A success story for those trying CC

[JadeyBaby2]

I was having several nights in a row of DD waking and then my b/f her back to sleep and then as soon as her head hit the cot mattress she's be crying again. I called a CHN out of desperation at 12.30am Saturday night and she gave me a great CC technique (of which I cannot remember the name due to being so 'out of it') to try:

Follow usual night routine and put DD to bed awake (she is wrapped still) then leave the room. Go in when and if DD gets really worked up and pat the cot mattress saying 'shhhhhh' loudly over the top of cries, if DD gets too worked up picked her up and still said 'shhhh'......
then I put her back down and leave the room (I found that she would pretty much scream as loud as she could regardless of what I did, but it made me feel better to go in and also lets her know I'm not abandoning her and still love her).
When and if you reach 1 hr mark (which we didn't) you change bottom if needed and give some water and start over (only during the night - during the day you abort mission and do what you would normally do to get baby to sleep).
And that's it......

DD goes to bed 7.30pm and is on 3 solids per day.
Sunday night she woke twice and it took her 40mins each time to get herself off to sleep. the first time I went in 4 times the second 3 times. Then Monday for day sleeps she only took 5mins to self settle and was sound asleep (been doing that now ever since). Then Monday night she pretty much slept 10 and a half hrs only waking and having a half hearted cry 12.30am, then last night went 10hrs - whinged a tiny bit 1.30am and that was that. I'm hoping tonight or soon I won't even hear a peep.

It's bliss!! Those who are hesitant as to whether CC techniques work just wanted you to have a positive story to read. It worked just as well and quickly with my DS who at 6mths was still waking twice a night. Once you start though don't give up - be consistent and persistent. It WILL work.

[lupa]

be consistent and persistent. It WILL work.

Well said, I think babies are as consistent as their parents, and that is the hardest part. It probably took us longer because I gave in a lot.

I think the positive stories do need to be heard because it's such a contraversial issue.

We have done well using CC (although I don't like to call it that) I can put my DS down and he will lie in bed and chat to himself until he's ready to go to sleep. He also sleeps through the night. It took a long time to get to this point but I was determined that this was the best way. I have taught my son a wonderful skill and for that he is a happier baby.

[JadeyBaby2]

Yes! I've noticed how much happier DD seems - or maybe it's just that I'm not so darn tired all the bloomin time and can actually take notice of these sort of things now and enjoy her more!

We're up pretty early atm - this morning was 4am...I could have fed her and I'm sure she would have kept sleeping another couple hours, but I think that would revert her back to her old ways......I could have gone back to bed - DS is still asleep. Oh well....I'm sure the mornings will sort themselves out when she's more in the habit.

[lupa]

yes, I find that if he wakes now it'll be between 4-6am. If he wakes before 5am, I leave him and he just goes back to sleep, but at 5 I'll feed him. I can put him straight back to sleep and he'll most likely end up having a sleep in (7-8am) so I don't really mind.

It will take a while for them to settle into what works, we just have to guide them.

[Mique]

Hi guys
I have a 7 month DD and we started this last night....my eyes are hanging out of my head today. It has to be worth it. She usually wakes at 11, 2, 4, 5 and 7.
She woke at 3, and I let her cry but kept going in. Two hours of full on screaming and I had had enough and fed her.
Can anyone give me any tips?

Oh for her day sleep today it only took 20 mins of crying before she was asleep and I didnt even go in!

[lupa]

That's good, so there's an improvement then. The trick is to be consistent. If you are consistent for one day then the second day you aren't, they will think ok, it takes two days of screaming and she'll come.

I think 90 mins is enough time, after that go in and feed then straight back to bed. After 90 mins they probably work up their appetite.

Remember, you should only really do this if:
1. They are putting on enough weight
and
2. They have to medical conditions.

Tell us how you go!

[JadeyBaby2]

Yep - it's very tiring but worth every bit of lost sleep.
I would get her up at the one hour mark - change nappy, give some water and a cuddle and try again. If you did that, and she went for another hour then I would probably feed and back to bed (putting her back awake).
It's great that you are seeing results! It is a slow process a lot of the time and she will probably get worse before things get blissful for you.
Atm it's been nearly 1 week for me and DD is sleeping through with the occasional call out during the night, but she knows I'm not coming so just goes straight back to sleep (only goes for up to 10mins max) and we're up very early (between 4-5.30am) but babies this age are only really capable of going 8-10hrs before their little tumms are rather empty so have to get up and feed at that time. We're usually only up for 40-60mins before she wants to go back to bed and she sleeps another couple hrs or so (as do I) then we start our day properly when she wakes.
It can take a good couple weeks for things to be effective.

[MamaKoala]

:yelclap:Jadey & lupa!
Mique - I found that a dream feed at 10.30-11pm (where you feed bub without waking them completely) usually kept them down for longer (I did CC with both my boys) and didn't allow them to wake up completely and become restless. Maybe if you're already up at 10pm then try this with DD and see how you go. Good luck:goodvibes: