looking for cio success stories

megann831 · December 2012

at our 4 month visit the dr told me DS should really be falling asleep in his crib on his own, at this time I had him in the bouncy seat most night., and especially since he's FF, he should be sleeping through the night.

I let him cry for a night or 2, checking in every few minutes, I never let it go past about 10 min. Now he falls asleep very well with a bottle and being rocked. However he is still getting up every night. It's gotten alot better, he gets up once between 4 and 4:30, then up for the day around 6:30. I hear him crying, but when I go in his eyes are still closed. I give him a small bottle, he drinks maybe 1/2 an oz, and then I rock him back to sleep. The past few nights as soon as I put him back in the crib he wakes up so I've been putting him in our bed. Last night I tried to let him cry, but after 10 minutes I got him. It then took me about 30 min to get him to calm down and go back to sleep.

Any tips on getting him to stay asleep through the night. If you've done CIO do you go in at all during the night when they wake? How long do you let them cry and how many nights did it take till they stayed asleep?

I'd really love to use that 4 am time to work out, but our mornings have just been horrible, plus my older one comes into our bed or I go into hers most night. I don't remember the last time I had a full night sleep.

ashcart01 · December 2012

When our LO would whine with her eyes closed, we just left her for a couple minutes and usually she stopped. Maybe try that?

lhgd1989 · December 2012

I agree with PP. Sometimes I think they somewhat wake up like we as adults do and sometimes they will go back to sleep if you leave them alone. We started CIO a week ago because LO was having to be rocked to bed at night and would only nap if he slept with me. Since he was older we let him cry for 20 min at a time and then check on him. He started getting gradually better sleep and no cries less before falling asleep. GL! Hang in there.... it will get better!

ashcart01 · December 2012

I'll add-

We do a dream feeding at 10 PM. I l left that part out. If we were to skip this, L.O wouldn't make it through the night.

shurjen · December 2012

I feel for you. This was us. It got to the point that E was eating more at night than during the day. When I talked to my pedi at our 6 month appt he said, you need to fix this. When I asked how he said plainly, you have to stop feeding her at night. I wanted to avoid cio, but our pedi told us that was the only way to fix her eating cycle.

It took a couple of nights, but it works perfect. I could not handle going back in the room. Once I laid her down at 8, she would stay in the crib until 6. I didn't open the door again - it was too much torture. In less then a week E was eating during the day and sleeping through the night. Now - she has been sick and that changes things a little. But as soon as she got better we went right back to the crib and sleeping through the night. She also takes 2 wonderful naps during the day.

Every baby is different - but once you decide to cio, stick with it. We didn't to it until 6 months, but I'm not sure if it would have worked earlier for us. cio meant that I was crying too, so I couldn't go in the room. I have talked to other moms that don't go in the room either and that works for them. As soon as E figured out crying doesn't work - she doesn't cry. Today I slept in until 8:30. I checked the video monitor and she was laying down playing with her burp rag. She was completely content waiting for mom. I love morning like this and I hope you have many great mornings in your future!

shurjen · December 2012

* sorry - forgot something important (it seems like forever ago!)

The first week we did cio, if she would sleep a little longer each night. The first night when she woke at 4, I fed her. Then the next night I tried to make her wait until 4:30. We kept pushing it back until 6:00. I couldn't go completely cold turkey. But after a week it really was 8:00pm-6:00am sleeping.

megann831 · December 2012

he's 7 months now. The dr recommended we do it at 4 months, but I wasn't ready. It's also what I would think is next to impossible to change a 2 year old's sleep habits. Once they can get in and out of their bed and room, there's not too much you can do unless you want have a major hours long battle in the middle of the night, which will ultimately wake the baby

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