Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

So my DD is 4 months now, and still wakes up usually 2x from going to sleep (around 8:30/9pm - fully waking up in the morning around 6 or 7). I get mixed opinions from letting her cry it out to feed her. We go on Wed for her 4month checkup and I am going to talk to the dr. but I was just wondering some of your opinions. TIA !!

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Still too young IMO.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

IMO, it is too young.

And this is my CIO story, my ped recommended it at 5 months, and we tried, had some success, failed, tried again, and kept failing. CIO finally worked at a year old, so based on my experience, I'd say to try to wait it out til she is a little older

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I heard never do CIO before 5.5/6 months. IMO 4 months is too early.

ETA: Waking up twice really isn't too bad. I'd do a feeding at least once of those times if DC seems hungry. DS had a night feeding until 6 months when he dropped it himself.

Message edited 1/23/2010 12:47:50 PM.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Too young IMO

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I'd talk to your doctor first, but I don't think it's entirely too young - depends on your child. But like someone else said, waking twice a night isn't too bad. My doctor recommended CIO at about 4.5 months, but at the time, DS was waking every hour.

I'd give it a try or do a modified version.

Good luck!

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

First - remember to do whatever YOU'RE most comfortable with. Our ped had said the earliest they start is 4 months, despite me having read books that said 5-6 months. We were having similar issues and the ped said IF we decided to do it to start off very small. For example, starting with no more than 5 minutes, and to go in if they start crying REALLY hard or choking from crying. I tried it and, personally, had a very hard time with it. But with DS we were trying to nighttime AND naps. At night it worked like a charm and for naps it just wasn't something that was working and it was ripping my heart out to hear him crying so we stopped. What our ped had said was cry for 5 min, then go in and soothe, then cry for 10 min, soothe, cry for 15 min, then pick up and soothe and start again at 5 if it was still going. For DS at night, we sometimes had to soothe once but then he'd be asleep before he hit 10 min on the next round. And he didn't wake up upset thinking his parents had abandoned him. I only say that cuz I felt that's what he was thinking and I had a really hard time with it. Basically, it's whatever you're most comfortable with. If it hadn't worked so quickly for DS I probably wouldn't have been able to continue with it. Supposedly, when it's the right time, it only takes a few nights of this. If it takes longer I would say DC isn't ready for it.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Posted by lkrpaul

First - remember to do whatever YOU'RE most comfortable with. Our ped had said the earliest they start is 4 months, despite me having read books that said 5-6 months. We were having similar issues and the ped said IF we decided to do it to start off very small. For example, starting with no more than 5 minutes, and to go in if they start crying REALLY hard or choking from crying. I tried it and, personally, had a very hard time with it. But with DS we were trying to nighttime AND naps. At night it worked like a charm and for naps it just wasn't something that was working and it was ripping my heart out to hear him crying so we stopped. What our ped had said was cry for 5 min, then go in and soothe, then cry for 10 min, soothe, cry for 15 min, then pick up and soothe and start again at 5 if it was still going. For DS at night, we sometimes had to soothe once but then he'd be asleep before he hit 10 min on the next round. And he didn't wake up upset thinking his parents had abandoned him. I only say that cuz I felt that's what he was thinking and I had a really hard time with it. Basically, it's whatever you're most comfortable with. If it hadn't worked so quickly for DS I probably wouldn't have been able to continue with it. Supposedly, when it's the right time, it only takes a few nights of this. If it takes longer I would say DC isn't ready for it.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

My opinion...too young. I fed DS when he woke crying...if he wanted the bottle he got it and if not I rocked him back to sleep.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

IMO, no way - too young.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

you have to do what YOU are comfortable with. if you are hesitant then wait til 6 months-the 2 months can make a big difference...and, well, it is only 2 more months really. that's what i wound up doing. DS just turned 6 months and i just started it. however, he still wakes at least ONCE a night to eat and i feed him. i don't want to but WTH? i know in time he will be a big boy and not need me so much anymore!

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I read Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child when DS was 5 months old and tried the techniques it explained. I found it to be really helpful for us. We have had a baby who sleeps soundly from 7am=7pm every night since then (DS is now 22 months). Maybe you want to pick up that book and see if it could work for you in about a month. Good luck!

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I think still a little early. My DD is 4 months too and wakes 2x before waking completely in the AM. She goes down between 6:30-7PM every night and wakes anytime from 1:30-3:30 and then again 5:00-6:30. Then, wakes for the day around 8am. I'm OK with feeding her (sometimes she eats 4oz at both, sometimes only 4oz at the first and 2 oz at second) because she only eats avg 24 oz per day. For her weight, she could eat closer to 30oz, so in my mind feeding her whenever I can (and when she's hungry/ will take it) works for us now. I am trying to let her cry it out, for a few minutes at a time, for naps - since she still struggles to go down for those. Good Luck!!

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Message edited 1/24/2010 9:58:22 PM.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I let my 4 1/2 month WIO (whine it out) but if he is crying, I go to him

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

I personally think it's too young. My almost 4 month old recently started waking up 2-3 times per night (used to only wake up once to eat). Sure it's been frustrating but we've worked with it. When he wakes up around 2 AM we know he isn't hungry so I just go into his room and lay my hand on his chest while rubbing his forehead until he calms down. Once i hear his breathing deepen, I let go and walk away and he keeps sleeping. Then when he wakes at 3-4AM, its for a bottle. We feed him bc we know he's hungry. I posted about this a few days ago bc the dr's say that at 4 month they don't need to eat at night but you know what, like other posters said, how do dr's know they aren't hungry? I'm sure my little guy is hungry so i feed him. I think a big part oif the waking up is that he can't effectively self-soothe in the middle of the night.

That being said, Saturday night he didn't wake up at 2AM, only at 4AM to eat. And then last night, he did it, he STTN!!! But was starving at 6AM. Just do what you feel comfortable with.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

My DS is 4 1/2 months and wakes up multiple times a night. Don't even ask me about last night

IMO, it is still too young to CIO. Sometimes I will let him fuss for a few minutes or cry 5 min. tops if I think he is overtired and can't relax. But that's it.

Re: Do I let my 4 month old cry it out???

Off course after you talk to you ped do what is good for you..but IMO when it comes to my baby (4 months) I wouldn't. When he cries at night and wakes up he is hungry so I feed him and put him back down.

Maybe if he wasn't falling asleep for the night (after he was fed/changed etc) this would be a different story, but for night waking he is still hungry and needs to eat!