Controlled crying

[MumOfOne14]

Has anyone had bad experiences with controlled crying? I feel like it's making my DS more insecure!! It's like he knows it's going to happen & he just goes hysterical as I leave his side. Even in the day when I leave the room he starts to cry instantly, which he never done before. He's only 6 months old & ive only done it a week, but I can't stand to hear him get so upset. But now I feel it can't be undone... Urgh

[Lagoonablue]

Too young for cc IMO.

[MumOfOne14]

I thought it was from 6months plus?!?!

[MumOfOne14]

I've given up now.. I can't hear him cry, it's too much.

[SoftSheen]

Please don't leave your poor little baby to cry. He needs you and is far too little to understand what you are trying to do.

[CamberwellCarrot]

Hi OP! My DD is younger than your DS, so I'm not exactly the voice of experience, however, I have found that DD responds better to different tactics depending on her mood. If I try CC and she is not in the right mood (by this I mean relaxed, happy and ready for sleep) to begin with, she just kicks off!

Do you have a long bedtime routine for DS? Think this helps with the relaxing part. When you go back to DS are you doing hush pat, pick up put down or something else? Does he start to settle himself as you go on or just get worse? If it's the latter I would probably try a new tactic.

Hope that is a bit helpful! I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

[CamberwellCarrot]

Oh sorry - just looked up what CC is! I don't do that. Think I do "settle and leave"

[MumOfOne14]

Well his bed routine isn't the longest.. I bf him to sleep usually & put him down, but he has settled himself before, then I leave. But yeah sometimes he cries, then I go in & hush him maybe give his dummy & then leave straight away. It has worked great in the past, but it's not working at all now. And now I think he hates his cot because he won't settle with any method now... Just don't know what to do. I won't leave him cry anymore.

[FATEdestiny]

I understand (just from seeing someone else on MN saying) that even the person who wrote the Controlled Crying sleep training technique said that it is not suitable for a baby under 12 months old.

The 6 months you may have heard is the idea that no distressing sleep training methods are recommended before 6 months old. CC and CIO are generally not something I would consider until at least 12 months old (and even then it is very distressing and difficult).

Other sleep training methods you could consider instead of CC would be Pick Up Put Down, Shush Pat or Gradual Withdrawal. If you are breastfeeding to sleep you could look at the No Cry Sleep Solution. Personally I'm not a fan of NCSS and understand it is no quick-fix, but I hear it has worked for some.

If your DS has a dummy, have you tried just lying next to the cot while he goes to sleep? If you have the cot in your room next to your bed, I find the easiest settling method is to lie on my bed, hand firmly on babys chest or holding babys hand, patting every now and again and re-inserting dummy as required. (You could take one side off the cot if you wanted, to make life easier). Just being there and keep putting the dummy back in, eventually baby drops off to sleep in his own space (the cot) while having your reassuring presence nearly.

[MumOfOne14]

Thank you FATEdestiny for your suggestions, I will work my way through them to see what suits him. I haven't room for his cot in my bedroom but I have a nice comfy feeding chair in his room. Rest assured I won't be doing CC again. Thanks all for your help