Well, it finally happened. My good sleeper who I could usually count on to at least fall asleep (even if she woke up later), decided that she wants to be a defiant 17 month old.

Our usual bedtime routine used to be bath, book and breastfeed. In the beginning she would fall asleep at the breast, then she started to roll away and it might take a few minutes to wind down and fall asleep. Recently, though, she discovered she can slide off the bed and run around like a wild child.

I know I posted about night terrors last week. Well, they are usually brought on by sleep deprivation (as well as other things like separation anxiety and developmental milestones).

So I called a pediatrician friend and asked her what I can do to get her to go back to her routine. She very bluntly said "CIO" I was shocked and hurt and confused. I didn't want to make my baby cry. I begged her for another option. She had none. BUT she reassured me that I don't have to continue CIO every night. She said DD needed some time to blow off steam and think and once she settled down it was okay to get her and resume our nighttime ritual. In fact she said that would be very reassuring for DD and I should go back to it.

Well, armed with this information, I modified things and let her cry 10 minutes one night, 20 minutes the next and 15 tonight. Let me just tell you, just by DD being in her crib for a few minutes, she is so ready to listen to me and be calm that I was amazed. She was still crying when I got her, but when I brought her back to our room to lay down and snuggle, she was so happy to comply. When she sat up, I firmly told her to lay down or she would go back in her crib alone. She laid down so fast it was crazy.

I didn't want her to CIO all night as I think that is cruel and torturous for all involved, but I needed some time to regroup so I didn't get too stressed and physically hurt her (ya never know how stress will make you react)

I just have to say that while CIO may seem harsh,there is a way to modify everything to meet your baby's needs. I was so against CIO but driving her all over down until she fell asleep just seemed crazy. She cried for a few minutes, I got her and we resumed our routine with her having a new found respect for me.

Let's just hope that tomorrow she gets the hint to relax BEFORE I have to put her in the crib.