When is it ok to let babies CIO?

I see so many posts about getting a baby to sleep through the night. DS is only just 7 weeks, so I rock him until he's in a deep enough sleep to put him down, otherwise, he cries. And when he cries, I cannot bear to listen to him, so I pick him up all the time. Is this good or am I setting myself up for future trouble getting him to sleep as he gets older? I just was curious when I should be trying to get him used to putting himself to sleep??

Thanks.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

My ped said 5 months.

That being said, I didn't do it successfully until he was a year.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

I've read not before 6 months.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

Ok, so I guess I have some time. Thanks.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

Do you have a routine down yet? the same bedtime every night? bath? Does he take a pacifier?

I found that once i stuck with a routine, it helped my son get to bed each night and on his own.

We used to hold him, bounce him or rock him to sleep and then put him down. But then we stopped. We now put him down awake for the most part and he puts himself to sleep.

There were times when he cried, but it wasn't a full cry. It was because he was tired and he quickly went to sleep.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

We started at about 6 months...it worked really well for DS

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

i wouldn't say i did CIO, but i let both of my kids cry a bit at 3 months and they are both TERRIFIC sleepers and hardly cried at all. i've been putting my DD in her crib awake since around 3 months and she just puts herself right to sleep. for me the key is to put them down before they get too tired and they don't cry at all. with my DD i still will rock her for a few minutes before putting her down, but she's still awake when i put her in the crib.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

I let him CIO at almost 4 months. My husband left for AFghanistan and I put him in his own room. He was completly unhappy the first 20 minutes. Then he realized that he was to tired to fight it and fell asleep. My husband and I held and rocked him all the time. But just make sure when you put your foot down you stand by it. Stay strong during the CIO otherwise they will figure if they cry for 21 minutes you'll come and get them. Let them know that it's bed time, do all you have to to get them to calm down for the night. I usually give a lavendar bath, and read a book with him while he has his last sippy of the night and then bedtime. He's so great now, no crying, no fussing he just knows it's bed time.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

Thanks for all the advice, I look forward to when he sleeps through the night, it seems as if it will never happen now!!

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

At just 7 weeks- he needs you when he cries. He's too young to make the connection of cause and effect, so you're not setting yourself up for bad habits.

My PED said 5-6 months is when you can try sleep training. That said, we waited until DD about8/9 months because I really felt before then she was too young. I was EBF at the time and BM doesn't fill them up as well.

You and your family have been through so much- how are you doing?

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

We started at 1 yr.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

I did a modified version of CIO at 8 mos. You have time.......I rocked DS at that age too, enjoy it, it goes too fast.

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

Re: When is it ok to let babies CIO?

We tried on and off. I didn't feel it really worked for him until he was a yr...