Cry it Out Method!

[justice6920]

Things have been soooo hectic around the house and with the baby being sick we really havent gotten him back on track with his sleeping, I have been saying we will for about 2 weeks!! Ok! So last night we tried the Cry it out method for the first time!! I was sooo upset but it actually didnt turn out as bad as I thought it was going to be! We put him to bed around 8 and he got up I think twice before 4am and he started to fuss and cry and I just patted him on his back and said SHHHHHH and left him alone... I think he cried for about 5 minutes or less and went back to sleep.... it was the same for the second time as well, cried for a bit - like 5 minutes at the most and went right back to sleep.... he then got up at 4am and started to cry. I let him cry for 30 minutes and I felt horrible and torn I wanted to give him a bottle but I didnt want to over do all the work I just had done through the night, and then I was thinking  MAN 30 minutes is way to long for him to be crying (actually the diagram says 5 min, 10, min 15, then 4th time 30 min) But I just couldnt take it and broke down and gave him his bottle and he went right back to sleep.....I dont feel to bad becuase heck I can handle ONE feeding at 4 am versus getting up 3-4 times a night! So i dont really think the 4am bottle ruined our work.... but all in all it wasnt that bad he really did go right back to sleep with only minimal crying thank god (expect for the 4am thingy) so they say this takes about 3-4 nights so we will see! Tonight will be the 2nd night! Wish me luck ladies!

[justice6920]

Update ladies!!! Last night was the third night and HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! I was so happy and proud of my little guy!!! I actually laid him in his crib BEFORE he was asleep ( i knew he was tired) and he talked and coo'd for a couple minutes and all went silent... i went to check on him and he was asleep! He actually put himself to sleep! This has went better than i have ever expected it and I was sooo nervous about starting it! Of course I know he will have some off nights but am hoping this has turned him around to sleeping through the night for the most part!!

[ovaz129]

Yay!!!  Keep up the good work ;)

[justice6920]

Thanks ladies!  I am trying a mixture if methods too and dont mind at all keeping the 4am feeding if that is the only time I et up lol! BUT!!! Last night the baby did even better! He did wake a little and fussed but no real crying just fussing and went right back to sleep! I didnt have to get up at all!!! YAYYYY I got him up this morning at our normal time and he was happy as can be! This will be the third night so I am hoping that he will not wake at all until morning!! I was sooo worried about this but it was not as hard as i thought it was going to be thank god! I am relieved and just hoping we can keep him on the right track !

[ovaz129]

Hey Justice...

I did my own version of a mix of various "methods".  I know every baby is different, but to make things easier on you and your little guy you could try keeping that 4am feeding for 2 weeks.  So, you wouldn't get up any other time except for his 4am feeding.  Then, after 2 weeks, do what you are doing with the other feedings (going in, patting his back, etc.)  And, after a few days... he should realize that you will be there for him, but in a few hours.  It really wasn't traumatic for Leighton or me.  It just sounds bad.  Hey... my parents did the hard core cry it out method with me, and I don't remember it nor do I have any attachment issues!!  haha... So do what works for him and you.

I nixed Leighton's 12am, 2am, and 4am feedings at 4 months that way.  I nixed both the 12am and 2am feedings at the same time.  The 4am was a little tougher, but now she sleeps until 7:30am.  Wonderful for her mommy and daddy!  (Especially when she is out like a light between 7pm & 7:30pm... that's 12 hours!)  Good luck!

[justice6920]

Yes! That is what I am hoping! becuase I can deal with 1 feeding no matter what time it is BUT i am having such a hard time with getting up 3-4 times a night MAN its wearing on me! He just started this about a month and a half ago and it was even harder trying to re-adjust to not sleeping then it was when we first came home from the hospital bc i think I kinda expected it.... But he has been sleeping through the night since he was 7 weeks! and just all of the sudden POOF he is waking up 3-4 times a night! UGH! So tonight is night two! We will see!!

I hope Carter keeps up his good sleeping for you and of course for him! its such a relief to have the rest you need!

[evthing4reason]

Good luck. For a few months now Carter goes down between 7 and 8 and was getting up once (it started at 2, then it was 3, then 4) the last few nights it was 6am but last night it was back to 5am, so hopefully if you can get him to just 1 feeding it will get later and later. then he gets up at around 7 for 1 - 1 1/2 hr and back to bed for 1-2 hours