Any of you tried CC and it went so badly you abandoned it? What did you do instead?

[pevie]

Sorry am a messaging fiend at moment as having really bad time. See thread related to cutting out night feeding. It went really badly as we tried initiatl cuddle and then leaving room for few minutes as advised. But she kept screaming up for over 3 hours till we eventually wnet in and rocked her to sleep. Just really worried about where we go from here as dont want to go back to night feeding but cant bear anymore crying like this. Do you think rocking is just replacing one association with another? Or should we try some other form of sleep training? Ideas please.

[GreenGlassGoblin]

just had a quick look at your other thread. This probably isn't what you want to hear, and I think I have a bit of an extreme case here, but this is my experience.

I tried cutting out night feeding with DS at about that age, and it went pretty much like you describe. I do remember him throwing a cup of water across the room. I went back to night feeding, and carried on until he was over 1.

We tried CC at about 14 months (after stopping the night feeds, easier the second time as he was ready to stop). It was a disaster. 5 nights of crying for up to 4 hours a night (with us going in regularly, 2,5,10,15,20 min intervals). he never self settled, always fell asleep on a settling visit at around midnight. he would then sleep for 6 hours and wake up crying. He was so distressed by the process that we stopped on the 5th night.

We now co-sleep when he wakes in the night. He still (at nearly 22 months) wakes between 3 and 8 times a night, but mostly for a very tiny moment and can be resettled with a single pat and shush. I'm riding it out. It won't last forever.

Sorry, I've gone on rather. This does not mean things will be the same for you, but I do feel like the one who always has to stick her head above the parapet and say some babies don't respond to cc, do need night feeds and do need a lot of comfort and support. Hope your's isn't one of them as it's hard, hard work!

[pevie]

Oh my god, how awful for you. Was hoping that rocking her back to sleep might work. Maybe if i tried one feed and soothing, rocking might work. Did your LO ever settle with just rocking??? She does settle with this and can also get herself to sleep at beginning of night as we taught her this a few months ago, so thinking she must know some self soothing techniques.

[GreenGlassGoblin]

Don't mean to scare you! Feeding to sleep stopped working with DS, he just stayed awake after a while so, yes, he would go to sleep with rocking in the end. Then with me lying down next to him, and now with me or DH holding his hand. It's been like Gradual Withdrawal, but over 12 months, not the 3 nights I've seen written about! Everything changes eventually, it's just hard sometimes to find the right way to deal with things isn't it?

[pevie]

Greenglassgoblin is theere anything else wrong with your Lo, eg. wind, reflux, etc. Did you ever take him to cranial osteopath or anything to see if there were any unresolved issues. Not saying that is the case but just wondered if just v.determined personality or other issues at work.

[suedonim]

I tried CC with dd2, who was about 14/15mths. It was a nightmare. She screamed for hours and hours, was sick and covered in snot. The next day she was pale, trembling, clingy and tearful. I went back to co-sleeping and feeding because quite frankly, that seemed the preferable option. She eventually began sleeping through when she was 2.5yrs.

She's 11 now and it's obvious she's a live-wire who needs little sleep and is highly strung. My mum says she's 'like a coiled spring' lol!

I think you have to find what suits each of you, bearing in mind there's no ideal solution for everyone and that you may need to compromise. Good luck!

[pevie]

Thanks suedonim. dont mind if doesnt sleep through just not up all night. DD1 still up quite often at 3 but is settled fairly quickly. Just need some hope..