CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Has anyone done CIO with their toddler?

We did it with DS when he was 6 months old and within three nights he went from taking over an hour to get him down and multiple wake ups to STTN.

DS is now 21 months. About 2 months ago he moved into a new bedroom and a big boy bed (He started climbing out of the crib and DS #2 is due in March so we made the switch). Then he got two rounds of double ear infections. We just let bad habits get out of control and now he needs us to hold him until he falls asleep (which can take anywhere from 1/2 hour - hour) and he's starting to wake up in the middle of the night and call us to come lay down with him too.

We tried just sitting in a chair in the room but he tries over and over to climb into our laps. I'm 71/2 months pregnant so I can't keep lifting him into the bed over and over.

DH is doing stories with him now and then we're going to close the baby gate on his door and attempt to CIO. I could use some support. It was much easier when he was little and couldn't get out of bed and call for me.

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Good luck and stay strong!!!

I know how hard it is. We often have to do CIO with my son and he's 18 months. It's hard to listen to because they're obviously older and louder, but stay strong. You can do it!!!!

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Thanks for the support. He's been screaming for 20 minutes now and doesn't seem to be calming down at all. Trying to stay distracted but I feel so bad. I feel like it is my fault we got to the point again. I just don't know what else to do. Everything else we've tried has not worked and his sleeping just keeps getting worse.

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Posted by luvnlife

Thanks for the support. He's been screaming for 20 minutes now and doesn't seem to be calming down at all. Trying to stay distracted but I feel so bad. I feel like it is my fault we got to the point again. I just don't know what else to do. Everything else we've tried has not worked and his sleeping just keeps getting worse.

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

We had almost the same exact situation same age. To get her to stay in her big girl bed we had to lay with her until she fell asleep. I used to think it was cute that I had to go in and wake DH to come to bed because he would fall asleep with her. It became a BAD habit!!!

When we tried just reading her a few books and leaving she would flip out. We have a gate on her door so she couldn't leave the room. We tried the nice approach and after a few weeks had to just let her scream. It's horrible - but she was afraid to have her door closed so I would use it as a threat and she didn't listen and would scream so I was so exhausted that I actually shut her door and she went nuts. I would leave it closed for about 30 seconds and tell her to stop screaming and I'll open it again.

It took a few weeks unfortunately but we nipped the problem and now she says see ya and plays in her room and then hops in bed and tucks herself it. Good luck - it's exhausting. Toddler screams are more intense than infant ones!

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Posted by 2kids2cats

We had almost the same exact situation same age. To get her to stay in her big girl bed we had to lay with her until she fell asleep. I used to think it was cute that I had to go in and wake DH to come to bed because he would fall asleep with her. It became a BAD habit!!!

When we tried just reading her a few books and leaving she would flip out. We have a gate on her door so she couldn't leave the room. We tried the nice approach and after a few weeks had to just let her scream. It's horrible - but she was afraid to have her door closed so I would use it as a threat and she didn't listen and would scream so I was so exhausted that I actually shut her door and she went nuts. I would leave it closed for about 30 seconds and tell her to stop screaming and I'll open it again.

It took a few weeks unfortunately but we nipped the problem and now she says see ya and plays in her room and then hops in bed and tucks herself it. Good luck - it's exhausting. Toddler screams are more intense than infant ones!

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

Thanks. 45 min and still going strong. I'm sitting here feeling so guilty. I hope it doesn't take a few weeks for us. I don't know if I can hold out that long.


It's very very draining mentally and physically. I think my DD screamed as long as 2 hours until her voice was hoarse. They can be very stubborn. Stay strong and same rules apply as when they are babies - consistency is key!!! (not saying I was always consistent lol, but when I finally stayed strong she learned she wasn't getting her way). They are always happy in the morning and never hold a grudge!

Re: CIO with a Toddler...any advice appreciated

He cried for just over and hour. Then whimpered every once in a while for the next 15 min. But he is now sound asleep in bed. Whew!

Fingers crossed that tomorrow night goes even better.