Dree...

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you about the ferber method - my internet has been down.

Basically She had been going to bed at 9:30 - I wanted her to go to bed around 7 - so the first night I aimed for 8:00 -

I started a nighttime ritual - Bath - massage-bottle - bed.

The first night I started the ritual around 7 - by 8 I put her in her crib - told her I loved her then walked out.

She cried of course (since she was used to being rocked to sleep). I should add I also took this as an opportuity to take away her pacifier since i think it is a lot of the reason she wakes at night. I went in at 8:15 to rub her belly, calm her down a little, but I did not pick her up. Then I went in at 8:35...and so on adding 5 minutes everytime...so 15 min, 20, 25 etc....By 9pm she was sleeping.

The next night I started the ritual at 6 - and sure enough by 7 she was ready to go to sleep - she cried for about 15 min then she was out. Now every night she goes to bed without crying - just falls asleep.

I do the same for naps, but I have to admit naps have been a lot harder. She isnt the best napper so it's still a struggle. She doesnt cry too much now - but she doesnt sleep that well either.

When she wakes for her 4am feeding - I feed her and put her right back to bed, no talking - nothing - she usually falls asleep without too much crying.

Hope this makes sense and has helped a little. The first day/night was the hardest thing I have EVER done - but every day it gets easier and easier. Tonight she fell asleep before I could even get her into her crib!

Good Luck!

Re: Dree...

WOW!!!!!! So she basically only cried the first night. That's incredible. I figured this would have taken a few nights or even close to a week to work so I have been avoiding it. Not that that one night isn't horrible anyway but its great that she figured it out so quickly. Hmmm....still not sure I'm ready.I don't have much faith that Sidney would be that quick to let go of the rocking/nursing/singing routine we do to get her to sleep.

I'm so happy that it worked so well for you. Another question....when you went it to console her did she actually calm down? When I try that occasionally with sidney she flips out even more. And how hard was she crying? Was she screaming and out of breath or just whining/complaining?

Thanks.

Re: Dree...

I really wanna try this...BUT Ryan gags himself if I let him cry too long....do you think I should still try it?

Re: Dree...

Dree - at times she still cries - but it's usually 2 min. to 15 min. Half an hour on a really bad day.

On a scale from one to ten...the first day she cried 9-10 all day. But now its mostly in the 3-4 range - sometimes worse...but not often. I have to admit if it was ALWAYS a 10 I couldn't do it!!

At first when I went in she would calm down - now she gets MORE hysterical, as if she realized the other way didn't work so she is trying to cry harder...so to tell you the truth, I go in less. Usually I start with 20 min or even 30 min as my first interval (Which means I am almost NEVER going in!)

Re: Dree...

UGH!!! I wish there was a better way. I just finished nursing sidney AGAIN! She went to sleep at 8 and woke up hysterical at 8:35. With how sad her cry was I could only let her cry for about 7 minutes. Man I'm a sucker
(I did try CIO in an extreme way when she was 3.5 months....way too young and I let her cry for 1 hour straight without going in to her - why did I wait so long you ask??? I had no friggin idea what i was doing!!! I think I still feel so guilty about that incident that I'm having trouble ever letting her cry for longer than 15 minutes now.)

I'll let you know when I burn out from all this rocking and try the CIO.

Re: Dree...

Re: Dree...

same age as Talia...He just about 3.5 months

Re: Dree...

Marissa - I do still think 3.5 months is a little young - why not wait until he hits 4 months. I know it's only two weeks - but in baby world everything could be different by then.

I started Talia at 3.5 months(Actually she was 3 months 3 weeks) because I really felt she could handle it - and her crying wasn't very severe.

Dree - don't feel guilty about that, you didn't do anything wrong! I had a night like that too - it was a desperate move...but I just let her cry...it didn't do much, but it didn't harm her either. To tell you the truth - she is a MUCH better, happier baby during the day when she sleeps well at night. The bottom line is, if you are not ready - then don't force it. For weeks I was telling my DH I would never let her CIO - but you know what - I got so desperate and sleep deprived one day that I felt I had no other option - I hit a breaking point...that is the only reason I was able to do it.

DREE - one more question - how is Sidney with naps...what is your napping schedule like?

Message edited 1/10/2006 9:18:45 PM.

Re: Dree...

Re: Dree...

I really truly believe that in order for it to work, you both need to be really ready. Talia took to it really well - but it's still not perfect...so unless you are both ready and having problems for a while - I wouldn't bother - that is just my honest opinion.

Re: Dree...

Re: Dree...

ok Im not much of a book girl - but I really think you should get Dr. Weissbluths book - he talks so much about how important naps are in order to keep the baby's sleep schedule on track - and how the better they sleep during the day, they better they sleep at night.

Re: Dree...

I actually have that book....that's what made me do the CIO at 3.5 months. I was sooo sleep deprived that I kind of just skimmed the book. Apparently I should have read it a little more carfully

I plan to read it again soon...I agree 100% about the naps. Sooo important. Have you just been putting Talia in her crib at nap time and letting her cry?

Oh and Princessmaris....The reason I did the CIO at 3.5 months was because at about 11 weeks she completely regressed and started getting up 4-6 times a night. So I agree with what others were saying on your other post that there must be something about the 3 month mark. (but sidney has food allergies that got out of control at that point so that is a big factor).

Re: Dree...

So do we think this wasnt just a 2 day thing

Re: Dree...

hopefully it is in your case
I also think that as they get older they start to realize what they are missing by going to sleep. Hope it passes quickly.