Is this CIO?

ChristyML

DS used to be able to fall asleep without help a few months ago. It was great; no crying, no rocking him for hours on end (I did/do rock him, but only for about 5-10 minutes and then he's out, or at least he was).

Now though, he has been throwing "fits" (punching, kicking, squirming, all while crying. See my post below), and I've had to put him down in his crib or his swing to get him to go to sleep. He cries for maybe 5 minutes, and then he's either asleep, or his crying gets so loud and screechy and sad that I go get him.

Is what he's doing crying it out? I mean, he is technically crying until he falls asleep (or until I go get him), so I'm not really sure...? 

KirstyD2

I have never held my baby to put him to sleep. Even in hospital. Occasionaly I hold him when he sleeps, if we are out or I just want an extra cuddle He was very jaundice and did nothing but sleep in the beginning so it was very easy to just put him down. Now that he is 6 months he does fight his sleep a bit more. I put him in his cot, with his blankie and paci and leave the room. If he cries I go back every 2 min or so but after 5 minutes he is out.

So yes it does sound like he is CIO. I would encourage you to continue with it. If its nap time leave him to sleep. It makes your life much easier and is an important life skill for kids to learn.

g8trkim

I don't think 5 minutes is a big deal at all. That's pretty standard sleep training IMO.

cedenton

Nah. Mine is doing the same thing. 5 minutes is nothing.    I think he's getting too big to be comfortable on me with the rocking AND I think he wants to be left alone to practice stuff.  Last night he rolled around in his crib, got on all fours and rocked back and forth, and twice sat up from a laying position, which was a first as far as I'd ever seen. After 15 or 20 minutes and one check in when he started fussing he went to sleep.

ChristyML

kbruington:

CIO is a sleep training term. Your child is just crying. 

Behavior changes ALL the time with kids as they grow. This could just be a phase and will pass. IME, if DS is doing something for a day, 2 days or even a week, I don't assume that's how he will always be. I wait to see what happens next.

What's wrong with laying him down in his crib instead of letting him fall asleep in your arms? This might be what he does now. DS stopped wanting me to rock him long ago and points to the crib because he'd rather be in there. They change constantly and I just try to keep up.

 

Thanks, that is really encouraging. We've been through the ringer this last week with DS's stomach flu, and while he's all better, DH and I are exhausted from getting up several times a night. This past week has been the worst time of being a parent (even worse than the newborn stage; DS was an excellent sleeper then). I just feel like I don't have anything left in me. 

ChristyML

kbruington:

CIO is a sleep training term. Your child is just crying. 

Behavior changes ALL the time with kids as they grow. This could just be a phase and will pass. IME, if DS is doing something for a day, 2 days or even a week, I don't assume that's how he will always be. I wait to see what happens next.

What's wrong with laying him down in his crib instead of letting him fall asleep in your arms? This might be what he does now. DS stopped wanting me to rock him long ago and points to the crib because he'd rather be in there. They change constantly and I just try to keep up.

 

Well the only thing that bothers (makes me sad) me about it is that he cries to sleep. He fusses and cries in my arms and doesn't fall asleep, but at least I feel like I'm comforting him, kwim? I do see what you're saying though. 

hilsy85

ChristyML:

kbruington:

CIO is a sleep training term. Your child is just crying. 

Behavior changes ALL the time with kids as they grow. This could just be a phase and will pass. IME, if DS is doing something for a day, 2 days or even a week, I don't assume that's how he will always be. I wait to see what happens next.

What's wrong with laying him down in his crib instead of letting him fall asleep in your arms? This might be what he does now. DS stopped wanting me to rock him long ago and points to the crib because he'd rather be in there. They change constantly and I just try to keep up.

 

Well the only thing that bothers (makes me sad) me about it is that he cries to sleep. He fusses and cries in my arms and doesn't fall asleep, but at least I feel like I'm comforting him, kwim? I do see what you're saying though. 

Some kids release tension by crying..so he might need to cry a bit to release some steam, if that makes sense. My LO will often fuss a bit before falling asleep. 

GrantHenson

I am currently doing the sleep sense program with my baby for sleep training and it has been amazing for me.  I was at my wits end.  Our sleep problems were different than yours but needless to say something had to change.  I was having a really hard time accepting that I was going to have to do some sleep training with her because I hated the thought of letting her cry.  The program explains that babies will cry when there is change and if this is a different way of going to sleep for him they will cry.  It sounds to me like your little one is just learning the skills to self soothe and fall asleep on his own.  I imagine that it will get better.  For me I could not just let her cry so this program offers a stay in the room option which eased my anxiety.  I learned that my baby did not want me to touch her and that sometimes even "key phrases" annoyed her so I just sat and was with her while she learned to sleep on her own.

ChristyML

GrantHenson:

I am currently doing the sleep sense program with my baby for sleep training and it has been amazing for me.  I was at my wits end.  Our sleep problems were different than yours but needless to say something had to change.  I was having a really hard time accepting that I was going to have to do some sleep training with her because I hated the thought of letting her cry.  The program explains that babies will cry when there is change and if this is a different way of going to sleep for him they will cry.  It sounds to me like your little one is just learning the skills to self soothe and fall asleep on his own.  I imagine that it will get better.  For me I could not just let her cry so this program offers a stay in the room option which eased my anxiety.  I learned that my baby did not want me to touch her and that sometimes even "key phrases" annoyed her so I just sat and was with her while she learned to sleep on her own.

DS HATES being "shushed". I will lay him down, and even if he is crying, I'll say "goodnight, I love you", turn on the fan, and shut the door. I'll only go back in if he is screaming for longer than 5 minutes.