Started CC last night

[Brideyandbaby]

Hello,

I just thought I would share my thoughts with everyone about my current experiences with controlled crying.

I have a 7 month old boy who was waking every 2 hours for a feed, and it was taking its toll on my fatigue levels during the day. My partner and I decided it was time to try CC and last night (sunday 30th July) was the first night. We put him down at 7pm (he always settles well at this time, yey!) He awoke again at about 9:45pm and cried consistently for three hours!!!!! My partner and I did not cope very well, but we were strong and he eventually went back to sleep. He woke again at about 3:30am and I only had to go in once to settle him, and then he slept til 7:15am. :smiliedance:

I don't really know whether last night was a success at all, so I guess I will find out tonight. Fingers crossed. :fingerscrossed

I would definately appreciate any tips for making this work.

[tweedledee*tweedledum]

Just wondering whether you let him cry for 3 hours without you going in or if you went in every now and again?

[mama hen]

I just started cc last night as well but with different results ... my dd (8 mths) went to sleep easily at 7.30 then woke at 9 for a feed (normal) and would not sleep at all ... so we walked around for an hour or so (I know you are not meant to do this ... I caved) put her down at 11 and she didn't go down for 1 hour screaming and walking around her cot the entire time (seems short compared to your 3 hrs).

Then at 2am she woke and grumbled for 1 hour and put herself to sleep yay!!
But woke for 10 mins at 3am .... then for 2mins at 4am.

Sorry this isn't much help but at least you know that you are not alone. I feel your pain

[megsmum1]

I was wondering whether, after leaving your baby to cry for a period of time (ie: 1 hour or 3 hours) did you notice any difference in their behaviour/personality the next day? My baby is such a happy little girl and I am worried that CC will change her and make her clingy or quiet.

My 8mth old goes to bed at 6.30, usually sleeps to around 11.30 when she wakes for a feed. Then she wakes on and off from about 2am to 4am - when I usually end up putting her in bed with me. I am just exhausted. During the day, I am lucky if she sleeps for an hour (two naps).

I have done cc once before, when she was about 4 months, and it worked for a while. I know I should do it again but it just rips my heart out to hear her cry and I feel like such a bad mother.

I would dearly love her to sleep through the night but I just don't know how to get her to do it.

I would greatly appreciate any advice.

[Goosie22]

AAIMHI is concerned that the widely practiced
technique of controlled crying is not consistent with
what infants need for their optimal emotional and
psychological health, and may have unintended
negative consequences.

Taken from:
Adolecent and infant mental health (http://www.aaimhi.org/documents/position%20papers/controlled_crying.pdf)


Have you sought guidance from a GP/CHN/Sleep Clinic ect?
Even Pro CIO/CC people tell us that prior to 6 months is not recommended and even that may well be too young depending on your child.

1 or 3 hours does seems a very long time to be distressed without comfort? I was under the impression that it is done in time increments of 2 - 10 min depending on the age of your baby and the level of distress?

I realise your feeling worn out and I am not asking these questions as an attack on your personal parenting style.

[Mischief]

Have you tried giving your bub a dream feed? That way they shouldnt wake hungry and *should* resettle easier.

Oliver is still waking 3 times before 7, but is only feeding once now....so I only get him up for a quick nappy change (am hoping to change this to re settling tonight...wish me luck).

[mama hen]

Just thought that I might clear up my side of things ... when I said that she was crying for 1 hour - this was total crying even though I was going in and re-assuring her every 10-15 mins. She would not have been hungry as she had just had almost a full bottle. She was just fighting the sleep even though she was exhausted.

I have now decided against the cc as this was just not working for us. I know that I did not really give it much of a chance but it was tearing my heart out listening to her cry .:crying:

I have instead just read Tizzie Hall's Save our Sleep and will try going down this path with a set routine with wake up times ... My dd had been going down at 9.30-10pm most night and up for the day at 8.30am. This is where I think our problems may have stemmed from in the first place.

I have just started it today and hopefully this will solve our dilemas and the household will begin to function as it should. :fingerscrossed:

[Mischief]

aradloff - You should join me in the Dreamfeed/Rant thread and post how your DD goes at night too! LOL. Oliver has been a monster, but is starting to resettle for some of his wakings!

[Milliner]

I have instead just read Tizzie Hall's Save our Sleep and will try going down this path with a set routine with wake up times ... My dd had been going down at 9.30-10pm most night and up for the day at 8.30am. This is where I think our problems may have stemmed from in the first place.

I have just started it today and hopefully this will solve our dilemas and the household will begin to function as it should. :fingerscrossed:


We have the same problem going to bed late, we have tried the getting up early and then going to bed early thing but it's not working he just gets over tired!! Good luck if you find something that works let me know what you have done!!

[mama hen]

mum2bailey - I have just pmd you as my response was long winded.

In the short of it all has gone well only 24hrs after starting the routine. But it is only early days :)

[Brideyandbaby]

Hello Everyone,

It has been a week now, and every night since that first night, he has been sleeping through until about 5am. :smiliedance:

Just to clarify, I did go in during that three hours, extending the wait time each time until I was going in every half an hour.

Hope all is well

Bridey 22
Adam 28
Kobi 7 months

[1+1=5]

just wondering where pople get this technique from? where did you find the info on time increments because i thought you weren't allowed to leave baby crying for more than 10 minutes at a time.

[twolittlegirls]

There is a book called SILENT NIGHTS and its written by Dr Bryan Symon. He is a special-interest practitioner (in infant sleepin). I think he is based in Adelaide.

We did controlled crying but once dd had cried for 25mins then we'd start again.

It is hard work, but if you stick to it and are consitant, it hopefully will pay off. Our little girl is now a fantastic sleeper who very rarely cries when she goes down or through the night.

Good luck to you ladies who are trying it. I defiantly appreciate how much it pulls at your heart strings!

[lovebeingamum!]

owens_mum...

Obviously I can't speak for the other ladies, but in Tizzie Halls "Save Our Sleep" she has a table in there... if you're interested, I can PM u with it.

I did buy this book, but personally found the routines in there totally unworkable for me and, more importantly, for my DS.
(DS is an excellent day sleeper, so it didn't sit right with me to mess with that to 'fix the problem' of night waking that wasn't all that bad, or frequent)

Saying that, I am trying to make my day more routined, but still keeping quite flexible. I am also feeding him more solids. I don't know any of this is what worked, but he is now sleeping better at night - it could also be the fact that he can now roll onto his tummy and re-settle himself. :D Yay.

Sorry, hope this didn't go off the track too much... BTW, if anyone is interested in the Tizzie Hall book, I have one that i'd be quite happy to give away... really not my cuppa tea...

[me&mine]

Hi, each to their own as to what works for them, just wanted to suggest, if your interested, try reading one/some of Tracy Hoggs books. She is called "the baby whisperer".
I find her general ideas helpful and practical. Google her name for more info.

Good luck all! :yes: