minutes to reassure him, but that seemed to make it worse.  If you can bare it I would not go back in unless you are going to pick up LO and try again later.  The longest LO cried was 30 minutes (it was rough).  The next time was 16, the 3rd time was 6, the next time was ZERO!!!  He just rolled around and then drifted off.  Ever since we have been able to lay him down and he does not fuss or fusses minimally. After a few days with the new nap routine (which was so worth it!!!!!!) we attempted night.  I talked with friends, sisters, etc.  I thought it would be rough because he had been waking up at least once to eat.   The first night he cried for 4 minutes at 1:00 and fussed for a second or two at 3:00.  Then up for the day at 7:00.  I was shocked.  Night two was similar, but the first crying was actually 10 minutes.  Night 3 was better, and on night 4 he slept through the night.  We are now on week 2 of him sleeping through the night.  I think beginning with the daytime naps helped, but I also just think at this age they are ready but just need some help.  I had read a few books and worried about it way too much.  Looking back, it was so worth the crying.  He is much happier because of it!!!  Sorry this was so long I hope it helps.

mesmom2011

If your LO cannot put the soother back in his mouth, and it is that simple to help him get back to sleep, I would help him.  Personally, I feel that when my LO cries, she is communicating a need.  I can't imagine letting her cry for me and not helping her.  She can't talk, but if she said "Mama, please give me my soother so I can go back to sleep." there is no way I would tell her to figure it out on her own.  The days are long, but the years are short.  Some day, I'll miss this special time with her and I know she will learn to sleep better over time as she matures and develops.  I know others feel differently, and that's fine.  I guess you need to do what feels right for you and for your LO, but IMO CIO is not always to the solution to nighttime parenting issues.