How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I have heard 20 minutes, can I go longer?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Hard to say. Depends on the cry i guess.

Although at 5 1/2 months we had to do CIO with my son because he was waking 5 times a night for 2 months straight and it wasn't for hunger. He cried for well over an hour.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I would not wait. 4 months is way too young IMO. If they cry, they need comfort, need to know that mommy or daddy is there for them.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I posted a CIO post last week and most people said you shouldn't start CIO until 6 months.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I thought it was too young as well. I only let him cry for about 20 minutes or so. If he gets hysterical I pick him up right away.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I wouldnt let a 4 month old cry at all. But thats just me.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I agree with the above posters...I was, personally, not comfortable with it at 4 months. Granted, I wasn't comfortable with it at 6 months either but by 12 months we gave it a try and had success.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I wouldn't....to me, that is too young

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

honestly it depends on the cry. If she's whimpering or doing the whiny cry... i'd let her be. But if she was a full on cry and not just fussing, than i probably would not let her cry too long.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

We are doing a modified CIO with Alexa right now. She is 4.5 months. SHe doesn't really Cry-Cry... she more whines.

I don't let her hard cry for more then 3-5 min. I will always go in and soothe her.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Zero minutes. 4 months is way too young to let them CIO IMO. They are still small, they can't comfort themselves yet, and they need you to feel secure. Personally, I wouldn't CIO at 4 months old but I know some people may have a differing opinion. However, if you are going to do it......20 min. for a baby that young seems very excessive to me.

Message edited 6/25/2009 9:54:04 PM.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

4 months is too young to let them cry for too long imo, DH said I spoiled him because I would not let him cry for over 2 minutes....

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I wouldn't. 4 months is too young for CIO. 6-8 months is the "recommended" age.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

at 4 months, i felt it was ok to do a modified cio, where i let her just cry for 2 minutes, 3 minutes 4 minutes...that was it though...at 4 months old and over 12 lbs they metaboliccaly do not "need" anything to eat and i felt like it was going to form a habit i would have a hard time breaking later on..
i have to be honest though, at that age it didnt work too well..usually she was just crying for her binky, and once i just gave it to her shed go back to sleep..but once i found she wanted me to pick her up, or bring her into my bed..that was it for her lol i let her cry alittle..shes finally sttn at 5 1/2 months old now for about 2 weeks every nite now..it took us awhile.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

imo...4 mths is a little young for CIO

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

Okay, so I don't feel so bad that I don't let him cry for long. I kept hearing people tell me to let him cry, and I'm having such a hard time doing it. ALot of times I will let him cry when it is more of a whimper or fussiness. I never leave him when he is screaming. I will wait till he is 6 months.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

I usually don't answer CIO posts, but IMHO, 4 months is way too young too even consider CIO and 20 min is way too long to let a baby that age cry.

My poor son has terrible digestion problems (he's 3.5 months) and will often burp and then pass back out as soon as I pick him up. I really cannot imagine leaving him there to cry in pain.

I think you could let your baby fuss for a few minutes to give him a chance to fall back to sleep on his own, but I wouldn't do anything more than that at this age (honestly, I would not do CIO at any age unless my child had a terrible sleep disorder, which is why I usually don't even click open CIO posts).

Message edited 6/26/2009 12:32:44 PM.

Re: How long would you let a just about 4 month old cry for at night?

too young for CIO, like you said. sometimes I let DD "fuss it out" if she's whining a bit, I just watch the video monitor to see if she'll fall back asleep or if it will escalate into crying, which is when I go in. I try not to run in there for every whimper.

but there have been times in the car, or the shower or when I'm in the middle of taking care of my 3-year-old when my almost-5-month-old will be wailing for up to 20 minutes. Poor thing wears herself out & falls asleep!