CIO and teething or sick

Wondering how you handle the crying at night when you know they are sick or teething?

One of us usually goes in to try and calm but and sometimes this requires picking them up. I can’t see just letting them scream when you know they are in pain, but also it seems like more often than not at least one of them is either sick or teething so it seems like we are up with them most nights. I don’t want to create any bad habits either though. We usually let them cry for a couple of minutes since sometimes they will fall back to sleep, but other times they just get more and more worked up by that point that it takes a good 10 minutes to calm them down. If we know the teething is really bad then I will give some Tylenol or Motrin before bed, but often times they are fine during the day and the nights are the worst for them.

 

Hi Shelly,
We do the same thing. If they are really sick, then I don't wait more than a few minutes to go to them. I try to keep it brief, but sometimes it takes longer to calm them down. I keep the lights off and try not to talk much. If I've given them Motrin for teething, I will try and let them go on a little longer to see if they will go back to sleep. My DS will often cry briefly, and go right back to sleep. My DD will cry much longer and harder. I usually end up picking her up, giving her a drink of water, and medicine if needed.

 

When they are sick, I also will go in if they really seem upset when they wake up. I'll initially wait no longer than a minute to see if they calm, but usually I just go in offer a hug or give them Tylenol/Motrin if it's time for it and they appear to need it. I'll try to see if they'll be ok without it first though. I'll pick them up, give them a little cuddle and tuck them back in to bed. It usually works, but sometimes they are just not happy. After the first visit, if I know they are ok and just unhappy cause they are feeling sick, I will make them cry it out. It will take them a little longer, but usually they will go back to sleep on their own. I have monitors (one with a camera) on them so I'll see how they are doing. So far, with the way I've been handling it, they seem to be ok with it. They seem well rested the next morning and happier...for being sick that is.

 

When mine are sick and/or teething, I will go into check on them...I've been pretty fortunate that once calmed they usually return to sleep quickly. Fortunately, I have not had to do this in a while.

 

We also go in when they are sick. I do treat with teething tablets or motrin but if they are sick then for us cio is on the back burner.