Rainbowbrite
13-12-2006, 12:30
I was doing some research on Controlled Comforting & came accross a site which has a step by step guide.
Hope some of you can get some relief :hugs:
From raisingchildren.
Controlled comforting (sometimes called ‘controlled crying’) is a behaviour management strategy for dealing with persistent settling and waking problems in young children.
The idea behind the strategy is to help children learn how to settle themselves to sleep, rather than parents feeding, patting or cuddling them to sleep. It’s not the only strategy parents have used.
Controlled comforting involves brief checking and reassurance of your baby while he is learning to settle.
Parents dealing with sleep and settling problems can become very tired and stressed, particularly if they are loosing sleep themselves. Controlled comforting is sometimes tried by parents who feel overwhelmed or that their wellbeing may be suffering.
Controlled comforting should only be used:
-with babies older than six months and less than two years
-as part of a total program for establishing healthy sleep patterns that includes a positive bedtime routine
-when you are confident your baby is getting lots of attention, time and affection during the day.
How to implement controlled comforting
-Establish a consistent bedtime routine (see Positive bedtime routines).
-When it's time to say goodnight, put your baby in his cot and tuck him in. Either talk to and/or pat your baby until he is quiet, or for one minute.
-As soon as your baby is quiet, or after one minute, say goodnight and leave the room. Leave before your baby is asleep.
-Stay out of the bedroom and give your baby a chance to settle by himself. Ignore grizzling.
-If your baby starts to really cry, wait for the set amount of time before going back to your baby (e.g. two minutes at first).
-Leave your baby for a sequence of set time intervals (e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes, or 5, 10 and 15 minutes). Set your own intervals of time based on how long you think you can manage.
-After each time interval has passed, return briefly to your baby if he is still crying. Talk to your baby or pat him for one minute, or continue talking or patting until he is quiet (depending on your preference). Try to soothe him without picking him up if you can.
-Keep an eye on his nappy. If it is soiled, change him under low light and with minimal fuss.
-As soon as he is quiet (or after one minute), but before he is asleep, leave the room again and wait for the next set time interval. What you are trying to do here is give him the opportunity to learn to go to sleep by himself.
-This process is continued until your baby falls asleep by himself.
-When your baby wakes overnight, follow the same routine.
Some other important points about controlled comforting
-Controlled comforting takes between three and 14 days to work.
-Use a clock to time intervals; four minutes can seem like a very long time.
-Turn off all baby monitors.
-Don’t wait outside the baby’s bedroom. Go into another room. Distract yourself. Make a cup of tea and turn on the TV. Only go back to check the baby when the set time is up.
-Talk to your partner first to make sure that you both agree with what is going on. Work out what role each of you will play (e.g. helping with resettling, timing the intervals). Consider taking turns each night.
-Avoid important commitments for the first few days after you commence controlled comforting. You need to be able to see it through without a major change to the baby’s routine.
-Remember, leave the baby’s room before he falls asleep.
What if parents have had enough?
If you are too tired, or feeling too distressed or upset, pick up your baby, calm him in any way you wish (e.g. small drink, cuddle) and try again next time.
What if your baby is unwell?
If your baby is unwell, controlled comforting should be stopped and re-started when he is better again. If he has a slight runny nose and cough but no fever, controlled comforting can still be used if you are happy to do so.
What if the baby is in pain?
Many parents are concerned about teething causing pain. If you pick up your baby and he settles almost immediately, it is very unlikely that he was in pain. He just wanted to be picked up. You can give paracetamol (Panadol) if you are concerned. Paracetamol takes about 20 minutes to work, so babies who settle after that may have been in pain. If you have persistent concerns about your baby being in pain, talk to your doctor.
Hope some of you can get some relief :hugs:
From raisingchildren.
Controlled comforting (sometimes called ‘controlled crying’) is a behaviour management strategy for dealing with persistent settling and waking problems in young children.
The idea behind the strategy is to help children learn how to settle themselves to sleep, rather than parents feeding, patting or cuddling them to sleep. It’s not the only strategy parents have used.
Controlled comforting involves brief checking and reassurance of your baby while he is learning to settle.
Parents dealing with sleep and settling problems can become very tired and stressed, particularly if they are loosing sleep themselves. Controlled comforting is sometimes tried by parents who feel overwhelmed or that their wellbeing may be suffering.
Controlled comforting should only be used:
-with babies older than six months and less than two years
-as part of a total program for establishing healthy sleep patterns that includes a positive bedtime routine
-when you are confident your baby is getting lots of attention, time and affection during the day.
How to implement controlled comforting
-Establish a consistent bedtime routine (see Positive bedtime routines).
-When it's time to say goodnight, put your baby in his cot and tuck him in. Either talk to and/or pat your baby until he is quiet, or for one minute.
-As soon as your baby is quiet, or after one minute, say goodnight and leave the room. Leave before your baby is asleep.
-Stay out of the bedroom and give your baby a chance to settle by himself. Ignore grizzling.
-If your baby starts to really cry, wait for the set amount of time before going back to your baby (e.g. two minutes at first).
-Leave your baby for a sequence of set time intervals (e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes, or 5, 10 and 15 minutes). Set your own intervals of time based on how long you think you can manage.
-After each time interval has passed, return briefly to your baby if he is still crying. Talk to your baby or pat him for one minute, or continue talking or patting until he is quiet (depending on your preference). Try to soothe him without picking him up if you can.
-Keep an eye on his nappy. If it is soiled, change him under low light and with minimal fuss.
-As soon as he is quiet (or after one minute), but before he is asleep, leave the room again and wait for the next set time interval. What you are trying to do here is give him the opportunity to learn to go to sleep by himself.
-This process is continued until your baby falls asleep by himself.
-When your baby wakes overnight, follow the same routine.
Some other important points about controlled comforting
-Controlled comforting takes between three and 14 days to work.
-Use a clock to time intervals; four minutes can seem like a very long time.
-Turn off all baby monitors.
-Don’t wait outside the baby’s bedroom. Go into another room. Distract yourself. Make a cup of tea and turn on the TV. Only go back to check the baby when the set time is up.
-Talk to your partner first to make sure that you both agree with what is going on. Work out what role each of you will play (e.g. helping with resettling, timing the intervals). Consider taking turns each night.
-Avoid important commitments for the first few days after you commence controlled comforting. You need to be able to see it through without a major change to the baby’s routine.
-Remember, leave the baby’s room before he falls asleep.
What if parents have had enough?
If you are too tired, or feeling too distressed or upset, pick up your baby, calm him in any way you wish (e.g. small drink, cuddle) and try again next time.
What if your baby is unwell?
If your baby is unwell, controlled comforting should be stopped and re-started when he is better again. If he has a slight runny nose and cough but no fever, controlled comforting can still be used if you are happy to do so.
What if the baby is in pain?
Many parents are concerned about teething causing pain. If you pick up your baby and he settles almost immediately, it is very unlikely that he was in pain. He just wanted to be picked up. You can give paracetamol (Panadol) if you are concerned. Paracetamol takes about 20 minutes to work, so babies who settle after that may have been in pain. If you have persistent concerns about your baby being in pain, talk to your doctor.