DH and I are considering whether to try CC soon. DD is almost 6 months and too big for her crib. We have been co-sleeping for about a month but are planning to buy her a cot and move her into her own room soon, as we really want our bed/space back.
She will only settle if I get into bed with her and hold her hands, put in her dummy (repeating ad infinitum every time she spits it out or pulls it out, hence the hand-holding) and lie with her until she is sleeping. Naps in the day involve either the same, or holding and cuddling to sleep. She is still having one breastfeed at about 3am, but she wakes up several times a night and cannot settle herself down again, which is why we wonder if CC would work.
But we are open to other techniques as we haven't really tried anything yet, we have been waiting until we feel that she is old enough to move into her own cot/room. And we don't know whether it would work with the dummy, or whether we should combine it with getting rid altogether - she sucks her thumb when it falls out sometimes, so guess this would replace it.
We are list people, so I am trying to put together something which will help us weigh up whether CC is right for us - I am posting here for help/support/advice and any pros and cons I have not considered. TIA! x
For:
It seems to work!
I know that she has not been allowed to develop self-soothing skills, been too quick to step in etc.
Know when she is overtired as opposed to hungry, needs changing etc.
We are about to move her into her own room
Against:
Will it have any long-lasting emotional damage on her?
Is 6 months too young?
Can it be done if she still needs a night feed?
I am a bit scared - the prospect of leaving her crying for 15 minutes is dreadful, will a few nights trauma be worth it?
Is there something less hardcore we could try first?