Non-CIO sleep training methods

LindseyF · #1 August 4th, 2011, 01:31 PM

After extensive research, I decided against the CIO method of sleep training for Zayd. He's always been an OK sleeper, but he simply takes forever to fall asleep. He doesn't like to be rocked, so I lie him down on his belly and pat his butt till he snoozes. When I don't have 15-20 min to sit there and pat, I walk away for a few minutes, which inevitably is followed by a cry, and then I go back to pat him to sleep. When I do this, he almost always wakes up half an hour later crying, as if he remembers I had left him earlier to cry.

What else can I do to help his lil' booger fall asleep a tad bit quicker?

LindseyF · #2 August 6th, 2011, 08:29 PM

<crickets chirping> Soooo ... guess that means everyone uses CIO to get their LO's to sleep?

BigGrin · #3 August 6th, 2011, 08:33 PM

I am in the same boat as you. My Kid basically rolls away and plays with something then roooooolls back and nurses then repeats the behavior. She may sleep for about 1-2 hours on a good night and then I can hear her "calling" me from the bed. I nurse her back to sleep and we repeat this behavior until I go to bed and she can just latch whenever she desires.

She used to go to sleep within 10 minutes but now she fights her sleep for almost an hour. Sigh. So I basically just take her back to the living room and play with her of give her tummy time until she gets fussy then we try again in the bedroom. I am trying to create the association with bed=sleep. I'll let you know if it starts to work.

SassySami · #4 August 6th, 2011, 10:13 PM

Nolan would do the same as The Kid. He is finally growing out of the, I need mommy near me at all times! He wakes up about 15 minutes after he is asleep, nurses for about 10 minutes and is out tell morning

shell1981 · #5 August 7th, 2011, 04:44 AM

Alex is a nightmare to get to sleep. It takes me at least an hour every night to get him to sleep. He screams if im there or not. I pat him bit he keeps rolling over and then pulls himself to standing. So i have to kinda pin him down which leads to him screaming in temper. If i leave him he screams so i cant win. I m so tired with fighting with him every night.

melrose09 · #6 August 7th, 2011, 05:17 PM

I'll definitely be following this thread! Having a similar issue with Sullivan. I'm trying to get him in his own room in preparation for my husband coming home from deployment (not until December, but I'd love to have this down pat by then so I'm starting early). Sometimes is goes smooth as silk and sometimes it's a 2 hour battle when I finally cave because after 2 hours of straight screaming my little booger has to be thirsty! I check on him and talk/pat every 10 minutes or so, but I'm not getting great results. Curious to see everyone's suggestions!

LindseyF · #7 August 7th, 2011, 08:07 PM

Awl, I hate to hear how many of us are having these same issues (though it'll provide some level of comfort tonight as I'm patting his butt for half an hour ...)!! Maybe the vets will soon chime in with some advice

melrose09 · #8 August 8th, 2011, 07:57 AM

i had a little success! i camped out in his room. he likes to sit up when he wakes up so i figured it would help him to see me there nd it did! i patted and sang but never picked him up until he woke up around 230. he still needs a feeding at night with being so active ad mobile but so tiny. it took about 45 minutes to get him to sleep initially, but only about 5 after his 15 minutes of nursing. we'll see how naptimes and tonight go! we can do it!

razzledobe · #9 August 8th, 2011, 10:51 AM

I don't do CIO but i'm afraid i'm not much help either... sorry! Hopefully you will get some good tips. LO will turn away from me after he's had enough to drink and practically throw himself into his crib.

Trying to think of some things.... do you already do a night time routine that helps to associate with sleep... warm bath + jammies....? Gradually reduce stimulation? Does he eat any solids?

One thing we do with gabe is he eats dinner and then milk and that also seems to help bring on sleepyville...

Tiki · #10 August 9th, 2011, 04:59 PM

You could try wearing him down, we do this on occasion when he is especially fussy. Usually I just nurse him to sleep though, or stroke his third eye or tummy.
Ask Dr. Sears: Alternatives to Baby Swaddling - Parenting.com Dr sears also has a great book on nighttime parenting.

BigGrin · #11 August 9th, 2011, 05:26 PM

Hey Tiki, where ya been??? I always notice your posts because our kids were born on the same day. Not like I am stalking you....maybe.

Tiki · #12 August 9th, 2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGrin

Hey Tiki, where ya been??? I always notice your posts because our kids were born on the same day. Not like I am stalking you....maybe.

Just been busy getting ready for vacation and Orion started crawling...

martilynne · #13 August 11th, 2011, 11:09 AM

If Jax is fighting sleep and I'm not able to nurse him to sleep normally I will let him play until he is worn out. Can you say pushover? I don't plan on letting him always getting his way but I really can't handle the CIO. Maybe once he's older...