Controlled crying ...pls help

[Betsy07]

Hi I'm new to mumsnet...

Hope somebody can help.I started CC last week with 7.5 month DS. 1st night was 1 hr..2nd night 35 mins & 3rd night 5 mins.. next few days there were no problems.
Until 3 days ago...he started his old routine and fights his sleep ...trashes...screams..coughs....chokes......I used to go back every 10 mins & leave only when he calms down...but as soon as I leave the room...he starts again & he seems even more upest than b4. So I decided to leave him alone and not go back...I don't know if I'm doing the right thing.

Is it normal for them to go back into their old routine so soon?...I thought i was successful.

Completely disagree with DJ....

The fact is with CC you do leave your baby to cry whether its for 1min 5mins or 15mins or even longer in some cases.

A baby under the age of one does not have the capacity to know that you are coming back, they have no concept of time either so 15mins could feel like a very long time for a baby especially a baby under six months.

I think alot of people that do this are desperate for sleep and are willing to try anything probably without looking at the effects of doing this. There are better methods out there.

It is an interesting theory, OB, the trouble is there is no evidence to back it up.
And, even more unfortunately, there is quite a lot of evidence that disproves any notion
of there being (presumably negative) 'effects'.
All the observable effects in various studies have been entirely positive.

I also don't know where you get the 1 year age limit from.
Even Dr. Sears (one of the gurus of attachement parenting) says from 6 months is ok.

OonaghBuhna - Its interesting about what you say regarding personality and bonding. My bond was being ruined by lack of sleep and resentment of a baby who didn't sleep. It improved significantly once we were both well rested. DD1 is now 2.5y and is well above average developmentally. She is also confident in most situations and is independent ( except for sibling rivalry at the mo, so more clingy). She is also friendly, independent and plays well with other children. Where is this psychological damage you talk of?

PS the fact that we were both well rested meant that she was able to learn better and I had far more patience and energy to teach her things and go places. Without sleep we would both have missed out.