CIO Support and Advice Needed

My twin boys will be a year old next week and we have finally decided to try CIO. We just weren't ready before, and because they are underweight our ped encouraged me to continue to nurse during the night whenever they woke. Now after nearly a year, we are finally ready to do CIO. We're tired!

So we started Sunday night and they have cried less and less at bedtime (yay!). The problem is that they continue to wake up many times throughout the night. They will sleep for about an hour, cry for up to 45 minutes and then eventually go back to sleep. Each night we make them cry for one additional "round" before I get them out of the cribs, nurse them and let them fall back asleep in our bed. Sunday night I gave in at 10:45, but last night we made it to 1:55am.

I have a couple of questions... 1. Are we on the right track? Will they eventually soothe themselves back to sleep until the morning? and 2. Should I work on naps as well or wait until we have the nights worked out? They have pretty much never napped without being on my nursing pillow snuggled up to me or riding in a stroller. Apparently they do not like to sleep.

Thanks for any advice!
-Robin

 

I did the CIO method...not many people agree with it, but I think my kids are better off for it, and Im glad I made the decision.

Im not in the same exact boat..since I stopped feeding them at night as soon as they slept through the night. Mine were average wieghts, so I did not have the added pressures to night feeding until they were 11 months...I can see why you are tired!!!

It does get better...I did the CIO method to my own feelings...I didnt go by the book...I just went to get them when I saw fit. I could tell the cries were weak, and when they would stop, and I could tell the real ones...when they really needed me...i also tried not to bring them into bed. They will expect it when you come get them and gives them more of a reason to cry for you. Thats the only real advice I can give.

My babies are now 2, sleep all night (for the most part) and dont require being in bed with us. It takes a while, but if you follow a steady routine and try not to change it too much, they will get the idea.

Good luck...and you can PM me anytime if you have any questions.

 

QUOTE
Each night we make them cry for one additional "round" before I get them out of the cribs, nurse them and let them fall back asleep in our bed. Sunday night I gave in at 10:45, but last night we made it to 1:55am.


My thought is they know you will eventually come in which is why they continue to cry. They know you are going to come so why would they stop crying.


QUOTE
Will they eventually soothe themselves back to sleep until the morning?


I think it will be difficult to sooth themselves back to sleep if you are getting them.

It is so important to be consistent. The first couple day are difficult but if you allow them to cry themselves back to sleep, you will be teaching them how to do it on their own.

It is so worth it in the end. Let us know if you have more questions.

I dont know about the nap question. Hopefully someone will have good advice

 

If you aren't ready to let them cry all night when they wake, I would soothe them in their bed, but not bring them to yours. If your DH can be the one to soothe them that would help too since they're probably expecting to be fed if you come in the room.

I hope you get a full night's sleep soon!

 

QUOTE(seamusnicholas @ Apr 19 2007, 12:48 AM) [snapback]226356[/snapback]
My thought is they know you will eventually come in which is why they continue to cry. They know you are going to come so why would they stop crying.


I think it will be difficult to sooth themselves back to sleep if you are getting them.

It is so important to be consistent. The first couple day are difficult but if you allow them to cry themselves back to sleep, you will be teaching them how to do it on their own.


I agree with seamusnicholas. They will probably keep on crying if they know eventually you will go in and get them. Consistency seems to be the key. If you are bringing them into your bed, they will expect that. If you are okay with cosleeping then okay, but it may be another habit you have to break later on, if you're not.

I hope things go well!!! Good Luck!

 

I would do it all at once. If you are doing it at night and not during the day, you are sending mixed messages. My guess is that if you stop feeding them at night, they will make up for it during the day, but I can absolutely understand your concern if they were underweight. I have found with my kids, that if I go in at all, it makes it worse, and they cry longer. Good luck, it really is so hard, but it works if you are consistant. :hug99:

 

CIO is so hard, but it works. We had to do it about 2-3 months ago when they both for some reason started waking in the middle of the night. They would wake and not go back to sleep, and I just wasn't going to be awake for a few hours every night. I was really worried they would wake my oldest DD up, but she never heard them.

Like Becky, if I go in it usually gets worse. I don't think mine ever cried more than 20 minutes. We did CIO with my oldest too and I know she cried a bit longer.

Hang in there it is so hard, but it works. We also had to do CIO for naps. Even now sometimes before naps they talk or whine for 15 min., but that is their way of winding down. Good luck.

 

I wanted to thank all of you for your support and advice. Last night they stayed in their cribs all night (8:30p-6:30a)! They woke several times but we did not get them and they eventually went back to sleep. Matt even fell asleep standing up and didn't even wake when he fell back down.

Tonight they cried for 2 minutes before settling down! This is going to CHANGE MY LIFE!

I will start full force with CIO for naps. I'm hoping that it will go as smoothly as our nights have.

Thanks again,
Robin

 

Robin that is great to hear! So glad you are having success!

 

:Clap: Yay for a great night!!! It really does work, and like you said is going to change your life and I think it is important for them to learn to fall asleep on their own.