Makes me feel good - CIO related

I never did CIO with my DD. When she was an infant, I let her cry once for about 3 minutes before I went in to comfort her and after that I always went in to comfort her at the first unhappy whine.

DD's almost 3 and she doesn't cry anymore but she asks for me (sometimes 2 or 3 times a night) after I put her down for the night. I go in there every time. This routine never takes more than 20-30 minutes. My DH gets so annoyed by it and tells me to ignore her but I don't. It's not worth it for me to get her upset. She goes down happy every night.

Last night, I went in there for a second time. DD told me she was scared of the "dunder" (thunder) and I told her it was okay and I was right out in the living room if she needed me. She then told me what she wanted for breakfast (she always puts her order in the night before LOL). Then, she told me "Thanks for talking to me, Mom" and went right to sleep. That was the first time I've been thanked for talking to her every night.

My MIL (who has been staying with us for almost a month now) and I went back to talking and she said that if I were a parent when she was raising her kids, she would've learned a lot from me. I asked her what and she told me she would've never let her kids CIO if she had saw how I dealt with my DD. Even when she was an infant, I'd pat her back until she was content again. DD is so peaceful when she goes to sleep and she's assured that I'll always be there to comfort her when she needs me.

It made me feel so good and I'd thought I'd share my experience.

Re: Makes me feel good - CIO related

That's awesome!

Re: Makes me feel good - CIO related

Well as a mother of a 22 month old who still wakes up at night on most nights(usually to be held for an hour and a half or so) your story makes me feel good too! I never did CIO with her either because I just dont believe in it and feel like although it may get tough for me, its worth it for her to feel comforted and I know it wont last forever. But since Im now very pg with #2 it is getting tough, so its nice to hear a good story about a mother who feels the same way since usually you only hear about people who do CIO...So keep up the good work mommy!

Re: Makes me feel good - CIO related

Definitely makes me feel good, too! I attempted CIO, but it just wasn't for me. Instead, I really tried to read her and figured out why she wasn't sleeping, and it worked, for the most part. I realized that she was hungry, so now I give her cereal later, and also she was teething, and it reall bothered her. Now that she has her 2 bottom teeth, her sleeping has improved, though not yet perfect. We are getting there!