We did cc with DD1 (I actually didn't even know there was any other way) and I must say from 4 months old she has been a fantastic sleeper. BTW the actual sleep training took less than a week and she never cried for long or to the point where she was too upset. In saying this she is a very routine child and I could predict to the minute when she needed a feed (bottle feed) and when she needed a sleep etc. I felt very in tune with my DD1.

Then DD2 came along and she was different. She didn't subscribe to cc. We tried with her up she got too upset and so did I. Then at around 7 months my DH and I were worn out with her not settling so we tried CC (actually my DH did it) for her day sleeps only. We set up a strict going to bed routine and within 2 days she was self settling, mostly without tears. From this point on DD has been a very good sleeper and goes to bed no probs.

Now DD3 is absolutely different again and we have tried cc on a couple of occasions but I just can't handle it and she gets distraught as soon as she goes near her cot. I know she needs more assistance and cuddles, but I also know that I want her to sleep in her cot so we have a plan and for now it is getting better. I believe that she'll get to the point of liking her cot (which she already is after a week of putting her in there for play and wind down). We may need to do a bit of cc down the track but I'll play it by ear.

I felt that I needed to do cc for my own sanity. Having no sleep and spending hours and hours on end trying to get a baby to sleep can be spirit breaking. In the end I need to be a mum with energy so that I can be there for all of my kids.

Summing up, I think cc has a place.