Trying cry it out tonight..how do I handle night waking

[PreemieBlessing]

So I'm at my wits end. 7mo cut his two molk teeth and now he doesn't seem that fussy with teething so I want to try cio method. He can't settle himself without my help and he wakes almost every hour at night and only wants 1-2 oz milk. He has two feeds as he can't settle at 2am and 5am without milk.

I tried pick up put down but it wasn't effective. I can count on one hand how many nights he's slept through!

I will try cio with no comforting at bed time but how do I handle night wakings after that? I don't want to make it harsh on him..thought I'd tackle those wakings once he manages to put himself to sleep at the beginning of the night.

Has anyone used cio and how did you handle night waking?

I'm with the others. CIO is a valid method when used properly. An hour of abandoning your child in distress isn't "properly". Just wow.

Parenting isn't a tick-box list of prepared 'methods' to try out.Its about responding appropriately and leaving a 7 month old to cry for an hour just shows a lack of common sense.

My gp pointed out to me that we're the only mammal that doesn't sleep with its young and, in fact,most so-called less developed societies would never leave their babies alone for a minute

Maybe more maternal instinct and less parenting?

And it is ridiculous to say that you have tried everything else at 6 or 7 months- you haven't had time!

I don't think there's anything wrong with sleep training per se, and I don't think parents just have to resign themselves to years of exhaustion on having a child.

There are better ways of doing it though.

Don't run away, op, honestly, mumsnet is a great source of help on sleep training etc. I'd understand you not wanted to post on this thread, but why not post another asking for suggestions of other things to try, I'm sure you'd get lots of ideas and some of them would work.

I would try cosleeping ahead of cio. Ds didn't begin sleeping through until 7.5 and even then he sometimes needed a feed to get him through from 4am till a more respectable time. He was a hungry baby and they have lots of growing to do in the first year which requires calories. He's 3 now and since that time has slept brilliantly. Ensuring a proper attachment is developed is far more important than sleep.

Unfortunately the gentler methods don't work for everyone. OP please don't be disheartened by some of the comments, we all do what we need to get through. CIO was the only thing that worked for us and unless dd is unwell she sleeps through no bother and has done for 15 months. With the benefit of experience dd2 3mo is put down awake and self settles already. I'm sure we'll have regressions but we'll deal with that when it happens and use cio again if necessary.

I know many people who have resorted to this method with no regrets and no ill affects on dcs.

Wow so much controversy, I did a lot of research before I took on this ST method. I used pupd, co sleeping and controlled crying but these did not work. I was consistent with my routine and unfortunately these gradual retreat method didn't help teach baby how to fall asleep by himself.

I have used Cio for 2 nights,now and he slept through the night again 12 hours straight. The best bit was that when he would wake through the night he would know how to put himself back to sleep so in my mind I have taught him a valuable skill. He woke happy and smiling this morning when before when he used to wake through the night he would wake up crying in the morning, probably because he didn't get enough rest.

Can't believe how judgemental and unhelpful some of these posters comments are. As mothers we are all doing things the best way we know how, every mother and baby is different.

Try and be a bit more supportive folks

7 month old babies don't 'sleep through'. It is v unusual if they do. At this age they still require feeds during the night.

Calm down rooners-ha ha at the nspcc being interested in this as child abuse. Op-do what is right for you and your family. Cio will not harm your baby in the long term despite the hand wringing on here

There is a lot of evidence that Cio WILL harm babies in the long run...

Agree. CIO is harmful to babies.

Op, why not wait a couple of months and then try sleep training again. Ime it often doesn't work on young babies because they simply aren't ready. CIO does work, but for pretty dreadful reasons.

Honestly, if you try around the 10months -1yo mark, he'll probably be more receptive.

No there is not-stop making the op feel like shit because she chooses to parent in a different way from yourselves. You are sounding like a bunch of mean girls.

Taught him a valuable skill

Yes because it's proven that if you don't sleep train a baby you'll end up with an adult still needing to be rocked by his mum.

FFS.

There is absolutely no evidence that short sleep training caused any developmental harm to babies - I hate this sort of guilt inducing cabbage being spouted on mumsnet.

I'm sure someone is now going to come back talking about cortisol levels and point me to dr sears 19 studies that he quotes as 'proof' - before you do read the time magazine article which debunks this so called 'evidence' and actually contact the authors of the often quoted studies who say that the results should no way be extrapolated to short sleep training sessions.

Please google time magazine - science behind sears to find the article, can't link as I have toddler who needs attention.

Stop with your scaremongering ladies and try being a bit more open minded

I have absolutely no desire to be open minded about leaving a baby to cry for an hour. I would not be open minded about leaving an adult to cry for an hour.......

I haven't said it's damaging. It just seems an odd instinct to want to do it. Biologically it is horrible to hear your baby cry, let's not pretend now.

And I'm willing to bet that it doesn't prevent future wakings. The baby will wake again at night, so more CIO will be needed. It's not a magic solution.

The best bit was that when he would wake through the night he would know how to put himself back to sleep so in my mind I have taught him a valuable skill

You have taught him not to bother to call out as he knows no one will come.

I helped my children self soothe & they both sleep through, and not one night was spent CIO!

I find it hard to believe that at 7mths you have given anything a good try. You need to try something & stick at it for longer than a night for it to work.

Your son may not grow up with any ill affects, but you have sent him a strong message that no one will soothe him when he cries, for now.

Try and be a bit more supportive folks

How can you ask people to support practices that can harm the baby? Do you want us to lie & pat OP on the back so she continues to ignore her babies needs?

I honestly do not get all the angst over this-sometimes babies cry for no bloody reason!! They have been fed,changes,cuddled,played with and still they cry. Imo sometimes the mother's well being and mh have to come first and if that means leaving the baby to cry for a short period-then so be it.