So we started CIO about 4 weeks ago. It was going great. Until she came down with a cold accompanied by a nasty cough. My baby loves snuggles so i gave her extra snuggles at bed time. Now that we've moved on from the cold she loses it when i put her in the crib. Screaming as loud as she can, writhing around and arching her back. Eventually i give in. I try to soothd her before i pick her up but that just pisses her off more. So we're back to 2 hour bed time routine and multiple wake ups at night and mommy is exhausted. Any advice or suggestions? Be harsh if you must, i can take it!
Re: Sleep training
Just a few things I have read recently when considering doing CIO for my LO:
Maybe take this information into consideration as to why your LO is fighting so hard for your love and affection at night time
Moral of the story: Parents need to do what is best for their child. Don't assume others haven't made just as educated decisions as you. Even if they are not the same.
And just cause I can Google too, here are sites with the word science and PhD thrown around for the other side:
https://www.livescience.com/54897-parenting-sleep-strategies-cry-it-out.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/05/24/study-infant-baby-sleep-method-cry-it-out-wont-damage-child/84838958/
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/05/21/peds.2015-1486?sso=1&sso_redirect_count=1&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token
Also, all of the stuff you shared quotes the exact same study, one single study that was debunked by the articles I shared, and I also shared different position statements from medical and mental health associations on cry it out, based on more than one study.
kaym6 we did drowsy but awake since LO was 3 weeks old, he never cried himself to sleep and we've always responded to his cries. He sleeps 11-12 hours at night with 1-2 wakings for feeding, which I am not going to deny him, and the occasional waking in addition for us to reinsert his pacifier.
Edited because I can.
1- cut out nighttime feedings-- slowly increasing the time between feedings and then substitute milk for just a single ounce of water (no more) when she woke up in the middle of the night (just once a night at dr direction) and then a few days later cold turkey--- this has drastically reduced middle night wake ups (dr said when they drink milk at night turns their whole digestive system on which is not good and interrupts sleep)
2- moved bedttime an hour later and wake her up if she falls asleep during her bedtime feeding
3-nighttime routine 45 mins before bed that starts with a bath (loving the smell of the Tom'a baby wash super relaxing) followed by thirty minutes of reading, skin to skin feeding and baby massage IN VERY DIM ROOM--- apparently being in the dark room with low noise helps babies enter first stage of sleep while they are awake. Then we bring her to her room, quick song and prayers. Put her in bed, noise machine on, kiss good night and leave. The first night of this she cried for less than 5 minutes and after that has cried for less than a minute and usually not at all.
Low progesterone
Baby boy born 01/2016
Currently: NTNP
TLDR - whether you chose cio or not, you can't go wrong by selecting a consistent bedtime and routine
We are very strict about routine, though. My husband suggested she get her last bottle in a different room, and I nearly lost my mind. We are play until 7, read a book or two, pjs, bottle. If she's still pretty hyper at that point, she gets a song, and then down.
We've only had one hiccup, but she had a rough night that night due to teething.
Perspective!