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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider the dreaded controlled crying?

118 replies

wahwahwahwahwahwah · 17/02/2011 19:30

DS is 5 months old. He has been sleeping well up til recently (not through the night as he is BF so wakes up to feed)

When he gets tired he screams and screams and screams. No amount of cuddling will calm him down but there is nothing obviously wrong. He also does this in the night when he wakes up, screaming (not just crying but screaming) for hours at a time.

Me and DH are going crazy. Would WBU to try controlled crying? Does anyone have any advice?

:(

OP posts:
RealityIsKnockedUp · 17/02/2011 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wahwahwahwahwahwah · 17/02/2011 19:33

Not yet. I had a friend try it for her son for his colic though and she said it was amazing. I hadnt thought of it for this...

OP posts:
2cats2many · 17/02/2011 19:33

Just a thought, but have you considered that there might be another problem? From your post it sounds like he might be in pain.

I'm a fan of CC by the way. Its isn't for everyone, but it does work. However, I d think that your baby is a bit young to do this. I can't remember the exact age that they recommend it, but I'm pretty sure that 5mths is too young.

Have you tried a dummy? It worked wonders with mine.

nickytwotimes · 17/02/2011 19:33

i think he's too young personally, though cc isn't for me.

if you feed him does he relax?

it is hard on you Sad

Choufleur · 17/02/2011 19:35

Is he hungry?

NinkyNonker · 17/02/2011 19:38

Have you tried just holding him really tightly until he calms down? You probably have, in which case I'm sorry, but DD (just over 6 months) has done this on the odd occassion when she is really overtired and eventually this works. Normally better when DH does it for some reason.

I wouldn't do CC, especially so young.

notnowbernard · 17/02/2011 19:39

I've done CC with 1 and it worked in 3 nights

Did it with another and abandoned it after a few nights - just wasn't going to happen

2 of mine have loved their dummy, the other refuses it 90% of the time

I think 5m too young for CC though

Will he feed when he wakes screaming? TBH I am where you're at and I just feed... they do grow out of it eventually

Teenybitsad · 17/02/2011 19:40

Teething? There;s a reason for him to be screaming...leving him to it is wrong.

notnowbernard · 17/02/2011 19:40

Teething?

CrapBag · 17/02/2011 19:40

I am a fan of CC when done in the right way, done it with my DS, but he cottoned on very quickly and it was only a matter of 20 minutes on the first and second nights and that was it, he was also older. I think 5 months is a little young tbh. If it is screaming as you say, I would think there is something wrong that is making him scream.

PinkIceQueen · 17/02/2011 19:40

5 months is too young imho. Speak to your health visitor and see what they suggest.

MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 19:42

5 months is too young for controlled crying - maybe consider it in a couple of months though.

My ds used to scream and escalate when tired - I would just hold him really tight and ssh loudly in his ear until he fell asleep.

schmee · 17/02/2011 19:45

Sounds weird but I used to massage my boys legs at this age when they did that. I think my logic was that they are really trying to use their bodies at this stage and it would help their poor overstretched muscles. Utterly bonkers logic but it worked.

CountBapula · 17/02/2011 19:58

Mine does this too. He is perfectly happy at all other times, but when we start trying to get him to sleep he screams and screams like we're chopping one of his legs off. He is also almost 5 months old. He wakes very frequently at night.

No advice here - I have no idea what to do but it's killing me, and causing a lot of friction with DH too :(

Original poster
wahwahwahwahwahwah · 17/02/2011 20:01

Over the last few nights I've tried feeding him, shhing, cuddling him in tight, holding him in the dark, distracting him with the light, winding him, bicycling his legs, rubbing his tummy, bonjela, calpol, gripe water, having him in the bed with me, swaddling him, leaving him unswaddled, and he has a dummy.

No temperature, no obvious signs of illness, he'e perfectly happy all day, its just at night that he screams

:(

OP posts:
IreneHeron · 17/02/2011 20:02

I'm an advocate for cc in certain circumstances. It worked really well for us when DS was 7 months. For us however it was only 40 mins of crying before DS went to sleep and never had a problem sleeping again.

I don't think it would work in the same way for you if your baby screams all night anyway. 5 months is young too. Sorry you're going through this.

GetThePartyStarted · 17/02/2011 20:02

Teething? Try Calpol/Nurofen and see if he feels better...

Original poster
wahwahwahwahwahwah · 17/02/2011 20:03

countbap DH thinks I'm EVILMAMMY for even suggesting we leave him to cry :(
He works shifts so hasnt been here the last few nights when hes been like it. Hes upstairs now singing to him, as he screams.

OP posts:
Original poster
wahwahwahwahwahwah · 17/02/2011 20:04

Hes gonna try the calpol again now...

OP posts:
smokingnuns · 17/02/2011 20:14

Tried controlled crying with my dd and to this day I am traumatised by it. I wish I could turn the clock back. Sorry for posting such a strong view. Please don't do controlled crying if he is very upset.

When my kids were little you could be referred to a crying clinic - are they still around? Sorry if I@m out of date on that.

Really hope it gets better soon OP (hug)

CountBapula · 17/02/2011 20:20

I've tried all those things too, wahwah. There is nothing wrong with him at all - he's happy during the day too until he gets tired, then all hell breaks loose.

TragicallyHip · 17/02/2011 20:21

4 month sleep regression? Just a bit late maybe?

Imo it's a bit too early for cc as it could be a number of things

supersewer · 17/02/2011 20:21

controlled crying worked for me both times. My first was quite young (blame the PND!!) but he still responded and is a fantastic sleeper - he even carries on sleeping when he falls out of bed!!

JazzieJeff · 17/02/2011 20:21

PM'ed you OP xx

TragicallyHip · 17/02/2011 20:22

Can you go to your Hv or Dr for advice? They might be able to help