For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

It turned out OK, right? You aren't rocking a 12 year old because he/she can't go to sleep alone, right? Just need some reassurance. I cannot let him CIO. I just can't do it. I am not doing anything wrong, am I? It just seems like everyone here does the CIO thing and it really is not for us. Just need some reassurance - and also would love to know when your DC figured it out and started going to sleep on their own. Thanks ladies

Message edited 10/3/2008 9:02:10 AM.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I didn't do CIO for either of my girls and both go to sleep on their own and i don't see them til the next am. I never rocked or co slept though.

I do let them cry/whine though, no longer than 5 mins. I can't do CIO, and my girls are too sensitive for it, it doesn't work. I tried it and it was awful, i'll never do that to myself or my child again.



ETA: Both girls went to sleep on their own-meaning plopping in the crib awake and going to sleep without any help around 2-3 months old. We've had some bumps in the road-separation anxiety, teething, sickness, change of schedule and those are just temp, they go right back. My little one was swaddled til she was 6 months.
I always put them down awake, sleepy but awake.

Whatever you decide to do..CONSISTENCY is KEY!!!

Message edited 10/3/2008 9:16:30 AM.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Posted by LuvMy2Girls

I didn't do CIO for either of my girls and both go to sleep on their own and i don't see them til the next am. I never rocked or co slept though.

I do let them cry/whine though, no longer than 5 mins. I can't do CIO, and my girls are too sensitive for it, it doesn't work. I tried it and it was awful, i'll never do that to myself or my child again.



ETA: Both girls went to sleep on their own-meaning plopping in the crib awake and going to sleep without any help around 2-3 months old. We've had some bumps in the road-separation anxiety, teething, sickness, change of schedule and those are just temp, they go right back. My little one was swaddled til she was 6 months.
I always put them down awake, sleepy but awake.

Whatever you decide to do..CONSISTENCY is KEY!!!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I'd like to know too. We do cio in the middle of the night but not for bedtime. I and DH actually like spending that time rocking Noah but I wonder about what will happen when he is 3-4 yrs old.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I'm answering only b/c I refused to do CIO for a long time - DS never slept well and I was always rocking him - for us in only got worse when he hit about 8 months - by 9 months it was unbearable and by 10 months we finally resorted to it - so for us, up to that point, it did not get better and I was rocking my DS at that point not just to fall asleep and when he woke up in the middle of the night (which is how it was up to that point) but ALL night long - for HOURS! B/c the older he got the more aware he b/c and one day he just realized - if I cry she will come and rock me and that is what I want all night! I hope this isn't the case for you but, i did want to share my experience b/c i too thought it would get better as he got older and it did for periods but CIO is all that worked in the end - and it worked a miracle for us. And, its not as bad as you think honestly b/c after three days we never had a problem with him falling asleep. With my next baby - if he is a terrible sleeper like DS - I won't wait!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I couldnt do CIO but I am not the model to go by as DD is 2 yrs and 8mths and she will not go to sleep by herself so i am in it for the long haul. I wont do anything diffrent when we have another child as I know with my sisters DC I want to run and grab her from her crib when she leaves her 5 mins to settle herself and I hear her crying I am just a complete sap so CIO is not an option.

Sorry I have no other solutions for you

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I didn't!
I still need to lay down with Charlie to get him to go to sleep. Sometimes it takes an hour! He still wakes up every night between 2 and 4 and I usually take him into bed with us even though I know it;s a bad idea.

I'm not sorry I didn't let him CIO but I wish I had done somethings differently.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I didn't do CIO and Steven goes to bed like a champ. He even asks to go in his crib after his book with no rocking He is 22 months.

You are not doing the wrong thing There is no wrong thing. You do what you feel is best for you and your family. Ultimately, that is all that matters!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I rocked dd every night until she was a year old

then she began resisting being rocked so I started to put her into the crib with some toys. She now cries for between 0-10 minutes and goes to sleep

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Nope not rocking a 12 year old. There were a few times when DD was probably over 18 months that we had to let her cry some but I could never do CIO when she was young and even then I wasn't super successful but she's a really great sleeper now and for the most part goes to bed really well.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Not rocking a 7 or 5 year old to sleep, but I have to admit we still wake up with them in our bed sometimes.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I would never do cio either! DS is 7 months and I actually love rocking and nursing him to sleep at night. I read the No Cry Sleep Solution for getting him to sleep through the night better.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

THANK YOU LADIES! DS is almost 7 months old and we just can't let him cry it out. I appreciate your honest feedback and experiences!

hope07 - I will look into getting that book you recommended as well.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

My 5 year old was rocked to sleep each and every night until DS#2 was born (DS#1 was 20 months old). Then I would lie down with him and we would tell stories until he fell asleep. SOMETIMES he would wake up and need me to come lie with him for another few minutes, but rarely. He is now 5, and I still lie down with him every night. This is "our time" when we talk about his day. Its just the 2 of us and its when we get to really talk one on one.

I also lie down with my 3 year old every night. He ends up in my bed most nights, but I honestly do not mind.

My 1 year old is a CHAMPION sleeper. Never once did I CIO any of them.

You are not alone!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

THANK YOU LADIES! DS is almost 7 months old and we just can't let him cry it out. I appreciate your honest feedback and experiences!

hope07 - I will look into getting that book you recommended as well.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

I have tried CIO a few times and didn't like it. Most recently when I tried it she jumped out of her crib.

I usually lay down with her and sometimes she goes down easily and sometimes it takes an hour.

I just keep telling myself it won't be like this forever and she will one day NOT want to fall asleep next to me and then I will be sad that she has grown up.

People debate CIO a lot but my mom used to sit in the rocking chair in my brother's and my rooms when we were babies and wait for us to fall asleep and I fall asleep on my own and so does he. I sometimes have trouble falling asleep because I am sensitive and my brain is always going, but NOT because I need to have someone put me to sleep.

Do what works best and gets everyone the rest they need.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

We didn't do CIO with our kids (tried with dd but she would hyperventilate and vomit). I sit and snuggle with them for a few minutes, talk about what a great day we had, then they go into the bed or crib awake, play with their stuffed animals for a bit and fall asleep on their own. Unless someone is sick I don't hear from them again until the morning.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

We never CIO and our kids all put themselves to sleep.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

we did not do cio and i won't she just started going to sleep in her room with me and by 2 or 3 i am back in her room sleep ing in bed with her.. one day it will be ok!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

We didnt do CIO either.

We rocked DS every night for the first 6 months. I was preparing myself to start CIO at 7 months but DS jsut decided he had enough of us.

I went to put him to bed one night and he wouldnt stop squirming. So I kissed him and put him down in his crib with his mobile on. off to sleep he went. Some nights I have to go in 2 or 3 times and calm him but no more rocking.

I will say DS has his first cold and just learned to stand in his crib so for the past few nights I have been rocking. But I am hoping that once he feels better we will be back to our old routine!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

THANK YOU LADIES! DS is almost 7 months old and we just can't let him cry it out. I appreciate your honest feedback and experiences!

hope07 - I will look into getting that book you recommended as well.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

We never did CIO and my 3 year old sleeps in his own bed after brushing his teeth and a few bedtime books.
He sometimes wakes up and walks in our room with his blanket in the ealy morning hours (4-5am) but my DH is getting up for work at 6 and we don't mind the snuggling!

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

In the beginning, my DS needed severe rocking to get to sleep at night. I had to dance with him and bounce/rock standing to get him to sleep. I even stepped up and down on my stairs. (I BF and that wouldn't even get him down at night. It only worked for naps and in the middle of the night.) He also hated the rocking chair.

Then suddenly at 13 months, I was able to stop the rocking. It would take him about 30-40 minutes to go to sleep. He would BF on and off and move around a bit until he really went out. I always had soft music playing.

And then finally, between 15-17 months, he just simply BFed to sleep, and was out w/in about 10 minutes. We also realized recently that he'll go to sleep for my DH w/o anything w/in few minutes- for both naps and at night. All he has to say is, "Daniel go to sleep." He complains a bit and then he's OUT.

I honestly never thought that we would get to this point.

Re: For BTDT mom's who DIDN'T do CIO...

We didn't, but I think we just got very lucky and have a good sleeper. We did swaddle him for the first 4 - 4.5 months, so that might have helped, I don't know.

I think I have to stop saying that before I jinx it