4 months - too young to CIO?

HeatherandRay · December 2009

My baby, who is normally a great sleeper and has STTN since 10 weeks old, hit the four month wakeful period. The past week or so, she'd wake up, fuss a little, then I'd hear her start playing a bit and fall back asleep. She'd never cry for more than a minute or two so I'd never have to go into her nursery. Well last night she screamed bloody murder for two straight hours. I'd go in, check on her, give her her paci and rub her tummy and she'd calm down. I'd do this every 5 minutes. But the minute I left the nursery she'd start screaming again. There was nothing wrong with her. I really want her to get back into the habit of self soothing. Would CIO work or is she too young? Any other advice?

Mrs.Reem · December 2009

I don't know if one bad night is worth rushing into CIO. I'd see how things play out in the next week or so. IMO 4 mos is too young. Six mos and later is a better timeframe although some books will say that 4 mos is the very earliest you can start.

choco_lab · December 2009

I'd give it a little bit before you do CIO since over the past week she was fine. Maybe last night she had gas or is teething? We did Ferber at 4 months because the whole month before he needed to be rocked for hours to sleep. I'd wait it out a bit and see if she goes back to her old good habit.

ESTH2000 · December 2009

Mrs.Reem:
I don't know if one bad night is worth rushing into CIO. I'd see how things play out in the next week or so. IMO 4 mos is too young. Six mos and later is a better timeframe although some books will say that 4 mos is the very earliest you can start.

ditto..and I do think its too early..why jump to CIO so quickly when she was doing fine before is what I say...give it some time..good luck

ESTH2000 · December 2009

has anything changed recently? do you think she may be teething? is she drooling and putting her hands in her mouth? is she stuffy? is she dressed warm enough? just some things to think about...good luck

efooey · December 2009

I think 4 months might be a bit young. If she has normally been a good sleeper I'd give it some time. Lucy has always been a great sleeper but she would have stretches of 4-5 days where she'd be up at night for no real reason. After a week or so she'd go back to normal on her own.

E

LVBlvd · December 2009

efooey:
I think 4 months might be a bit young. If she has normally been a good sleeper I'd give it some time. Lucy has always been a great sleeper but she would have stretches of 4-5 days where she'd be up at night for no real reason. After a week or so she'd go back to normal on her own.
E

Ditto. Paige sleeps really well now but she does have the odd night where she wakes up crying. Sometimes babies just have bad nights. Bad dreams, gas, stomach ache, etc. Give her some time to get back to her old self : ) Good luck!!!!

alison43 · December 2009

I don't think CIO is appropriate when there is a "reason" for the waking. The 4-month wakeful is associated with some milestones and also with your LO being more active during the day...so I would ride it out for at least a week before seeing if you need to *do* something about it.

That being said, we have not done CIO and DD does still wake 4 times a night...

sixres · December 2009

Mrs.Reem:
I don't know if one bad night is worth rushing into CIO. I'd see how things play out in the next week or so. IMO 4 mos is too young. Six mos and later is a better timeframe although some books will say that 4 mos is the very earliest you can start.

This. Good luck!

SeaSoul · December 2009

I am admittedly not a proponent of CIO but, regardless, I do think 4 months is too young. I think she is just going through a rough patch with sleep and needs to trust that you are there for her, will help her through it, and calm her as she experiences this frustrating time (it's no fun for her either!). I fear that CIO could ultimately have the opposite effect where trust is concerned.

LucyPevensie · December 2009

Yes 4 months is too young to CIO. The 4 month wakeful typically resolves on its own. It's no fun, but it's part of their normal growth. And hey - you've had a pass on most of the wakeful stuff with her great sleeping - so maybe she deserves a pass, and a little help, to get her through this.

Mr.&MrsS · December 2009

Our pedi said Ferber was fine to start at 4 months. But if she was only up last night I would see what happens. Nolan was STTN, then all of a sudden was waking 9 times a night...I didnt know what I would do with myself. But it only lasted a week and now he is back to STTN (**knock on wood**). But really, I think it is up to you.

FWIW- We did Fereber with Brady around 8-9 months so that he could learn to put himself to sleep. We will probably wait that long for Nolan too unless some really bad sleep issues come up. For now when he wakes up I usually rock him back to sleep and put him down. If he seems hungry, I still feed him (even though I know he doesnt "need" it as he goes 12 hours sometimes). Right now he is so little, I am just following his cues.

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