The no-cry sleep solution

I have never heard of these authors ! interesting stuff

Im a hard bitch *shrugs * , C was a CIO baby and anyone thats met her knows the word insecure does not apply to her. (tho , it was 7 years since she was a baby , and there wasn't many ideas out there really ) ..oh , and for the record, we have a great relationship . ..
Ty im more quick to comfort him (so much for not being one of "those " mums who panders to their sons , I so am ) but he doesn't really cry unless hes hungry , he doesn't mind going to sleep .
Im not averse to trying new things, so if I did need another option and Ty was a bad sleeper , I would def look at the no cry sleep solution
...

Hollie had colic for the first 12 weeks. Sometimes we had to just let her cry in bed, we needed the break...remembering there was absolutely nothing we could do for 3hours a night of absolute screaming. We often drove...but petrol isn't the worlds cheapest commidity!

I like to think that those experiences in the first 12 weeks won't effect her later on in life. She was always held close, fed, changed etc, but we had to look after ourselves too, to be able to continue caring for her to the best of our abilities.

Now, she has few minutes of grizzle when we put her down for sleep/a nap, generally she's settled as the mobile turns off.

In saying all of that, I have heard great things about the NCSS and would be interested in how you got on, it's something I would certainly try for a non-colicy tot!

Bethany slept on us a lot during the day in the first few months of her life (though was in her own bassinet, then cot, at night), it was at about 3/4mths that we started putting her into bed regularly both day and night. She's always cried when put to bed (since the day she was born), so for a long time we'd settle her to sleep on us first. In the early days I picked up Pinky McKay's book and loved how empowering it was for mothers. Then as she got older (and wiser) and headed towards 6mths, we struck problems cuz she just wouldn't settle on us, or if she did, it would take a crazy amount of effort and a very long time.

At that point I came across NCSS and thought it was wonderful, started following the steps and using the techniques but not a lot changed in her sleep behaviour. It got to the point where she'd wake every 1.5-2hrs EVERY NIGHT, take up to 3 hours to resettle, and only be sleeping 25mins 2or3x a day. I tell you, it was insanity. That's when I came across the sleepsense progamme. In a nutshell, you taught your baby to self settle by staying with them and reassuring them, but letting them cry (or babble or sing or whatever they do) until they fall asleep. Over 9 days you gently got them to the point where, on the 10th day, they could fall asleep with you out of the room. Yes it was about crying, and yes it was the most traumatic, heartwrenching thing to do, but we were at the point where we had exhausted every other option.

It worked like a dream, (apart from hours of crying) and within 3 days Bethany was sleeping 11-12hrs overnight, and was a HAPPIER child for it! (And we're talking about a baby who was always happy anyway, it blew me away that she could possibly get happier!) So I knew that for her, it was the right thing. Unfortunately things went backwards when she got sick, we let her cuddle to sleep again and she decided that was the only way she'd fall asleep. Was horrible having her scream again when we re-taught her that she could go to sleep without us. And then of course she learnt how to stand up in her cot... which is still causing probs when it comes to her falling asleep! So we've had to take a 'once you're in bed, you're in bed until you fall asleep - no matter what' approach. CIO really I guess, but at least it has been scaffolded, and we didn't even go there until more recently so she's a lot more knowing and isn't so little she feels completely deserted. Awful to ignore the screams, but we know (from experience) that if we go in there, it will only make the prob worse. Unfortunately with Bethany, if we give an inch she takes a mile :(

I'm SO hoping that #2 will be a great sleeper! I keep telling myself that if he/she isn't, at least they can't get much worse than Bethany    I'm just so thankful that she's generally a happy baby, I can't imagine how much more draining it would be if she was a bad sleeper AND grumpy all the time!

Sorry about the essay, just wanted to be clear on how we ended up with the CIO method, despite all my misgivings about it. I do totally understand how you ladies feel who think it is terrible, and I wish we didn't have to - but I know my daughter and there's no other way :( She certainly isn't showing any effects of it - except for being happier and livelier now that she gets more sleep! That's what I have to keep reminding myself of. Cuz in all honesty, it's for her - not us - that we do it.