Another success story here. Very much the same as all the posts above. We also did responsive settling, so only go in if baby is distressed. For us, it actually took a few weeks, not days, and, whinging could be up to 3 hours in the middle of the night. HOWEVER, after months and months of broken sleep, we now have a baby that sleeps all night unless sick. We have also noticed great developmental improvements since the better sleep (growth, attitude, physical milestones) as we now have a happy child instead of a grumpy tired one (and mum too ).
Best thing we ever did, for our whole family, including baby.
I used feed to sleep, co-sleeping and demand feeding and comforting successfully for the first 6 months with DD and it was wonderful. She slept "like a baby" Then slowly she began to change and become increasingly unsettled no matter what I did. After 4 months, I was beside myself with the difficulties getting DD to sleep and keeping her that way with half hourly wakes at the worst time. I was really loosing it and as PP's have said, I don't think that is helpful for anyone, baby and mum alike.
We did a modified CC also based on responding to the types of cries. I did try to do a version myself but it didn't work and it was only when I went to sleep school that we turned the corner. It was Soooo successful! I couldn't believe that she would respond so well - just as willow described.
One thing that really helped me was to have a treat or task during the night wakings. If DD woke at night, i usually dreaded it, dragged myself out of bed and tried to scramble back to grab what ever sleep I could between settles. It meant that I really resented hearing her rewake or begin crying again and it really dragged the night out. Once I decided to try the resettling routine, I would get out of bed when she woke, go in and resettle her, put the kettle on or turn on the computer and make myself a cup of tea. I would continue to settle her as needed and in the meantime busy myself with tea, tv or the internet. It really helped me to have a distraction so I wasn't insanely listening to DD only willing her to go to sleep. (I would of course keep an ear on her, but it really helped to be up and doing something).
My DD responded really well and after 3 days was barely waking up again. Best thing was that if she ever had a bad night again, due to teething or something, it was really easy to get her back to sleeping through as she knew the settling routine and responded well to it again.
This is a great thread. I have felt a little nervous mentioning my use of T1zzie H@ll methods in this forum. But the routines have worked really well for us and DD is a pretty good little sleeper. It's weird but the routine has allowed us a lot more freedom to do stuff. It takes about 3 days for it to kick in well and about 2 weeks to get it really down pat (in my large randomized controlled study of 1!). I don't want to thread hijack, but I wouldn't mind discussing tips and hints in this thread as well Personally I think you can gentle parent and do a modified control crying as well....but that's just me!
Good luck and try to do something nice for yourself when you're having to listen to the cries! xx
We did CC with both boys... we did the listen to the style of cry not the leave them for a certain amount of time. As soon as they went from a sook to anything more we were in there.
It took only about a week to get Brendan to self settle. Now he puts himself to bed...
I have to say one thing though, so many people think CC is about letting your child scream themselves to sleep but it isnt about that at all! Maybe thats some peoples idea, but I personally hate the thought of either of the boys screaming their guts up literally... I like to think of my method as "Gentle CC"
Sally, I agree. There is no way I would leave my child to cry in distress for any period of time. I think people just don't get that there can be a happy medium between 'crying it out' and 'gentle' methods like feeding to sleep etc.
Just thought I would revive this thread to let you all know we have had some success and sleep lol.
It started off rough, as you know its hard to listen to them crying but I was so tired and over the sleep issues that I had to push through it. After a few nights it was only taking her a few minutes to get to sleep by herself, then she got a terrible cold and I thought it was all going to go downhill, it did slightly but once she was over it then we got back on track.
Her day sleeps are shorter but she sleeps better at night so I can handle the shorter day sleeps and I like her company anyway.
We were struggling to resettle her if she woke during the night but now that has got easier as well. She is eating solids better now almost overnight so that is definantly a positive.
I am so glad we tried cc , it has worked for us. I would reccomend it to anyway who has serious sleep probs but you have to be ready for it mentally going into this in two minds wont work.
Thanks to everyone brave enough to share there stories and for not making me feel bad that I wanted to go down this path.
I'm so glad that things have worked out for you. Everything is so much nicer after a good nights sleep. Not just for parents, but babies too. It is interesting that your dd is eating better too.
There seem to be many who have had success with similar methods. That is helping our babies learn how to sleep better and listening to some crying while they do it. As someone else said there is a happy medium between crying it out and gentle parenting.
All babies are different, but I certainly know that with my DD it is usually best to leave her to settle herself. She rarely takes comfort from me being there as she goes to sleep. Of course I'm there for her if she needs, but I'm in touch with her needs and I think that is a big part of what gentle parenting is about.
Anyway, that is just my opinion. But I'm really glad that you are happy with the results you have achieved Salad.
That was an excellent post Holly I agree with all you said.
I find it better if I dont go in and comfort Georgia, it just makes her worse and upsets her when I leave. Dh does the settling if it needs it and he does a great job. If she really needs someone DH will go to her but otherwise she is left to cry and that is what is/has worked for us.
Everyone is different and you are the best judge of your baby and his or her needs.
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