CIO Not Working

Has anyone not had any luck with CIO? I know my DD needs to sleep, but CIO doesn't seem to be working. I feel like the worst mom in the world.
Any suggestions?

Re: CIO Not Working

We tried to do CIO when my son would wake up in the middle of the night. It never worked. I realized that he needs to see me even if just for a second, so now I go in and give him a paci and lay him down. After that, sometimes he will cry for a little and then go down. If I don't go in he can cry for an hour and a half. It's just not worth it to me to hear him cry for that long. I tried for about a week, going in only after an hour. It never got shorter like the books promise it will.

Basically you just need to figure out what works for you and your child. eventually your child will learn to sleep even if you don't have success with CIO. You are not a bad mommy!!!

Re: CIO Not Working

There are several different kinds of CIO -

which version are you trying? What are you doing -
do you have a white noise machine?
are there any crib toys in her crib?

Give us some details and maybe we can steer you in the right direction...

Re: CIO Not Working

Hi. Thanks for the help. We go in after about 15 minutes, then after 30 minutes. She goes to sleep around 7:30 and is up again between 12 and 2 (sometimes around 10). We tried about 2 weeks ago, but the crying never stopped and eventually I nurse her and she goes back to sleep. So, we waited 2 weeks and we tried again last night and it was horrible. The doctor said she shouldn't need to eat in the middle of the night anymore and to let her cry, but we tried for over an hour and the crying never stopped.

We have a white noise machine in her room and also a humidifier. We have a little taggie blanket that we keep in her crib.

She is EBF, but she takes bottles about 2 days a week. She will not take a pacifier.

Any ideas?

Re: CIO Not Working

Ok, I took out a video from Jericho library - I don't remember the name of it but it was great - though a little dated.

Basically they did CIO with 5 - 10 then finally 15 minute intervals. never going longer than 15 minutes. No toys in crib - white noise on a louder setting than we were doing. It should be pretty loud. When you go in, don't touch her- just peek in the door and say you are doing a great job, its time to go to sleep - all in less than 30 secs.

For the night feedings they had info on how to wean the baby off of night feedings. What they said is to set your alarm to feed her an hour prior to when she normally wakes (use the earliest time she wakes as a guide) and feed her an ounce less than she would take (do a minute less than normal if she is BF) Each night feed her less and less until she is down to 1 ounce/1 minute. then discontinue. Its tough to set your alarm, but it worked for us!

Unfortunately, i don't remember the name of the video- but it was at Jericho library in the parenting section. It was one that I never heard of before. (not happiest baby or ferber)

I hope it works for you....

Re: CIO Not Working

THanks for the advice. I think we'll give her another night and see what happens. If it doesn't work, then we'll move onto your suggestion. I hate the idea of waking her when she is actually sleeping, but nothing else seems to be working.

Re: CIO Not Working

I need some recs too! CIO worked around 6 months and then by 7 months she would not stop crying until she got to the point of wimpering Now we are still forced to walk her to sleep. At 9 months something needs to change, so I'd love to hear suggesions!!!

Re: CIO Not Working

mine was EBF and we were CIO failures.

We also waited till 11 mos. to try it the first time. He never went to sleep.

He still doesn't go to sleep and he's 2.

Re: CIO Not Working

We did the CIO @ 11 months. Here is our routine.
7:00 pm jammies and last bottle (5oz)
8:30-9:00 Read book in her room rocking (to get her relaxed). Kiss her put her down in crib w/music teddy we tell her Love you and its time for night night- repeat every 90 sec. (we did not let her cry for 15 min) after night 4 she fuss for few seconds and now she goes down fine.
Its really hard for the first few nights but its worth it. Hope this helps.