Controlled crying and the older child.

**mum2bubba** · 16-01-2009 21:00

Ok, so lately (well, actually its happened for ages) Skye has been waking at night. I get up to her, offer her milk, cuddle her, bring her into the bed (which Grant hates) or go and sleep with her (which Grant says I am soft) but sometimes she just wants to play at midnight

Anyway. I am wondering if I should start controlled crying again (did this when both girls were babies). I am sick of getting broken sleep each night, but at the same time I can't stand listening to her scream.

She started crying last night (well more like wimpering in her sleep) so I left her to settle on her own (took about 15 minutes) then an hour later she started up again.

What do you suggest?

I am thinking about putting a cd player in the room and putting on some quiet relaxing music but obviously I'm not going to be getting up whenever the cd finishes/when she wakes up.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice etc.

Skye is 20 months by the way.

**PandP** · 16-01-2009 21:10

Oh my goodness I have exactly the same thing happening in my house. I think with DS it's a sleep habit and a reassurance thing. Just it's gone from once a night to many times a night.
I am hoping it's a phase??

Sorry I can't be of help but I hope that someone else can offer some suggestions. I have no idea what to do but I am getting sleepier and sleepier...

**MUMSIEOF2** · 16-01-2009 21:16

hi, i have just been through this and got my first full night sleep a week ago, i had a sleep consultant come as i was so sleep deprived. she suggested that i leave her when she woke and if i couldnt handle to stay away, go in and pat and walk out the first night she woke up every half an hr, but they were just whingey crys so I didnt go in once, she used to come into my bed when she woke, after doing this for a few nights she still woke but i never went to her. my dd is 15mnths and i was always against cc but I honestly believe now that this is the only way, ( at this age) I would never do it earlier... but with this method you can still go in and cuddle just comfort, but do not take her to your bed, this was the mistake i made for months, once she learned that she had to stay in her cot, she sleeps through 6.30pm-6.30am then its into my bed for cuddles, I hope you can sort it out, good luck

**mum2bubba** · 16-01-2009 21:23

Thanks. I am also in the early stages of pregnancy so very tired.

I did cc when the girls were young babies, it took a week for Hayley to sleep through, Skye took a bit longer though. I was thinking about getting her out of the cot and putting her into a big bed so the baby can have a cot, but I am worried that she'll just play. I will start cc again and see what happens, but if she is full on screaming I'm not sure what I'm gonna do.

**MUMSIEOF2** · 17-01-2009 08:39

hi, it is very tiring this 1st Trimester.

I have borrowed a bassinet because i dont want to take dd out of cot as this will allow her to come into my room i want to hold out for as long as i can. I hate the full on screaming too, it breaks your heart. theres still awhile before our babies come so hang in there, im still breastfeeding am and pm so this will be my next challange. i used to live on the peninsula and went to kooweerup hospital when dd was 4 mnths for sleep school, if u get desperate