What would CIO/Ferber mommies do?

MrsI

Last night in desperation DH and I did some CIO with DD. while it some what worked at the time I'm not sure DD can handle it. 

She was up at 12:30 and I was able to do paci/ pat/shush back to sleep. She was up again at 1:30 and we were unable to get her back down. We brought her to bed with us but she still wouldn't go to sleep and was fussy. I figured if she was going to cry either way may as well give it a shot. The first time I waited 5 minutes and went in. She quieted right away but was still sobbing, I left and waited 6 minutes this time she fell asleep but was still sobbing.( it broke my heart). She stayed asleep for 30 minutes and we repeated with exact same results except she stayed asleep for an hour. when she woke up for her bottle she was still sobbing and continued for about an hour or so.  She was also VERY clingy and had to be touching DH or me or both of us. 

I could handle CIO itself (even though I too was crying with her) but I can't handle the continuous sobbing and inability to be comforted once awake. Anyone else have similar have a similar experience? Should I try again? Or is DD one of the ones it won't work on? She used to sleep GREAT and I miss my happy baby!

On iPod please excuse any mistakes. 

MrsI

babysteps23:

is she teething?  I don't know I found that Jrs sleep problems started improving on their own after about a month.  Although he's woken once the past two night but thats better than every 20 min!  Anyway, I think I'm incapable of CIO and it seemed to get better on its own.  Naps are another story.  He naps on me twice a day for hour- hour 1/2 even though I wish he'd nap in his crib, not sure how to do it though!  Just saying I couldn't do it either and it did improve with time.  I finally saw a tooth and said ahhh no wonder!

So far no signs of teeth... My mom said I was a year old before I got any and DD seems to be headed at that pace also.  But I guess I won't really know til we see the first one. Thanks! We were trying to wait it out but are both beyond exhausted not having slept past 2:30 am in a week and working full time.  Hopefully tonight is better.

M&M227

I found CIO worked best when we changed her bedtime routine and put her down awake.  I tried CIO when she got up in the middle of the night and didn't have much success.  We did much better the next night when we put her down awake and she fell asleep herself.  Not sure if it was a coincidence or not.

erinlovesdavid

If you're going to follow a method, you should research that method and come up with a plan before jumping in feet first. IMO, it is important to first understand why/how the method works. Also, progressive waiting is used to solve only certain sleep problems, so it's important to isolate and understand the problem to begin with. I would highly recommend buying Ferber's book. Lots of good info there.

MrsI

erinlovesdavid:

If you're going to follow a method, you should research that method and come up with a plan before jumping in feet first. IMO, it is important to first understand why/how the method works. Also, progressive waiting is used to solve only certain sleep problems, so it's important to isolate and understand the problem to begin with. I would highly recommend buying Ferber's book. Lots of good info there.

thanks I've read it.

DramaMama06

i would give it a shot tonight again. i really think that repeating the behavior is important.

i agree with PP about trying to put her down awake. we've had the best success with naps this way. now i rarely get a fuss.

night time is a different story. but we're fighting teething. i would say that just b.c you don't see teeth doesn't mean she's not experiencing pain from it.

does she have a lovie? that helped j a lot. i take away and stick it in the corner after he's asleep and he'll wake up and find it lol!

jaimeCRN

We did CIO about a month ago.  The first couple of nights are absolutely awful.  You just have to tell yourself that the crying is only temporary. DS also had the sobbing that you are describing at first. Here is what we did with DS-

Follow usual bedtime routine: eat, bath, book.  The put in crib awake.  If he isn't drowsy, I turn his mobile or crib soother on.  If he is drowsy, I don't turn anything on.  We did what you described for the first 2 nights.  They were awful.  However the 3rd night, he only got up once and went right back to sleep after 10 minutes.  Ever since he has been STTN.  

I would give it another shot.  I think the most important thing is consistency. I promise it gets easier.  It just really sucks at first.  I don't think one night is long enough to determine if it will work on your LO.  If after a week nothing improves, then I would throw in the towel.  After a few nights, DS also stopped sobbing once he fell asleep. 

Hope that helps and that you get some sleep soon!

MrsI

Thanks ladies!