Cry It Out or Not?

Do you have a night time routine for him that you do every night? Bath,BF, then bed etc...they say sometime if you have a routine instead of on demand feedings at around 6 months they can sleep better, although a number of Breastfed babies do not sleep more then 5 hrs a night...I have not a clue why that is but I know I read it, Sorry I could not be much help.

I don't believe in crying it out. My kids have never cried for more then 1 minute before I see to them. My oldest is now 8 and she didn't sleep through the night until she was about 18 months. You're the mom, and that's just how it is. You see to your baby's needs, even if it means you don't get as much sleep as you'd like. Some babies just need that comfort of knowing you are there. Stop and consider if he is comfort nursing, or if he seems genuinely hungry. He could also be going through a growth spurt.

I feel for you. I am experiencing the same exact situation except the fact that my son is now 9 months old. I didn't have the heart to let him cry it out at 6 months and am trying it now for the first time. My baby is also breastfed and receives 3 solid meals a day. Tonight is night # 4 of crying it out and I am doing my best to stay strong. I think my little guy has just simply gotten into the habit of having me comfort him back to sleep multiple times throughout the night. I feel that I am doing him no help at all by picking him up and not allowing him to try to put himself back to sleep. My pediatrician has assured me that he in no way needs to eat at night. So, I feel your pain! hang in there.

Well he is definitely old enough to not need middle of the night feedings. Typical babies stop waking to eat between 4-6 months.

With just the info. you have given I have questions. Is he sick? How long are you waiting to go to him after he wakes?How long are you letting him cry? Are you consistent?

If he is not sick then CIO can be effective. Do not go to him immediately. Wait 5 minutes. See what he does. If he is still crying, got to himpat, tuck, good night & leave. Return in 10 minutes rub, pat, good night, leave. Continue to increase the time in between going to him.

Being consistent is key. Do not pick him up, no stimulation, just reassurance that you are there. It may take a little while. If he evr at any point has those blood curdling break your heart type of crying episodes than go to him. He needs you to hold him. But if they are just 'nothing is really wrong cry' then try to do the CIO. Good luck.

A.

Hi D.,

You have every right to get some sleep by the time your baby is six months old. Otherwise, you're going to get sick and then who's going to take care of the baby?

Try reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. This book kept me sane when my newborn refused to nap for more than 40 minutes during the day for the first three months. Dr. Weissbluth provides sound strategies to help you and your baby get the sleep that you both need. If I recall correctly, he associates nighttime waking at six months with insufficient hours of daytime sleep, so you may have to rework your child's nap schedule.

Yes, Weissbluth is a CIO advocate. Apply his advice as appropriate. You know your child better than anyone, so you decide how to modify his strategies to fit your baby's temperament.

Good luck!!!!!!

Hi D.!
This can be a very heated topic...to cry it out or not. Let me give you some info to help your decision. We all know babies cry. But what we tend to forget is that is their only way of communicating when all else fails. Imagine if your baby could talk. He said to you, "Mom, I'm real tired, but I just can't sleep. I don't know where you are, I'm all alone, I'm cold and I'm wet. Where are you?" Now imagine responding with entering his room, patting his back and then walking back out. He's gonna be like "Ummmm...Hello? Didnt you hear me?!" Studies show that when babies are left to cry, their stress levels rise. Then you become more distressed because at this point you are exhausted and at your wits end.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/19237/a_factbase...

It sounds to me like your issue really isnt "Should I let him cry it out" but rather "Help me find a way to get more sleep!"
Babies are defined as sleeping through the night once they can do so in a 5 hour stretch. Babies achieve this milestone at various ages. But when your baby wakes and cries, he is telling you that something isnt right. Go to him, nurse him back to sleep and go back to bed. Keep your baby close so this task doesnt seem so daunting. I dont know how you feel about bringing your baby back to bed with you, but I did that with all 3 of my kids and I have always gotten more sleep that way! I wake up refreshed and feeling well. Some babies sleep well on their own, some don't. Our job as parents is to make our kids feel good. Your baby is communicating to you that his sleeping arrangements arent working for him. So its your job to play detective and find out what works for him so that he feels right. Here are a few books that offer gentler ways at helping your baby establish good sleep routines instead of crying it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Nighttime-Parenting-Child-League-In...
http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Gentle-Throug...
See if your local library has them, or even order them from amazon or ebay, used. You can get them pretty cheap. They are great books and have helped our family whenever we encounter a new sleep issue.
Also, here is an article written by Dr. Sears (the author of the first book) that gives you a basic tutorial about what the book says. It will at least help you understand your little ones sleep patterns a little better and maybe give a few ideas too! (if for some reason the link doesnt work, click on the red Dr Sears link on the upper right hand corner of the page...sometimes it doesnt patch you directly through)
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp

I hope some of this helps D.. And remember...breastfed babies need to eat more frequently, as you know. Dont be fooled by the formula society telling you he *should* be sleeping better by now. He sounds normal and healthy to me. Your only problem is finding a solution to getting more sleep yourself! Hopefully some of these resources can help. Good job Momma, keep giving him that magical mommy's milk!

Sorry D., but no book or study can tell you about your child, you must know your child and how he feels about crying it out, so if you are fine with it then let him. I am a mother of 2 boys 2yrs and 5yrs which at 21/2 mths my 5yrs old slept through and my 2yrs old which was breast feed slept through at 4mths. Just give him the habbit of going down when he is suppose to.Good luck!! p.s Be sure to give him 2 good naps a day sleep generates sleep.

Hi D.

Well, seems most are giving you the advice I would, let him cry it out. However, one other thing I would suggest. Before racing to get a pacifier try giving him a bottle of water.

I have twins and neither have ever had a pacifier, they've slept through since they were 8 weeks old with of course the odd nights, until recently, where they'd wake crying. We did the cry it out routine and also offering only water during the night. As soon as he realises it's not feeding time when it's sleeping time and that Mummy is not going to be up half the night soothing and feeding he'll start to sleep through.

Good Luck!

get a binky, if he wasn't premature he doesn't need to nurse that frequently during the night. When he wakes up, go in and soothe him, pat him, tell him it is sleeping time, tell him you love him, but...do not pick him up, give him a binky or a teething ring or something to put in him mouth, not food though, and walk out of the room, staying in the room for only 1 min. If he cries, wait 3 min and go in again doing the same thing, If he cries again, wait 5 min, repeat, if cries again wait 7 min, repeat, doing this until you are at 10 min letting him cry in between visits. maximum 10 min of crying at a time. If you do this for a few nights - to a week IT WILL WORK!!

Have you tried giving him the pacifier instead of nursing him at night?