Someone help me with controlled crying!

[NoFoodwithaFace]

DS is 6 months and bad sleeper is an understatement. Unless I bf him all night he won't stop screaming. We have tried everything from co-sleeping to own room, water in a cup, giving him a bottle, more naps in the day, less naps. I can't think of ANYTHING else!

Spoke to health visitor who said controlled crying was our only option. I tried it two nights in a row, DS is not used to being left to cry and so projectile vomitted everywhere the two nights we tried. Meaning we picked him up and if bf him in bed for hours on end as usual. Spoke to HV again who said that if he's sick I need to clean it up and put him back without speaking/looking at him.

Have just tried controlled crying with his daytime nap which miracuously worked! During the day its just wimpering and coughing, whereas at night it's actual screaming and gagging. I also think it helps that i can distract myself during the day, whereas at night when I'm tired and have to sit listening to him cry.

Has anyone else tried controlled crying with such a hysterical baby? It works obviously since DS is currently asleep for a nap, but at night I just think he is too upset to try it again!

I posted this in parenting, it's been moved :S

I think he is too young for it.

I really sympathise though, sleeplessness is utter hell

My first stop would be the doctor. Controled crying for a 6 month old is wrong imo.

There must be something going on...he shouldnt scream ALL night...maybe he is in pain.

I do not think you should do it again

You can ngith wean a bF baby without tears - I did it when my DD was 6.5 months old

I had a massive dream feed and then reduced the time of each feed by one minute every other night. It took 2 weeks ...

He may also be over tired - sometimes putting them to bed earlier can help them settle.

I think it shows a lack of thought from your HV that apparently CC is your only option. It isn't

You can get a book called The No Cry Sleep Splution (elizabeth pantley) which is good

We did CC with DD she just would not sleep... but was constantley tired... she cried for an hour Dh stood by the door to stop me going in to her she was 9mth.... 3 days later she was a different child. It worked for us although horriable three days - it dosnt always work for everyone and you have to really want to do it.

Twins surprised us all by sleeping 7-7 at 6 weeks ;) kept going in to poke them

I think cc should be for over a year old at the earliest.

And I agree with whoever said a visit to the GP's asap!

And cc crying done properly is ime and opinion very effective but at 6 months they are still far too little and they are crying for a reason at that age which needs investigating. CC done properly is hardly leaving the baby at all only a minute at a time to begin with, not so long the baby is sick. Please go and see your GP - I know how rough sleep deprivation is, it's rotten x

I agree he's too young. And getting so upset he projectile vomits would also be a no-no for me I'm afraid. I do feel your pain though having had 2 horrendous sleepers. I also think you should get him checked at the GP just in case. Rubyslippers suggestion sounds like a much gentler alternative to me if he's comfort feeding all night. How well does he feed in the day?

yes please see a GP

CC for such a young baby is not right - you have found out for yourself that he will scream till sick trying to get his needs met

Stupid HV,

I've tried to make an appointment with GP several times over the past month. They only book a week in advance and all the appointments are always booked! They said I can speak to an emergency gp on the phone, but I want someone to actually have a look at him to see if theres something causing him pain! :(

Leaving a child to cry full stop is not controlled crying. It s called cry it out, and is definitely not recommended for babies.

Controlled crying is leaving them for progressively longer intervals, with reassurance in between. Eg 2 minutes, then 4, then 6, 8 etc. Get a copy of toddler taming by Christopher green, it is detailed in their. I think 6 months is a bit young though.

Don't agree with HV. This is not your only option. This is not controlled crying either. As I understand it this is crying it out which is different. Controlled crying has an element of contact with the baby. I have not used either so am not an expert but don't think is the only way for you especially if baby is so distressed. He is very young.

He sounds like he's got reflux, think terrible heartburn. I had two like this and chose to co sleep.

I am truly shocked that anyone would advise CC for a 6 month old baby.

there

CC also not recommended for daytime naps, only nighttime problems. If your baby only grumbles for 5-10 mins for daytime naps, then that's just normal imo, so not CC or CIO!

Ring up and ask for an emergency appt OP.

I had a hysterical baby like yours, and it wasn't reflux. She continued to be hysterical until around nine months when she learned to self settle. I sat quietly next to the cot with my hand on her until she settled. She would cry as I was doing it, to begin with, but eve

I am as keen as anyone to have good sleepers and have done CC with one of mine but I agree with everyone, they shouldn't be this hungry, this distressed or this young. Is he using your boob as a dummy at night? Is that the problem? (i.e. only going back to sleep if on the breast).

I would only attempt CC if I knew my dd1 was very well fed (so on solids and had lots of milk), was happy initially when put down and not teething. Only then did I leave her for short periods at about 8 months. It did work after two nights, but that's because she needed to learn self-soothing again, if she had had other needs like hunger, distress, pain, and so on, it would not have worked as she would have justifiably been crying!

I also wonder how much he's getting all his food at night, as Ruby says, you need to get him to take most of the calories in the daytime before, again, you can begin to think about sleeping through. I don't think now is the time for this for your LO.

I accidentally BRUSHED post message--

Try again:

I had a hysterical baby like yours, and it wasn't reflux. She continued to be hysterical until around nine months when she learned to self settle. I sat quietly next to the cot with my hand on her until she settled. She would cry as I was doing it, to begin with, but eventually got used to it and got very good at settling herself though she didn't sleep through for a long, long time... I wish I could have continued co-sleeping, but it just wasn't working for her at all. She woke up when there was ANY movement whatsoever. Anyway, just thought it was worth mentioning it, as despite her wakefulness and all that, she did 'get it' eventually.

Dont do CC hes top young. He'll still need some milk at night. He'll wonder why hes sometimes left to scream and sometimes gets a lovely comfy boob.

Buy 'No Cry Sleep Solution' its really good.

And you bloody deserve a (((())))).

Im going through it too, its tough! Pat yourself on the back for getting this far!

Your gp has to see you same day. Call and insist. Stop leaving dc to cry til sick.