Cry It Out Method

Christianne - posted on 05/27/2009

He was just teething for 2 longs weeks and after that I had to re-do it. Must say that it worked AGAIN! It took him 2 nights.

Ldoo - posted on 05/07/2009

Good for you! Yay!
I would suggest an earlier bed time, simply because they should be having 10-12 hours at night. And that shouldn't make him wake up an earlier.

Christianne - posted on 05/07/2009

Ever greater news!!! He slept through the night AGAIN! And woke up at 6:30. Not bad...

So, 1 cry it out night, 3 sleep through. :^) Miracles do happen. I am really glad I was strong that one night. ;^)



He usually takes a 1 hour nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. So, I'd say he sleeps for about 12-13 hours a day. I kinda wanted to make him go to bed a little earlier... One step at time though. Interesting about going early to bed and sleeping more... I will definitely try that.



Thank you all for the help!

Denise - posted on 05/07/2009

My daughter goes to bed anywhere from 7-8:30 and always wakes up around 5-6:00. Even lately with her teething and sometimes waking in the middle of the nigh she still gets up early. I try and lay in bed for as long as possible, as long as she isn't crying. She usually talks to herself for awhile :)

Bethany - posted on 05/06/2009

Yay!!! Hopefully it will last. I used to use 6:30 as my "earliest start the day time"...but it's really up to you (I am NOT a morning person!) But if it was before 6:30 I sometimes would give him a bottle and then put him straight back to bed. And who knows? Maybe 5:40 was just a fluke?!? (fingers crossed!)

(PS- If the early wakeups continue you can also try wake to sleep! haha! I'm not on commission for this method! I promise!)

If the early wakes do continue would you consider an earlier bedtime? I found that when I moved my son's bedtime earlier he would actually sleep in longer...Is he sleeping a lot during the day? Eric gets about 15-16 hours total in 24 (12ish at night and 2 90ish minute naps) but maybe your son doesn't need that much...

And you know what? Maybe he really has broke his habit in just one night! That should reassure you that he really can handle going without a bottle (not that as moms we are constantly looking for reassurance or anything ;) haha!)

Here's hoping for another peaceful night for you (and maybe sleeping in past 6!!!) :~D

Alycia - posted on 05/06/2009

Hi Christianne...that's great that he's sleeping through the night I recently went through the same issue and things are good for us now. My son occassionally will wake up early like that too, I do get up and give him a bottle and just work from there if he's still tired I put him back to sleep and if he sits up ready to go then I let the day begin and wait for nap time! Just go off his cues, you can let him cry for a bit see if he'll go back to sleep, if not no harm in making a bottle! Good Luck keep us posted

Christianne - posted on 05/06/2009

From 9:15 - 5:40, so just about 8:30. He usually goes to bed around 8:30-9pm.

Samantha - posted on 05/06/2009

Christianne - How many hours of sleep did he get before his 5:40 wake up time?

Christianne - posted on 05/06/2009

Thank you Bethany. Unfortunately this wouldn't work, because he used to wake up at different hours each night.



But the good news are:



HE DIDN'T WAKE UP LAST NIGHT EITHER!!! Wow. I am amazed, but still skeptical. One thing that I did for the past 2 nights though is not have any light on at all (before he had his night light on in the bathroom). Do you think that helped?







But now I have a few more questions and hopefully you moms can help me.







This morning he woke up around 5:40. When it is this early should I let him cry it out (again) until he falls back to sleep? When is "too early?" Should I just rock him? Or give him a bottle? Snack??? Or just get up and play?

Bethany - posted on 05/06/2009

Glad to hear that it is working for you!

I have done all sorts of different things, including CIO, and what I've found works the best (although I still feel like it's a coincedence even though it's worked like a half dozen times for me!) is the Baby Whisperer's method of wake to sleep...I'll explain it just in case last night was a fluke (I certainly hope it wasn't!!!) or if he decides (as my son has a few times) to start waking up again at some point...

Here goes...(and this works best if he is waking up at approx. the same time every night)- about an hour before his wake up time you go into his room (this might mean setting your alarm which stinks but is worth it!) and just gently stir him- not enough to wake him up but just enough so that he squirms or shifts. That's it! Seriously- it works...even though it sounds crazy! And like I've said- it has worked for us a bunch of times!!! Apparently it can take up to three nights for it to work- I've always found that it works from the first night on...

I just wanted to share because I find this to be a really useful little tool in my mommy toolbelt! Maybe it's just my son- but every once in a while he seems to pick a new (and usually weird...like 10:30pm???) time to wake up.

Best wishes ~>

Christianne - posted on 05/05/2009

Day 2 Update: he slept through the night. I think it was just a coincidencia because I find it hard to believe that he would learn that fast. Even then those were 2 nights straight without the bottle. ;^)

Thank you Melissa and Stephanie.

Stephanie - posted on 05/04/2009

My daughter nearly 10 months used to wake up constantly during the night and i would have to rock, pat, feed, and even sing her back to sleep. Eventually i was getting sleep deprived so i decided to try the 'cry method' It worked really well for a long time and I didnt hear a sound from her at night time after doing it for about a week but now she is teething and wakes up again. She fell asleep after about 20-30 mins of crying. It broke my heart too but eventually it will get better and he will learn to fall asleep by himself when he wakes up at night. If you are truly going to do this you cant change your mind half way through because it will only confuse the baby. Stick it out because it will get better.

Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

My 9 month old got a classic "virus" for about 2 weeks and developed a bad habit of getting up about every 2 hours every night. She would always eat and fall back to sleep right away. I eventually got pretty tired of getting up with her, especially since I knew it wasn't that she was truly hungry - just more of a routine now.



At first I would let her cry for a little while, but then felt like you, felt guilty and sad that "I" was making her cry by not tending to her. But at her 9 month appointment, her doctor validated my thinking...so that night I started the cry it out method. I gave her extra hugs after I fed her before I put her down (made me feel better!). She did try and get up the first two nights, but on night three she had gotten the hint! So for me it did work...she's been sleeping through the night again ever since.



Just stay strong and don't feel bad. (I know, I know, easier said than done!). You can't let him develop these "bad" habits or the longer he does it, the longer it may take to break! Good luck!