Leaving My Baby to Cry Herself to Sleep.

Updated on March 24, 2008
A.W. asks from Syracuse, NY
5 answers

I am breastfeeding and my 8 month old baby girl wakes up all night long to have a few sips of boobie. She slept through the night from when she was 3 months old to about 5 months old. The she got the flu and started waking up so I'd feed her and then put her back in her cot. Now it's become a horrible habit thats lasted too long and I really need a full nights sleep. Her doctor suggested I let her cry herself to sleep since I have tried everything else. She refuses to have anything but breast milk straight from the breast at night so I can't even give her water. Have you done the crying thing? How did you do it? How long did it take?
To add to this question I would also like to ask about moving my baby into her own room. I'm going to try this crying thing and I'm not sure if this is the right time to move my baby into her own room. I don't want her to feel abandoned or scared. Maybe I should wait till she's sleeping through the night? But I also feel as though maybe my husband and I also disturb her at night with little noises such as typing at the pc or my husbands snoring.

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So What Happened?

Well after trying very hard I was not successful at CIO. My baby wont even go in her cot now, she is terrified to so my doctor has suggested a medication which will help get her into a healthy sleeping pattern.

More Answers

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J.G.

answers from Rochester on

I breastfeed too and at 11 months, I needed my sleep (so did my hubby). Until this past month I was getting up 2 times a night, after I went was asleep, to nurse. She was nursing 8 times a day at 10/11 months now at her birthday week she nurses 6 times a day. I let her cry one night from 1am -1:45am and then the next night she fussed here and there for less than a minute. Now she sleeps thru the night every night! It is so wonderful and worth the torment and tears(mine and hers) from that one night. Her naps have also improved going from a spoty 30min-1hr to 1hr 30min-2 hrs! She will still love you in the morning even if you let her cry, I promise. Good luck, jenn

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Albany on

Hi A.! I have let me little ones cry themselves to sleep except I let them cry their age in minutes. My little one is 15 months so I would let her cry for 15 minutes. If she is still crying after 15 minutes I would check on her. To be honest, she has not cried that long and if she has a "pain" cry I go and get her right away. She barely wakes at night so when she does I listen closely because if it is an "I'm Tired" cry, I will let her cry and usually that only lasts 5 minutes.
Good luck!
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from New York on

honestly I have never done the crying thing,

I suggest giving her a pacifier,
and cuddling her close,

I know you are tired, its hard,

but basically she wants to feel your touch,

try simply giving her a pacifier for the next week ,
then help her reach her own hand up for the pacifier,
which you place in the 2 top corners of the crib.

this way she can self soothe,

at each cry get up, and give the paci, but don't talk
rub her head and then cover her up, and Leave, she should fall back asleep.

If not get her and let her sleep with you , BUT NO BOOBIE

eventually she will fall asleep and the first few night will be rough but after the 3rd night she will be OK.

the key is to let her wake up in her bed, the more time spent in her bed and ROOM the more comforting it ill be,

i use the Aqua sounds by fisher price, costs about 20 dollars
attaches to the crib, and they can press it themselves if they wat to, it lights up, and plays music, but i like the waves from the ocean, its very soothing.

Naps should also be in her crib,

Good luck

M

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P.M.

answers from New York on

Read dr.Ferber's book. I wouldn't let her just cry it out, but we did a very modified ferber method at 4.5 months, and now my son is 27 months and never had any sleep issues. He suggests leaving the room in intervals rather than leaving all together and letting the child cry to sleep. When I did it I set my own intervals with 5 to 7 minutes being the maximum, and I stayed in the room longer than suggested and broke a couple of rules when in the room. I really believe the age is the key, the older the child the more difficult to set healthy sleeping habits. my son took about 3 nights, and slept on his own, however we kept one feeding a night till about 8 months. Good luck

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J.G.

answers from Albany on

Sometimes letting them cry is the only thing you can do. We tried everytning with my son and letting him cry was what worked. It's very difficult and you have to be committed because as soon as you give in and go to them you are back at square 1. We tried the "Farber" approach first which advises letting them cry for awhile and then going in to reasure them that everything is ok but not picking them up or feeding them. That didn't work for us. We had to just let him cry and not let him see us. I have to tell you it was awful but well worth it! He cried for sometimes up to 1 1/2 hours for many nights in a row. The fact that your daughter was sleeping through the night before may make it easier. We did have some future setbacks after illnesses but it was never as bad as the initial time. We didn't do it until he was over a year old but wished we had done it a lot sooner. There is nothing like a good nights sleep!
J.

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