Can someone explain the CIO method?

I think I may need to try this with DD2. She slept through the night perfectly from 6 weeks until a week before she turned 5 months. Ever since then she wakes up at least once a night and on some nights it's worse. She screams bloody murder until I eventually give in and feed her (she's EBF). After that, typically, she'll pass out until morning. I don't really think she need the feeding, I think it's just for comfort. She nurses 5 times during the day and has solids 3x a day. She eats a lot! The wakeups are never the same time of night either. We've tried all sorts of things and there seems to be no pattern to why she's waking up. She turned 6 months this week and has maybe slept through the night about 3 times in the past month. DH and I are exhausted! I'm willing to try CIO but not really sure what to do. DD1 was a dream and we never sleep trained her, she was just a good sleeper, so this is all new!

Can someone explain the CIO method?

Totally not going to be helpful because I wussed out with cio but could she be teething?

Can someone explain the CIO method?

This is my DS and he's def teething. Hang in there!

Can someone explain the CIO method?

We did a modified CIO method, where you check in after timed increments. Worked at 7 months. We had a plan written for us by a sleep specialist and im more than happy to forward ours to you if you're interested. Just PM your email...

Can someone explain the CIO method?

CIO you just put them in thier crib let them cry themselves to sleep. You do not go back in. During the night if they wake you go in to check on them but again you leave them in crib and let them cry themselves to sleep. The theory is eventually they learn crying will not provide the results they want so they stop. Google ferber method to learn more. It's very successful from what I hear but could be a rough few days while you implement it.

Im guess is she's probably teething. My DS was like this. Up every 1-2 hours from 5-10 months. He also cut 8 teeth during that time. We call him the teething prodigy. Probably not the solution you want but I moved him in my bed to make it easier and would nurse him back to bed. I just had that mama intuition that he was hurting and needed me during that time. I tried modified CIO and CIO and he literally screamed for hours. That's when I decided he just wasn't ready. It really sucked but was also great having that snuggle time... one night when we had enough we decided to just put him in his crib and do CIO at about 10 months and he went in his crib no problem and we didn't hear a sound from him until 7am the next morning. Ever since then he's been good. 8pm to 630am except when he's teething! Those nights I snuggle with him in our bed. Im a softy. So whatever you decide to do, they will STTN one day!!!! It's so hard, I'm due in the Fall with number two and every night I pray for health, happiness and good sleep patterns!!!

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

There are two methods of CIO - extinction and Ferber where you check in gradually increasing intervals. Extinction is usually more effective, faster, though there may seem to be more crying at the very onset.

Extinction is when you put the baby down after bedtime routine and then let the baby fall asleep on his/her own, and don't go back in. We did it around 6mo with DD who had never sttn on her own. She's a year now (today, actually!) and a terrific sleeper. It was a couple of rough nights, and the longest she ever cried was only about 15 mins, but it was by far the best thing I ever did for her (or us!). She learned to self-soothe.

A great website to read for this is Precious Litte Sleep and there's also a great FB group for it.

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

I did cio with both my boys around 11 months old. My younger son would wake up several times a night hysterical & not go back to sleep until after breastfeeding. I knew he didn't need that much milk. One night, as soon as he started screaming during the night I was so exhausted I just turned off the monitor & ignored the crying completely (once I accepted in my mind that he was ok & this was for the best, I was able to sleep despite his screaming because I was so overtired anyway). He eventually did fall back to sleep on his own & that one night of hard core cio is all it took. Now occasionally he does have a rough night if he's teething or uncomfortable for some reason, but now at almost 13 months old he usually sleeps through about 10 hours straight, whereas he used to wake up every few hours, 2-3 times during the night (at least) before the one night of cio. I could have probably done it when he was younger than 11 months old, but I don't think it would have worked as fast.

Can someone explain the CIO method?

She's still so little. She might be teething and in pain and using the nursing to help. She also might be legitimately hungry. Believe me, I feel for you on the sleep exhaustion , its hell ,but give her some time. Maybe cosleep for a while so you don't have to get up as much? That's the ONLY that allowed me some sleep. You could also ask you ped about a small amount of Motrin before bed to see if that improves her sleep ( then you know the waking is teething related )

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

Thanks so much for all the replies. It most certainly could be teething. She's been chewing on everything she can get her little hands on, lol. Ironically, this week has been better and she's been sleeping from like 7:30-6 without any wake ups. I let her cry kind of cry it out a few days ago and ever since then she's been great. I will see how she does and reassess if need be.

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

I feel like 6 months is early to be expecting a baby to STTN, especially an EBF one. My DD didn't start STTN until 21 months so I know how exhausting it is.

Message edited 5/22/2016 9:54:23 PM.

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

My twins just turned one and still don't sleep through the night. The teething struggle is REAL and it SUCKS

Re: Can someone explain the CIO method?

Posted by J9-13

My twins just turned one and still don't sleep through the night. The teething struggle is REAL and it SUCKS