We are at this moment attempting to CIO

It's been half an hour and I went in once and rubbed both their heads to calm them down. Nicky fell asleep but promptly woke up 5 minutes later to continue with the crying party he and Alex are having. They are 7.5 months and need to get in the routine of going to sleep on their own. Actually, to stay asleep on their own. They both went to sleep fine but woke up after 20 minutes of sleep. That doesn't cut it, I can no longer rock them both back to sleep, they have to cry it out, and I have to tough it out. It's killing me, and I'll let you know if I stick with it.

 

Hang in there, it is soooo hard, but it works! Let us know how it goes.

 

It has now been 45 minutes, and they are slowing down, but still crying. So, do I go in and try to calm them or will that make it worse? I guess I'll wait a bit longer and see what happens.

 

Like Becky said, it is so hard to go through, but it really does work. It takes a few days, but it will be worth it. We have done it with all 3 of our kids and it does not get any easier. Even now they sometimes take a few minutes and cry or whine before falling asleep, but the nice thing is if they wake in the middle of the night they don't need you to fall back asleep. Hang in there, it will get better.

ETA: I personally found that if I went back in there it made it worse. I would see how they are doing in 10 min. or so. If they are still really crying you can go in and reassure them, but don't pick them up or get them out of their crib (if you do they will think that is what they need to do to get you to do that). Others I know have been able to go in and pat their backs and then leave again, but that made mine more mad. Hang in there.

 

After 50 minutes, Nick is finally out. Alex is a bit more stubborn. And, of course, I had to go in to make sure Nick was breathing, which just made Alex start up full throttle all over again. Maybe he'll wind down soon. He has to be exhausted.

 

OK, we did it! After 65 minutes, both boys are asleep!

 

s, every night will get easier.

 

Yeah for sleeping babies! Keep with it! It is so worth it! I know it is hard but hopefully it becomes less and less crying time over the next couple days. For us, the first two days were difficult and the days after that were good. Every once in awhile for the days after that they would wake and cry for maybe 5 minutes in the middle of the night but always put themselves back to sleep.

We cant go in when they are crying or they get way more worked up. Good luck!

 

We just finally did this with my 2 year old. It took three nights. The first night he cried 1 - 1 1/2 hours, the second night he cried for 20 minutes, and the third night he just whined when we left the room, but didn't continue. Now he doesn't even cry at all. I know its hard. But it really does work. Sending good thoughts your way that they'll catch on quick!

 

I am so glad that you were able to tough it out. I had to do CIO this past weekend. My DH was out of town and my mom was staying with us. They both woke up at 10:15 and I just couldn't face the fact that I would be up and down all night. I CIO (though my mom came in and tried to get me to go in and rock them - she couldn't stand the screaming). I did the 5, 10, 15 minute thing. Finally during the 15 minute they stopped. Now, a couple days later they fall asleep easier and they wake and go back to bed on their own.

I know it was hard but you are going to be so much happier and so are they. And don't worry - when you go into their room tomorrow morning they will still give you a big smile and be so happy to see you!

 

We have been doing CIO for the last several months and the boys now fall asleep in under 10 minutes mostly. Good Luck.

 

I know it's hard, but it will get easier. You have to stick with it for it to work!!

 

I am beginning the CIO method right this minute. My Jacob and Noah just had their bedtime bottle and are down. I PRAY they continue to sleep....we have been going through the every hour and a half to every two hours waking up the past month and a half. I am exhausted. I have spoken to a few today and they promise me the CIO method will work if I stay diligent. I just hope I have the strength to stay out of the room.

Wish me luck....it may be a long night.

 

I agree . . . this will get easier. Just give it time to work. I can put mine down now and sometimes there is minimal crying and sometimes none at all. It is so nice not to have to help them to sleep. Stay strong!

 

I am trying to stay strong. Last night was hard. They did not wake each other up with the crying but, my Jacob had a hard hour between 3-4 a.m. The other few times they would wake up it was 2-3 minutes of crying and then off to sleep again. I really hope that they do fall into this new routine in the next week or so. It took all my will power to stay out of their room until 6:00 a.m.

 

I just wanted to update how CIO has been the first couple of days....the first night my Noah cried 3-4 times but only for 2-5 minutes intervals then went back to sleep. My Jacob had the hardest time, he cried the longest for an hour (3-4 am). Funny though how all the times I ran into the room to scoop up the first crier and through all the tears and crying the sleeping twin NEVER budged.

The second night (last night) my Jacob never stirred. He made his first noise at 6:15 am (which is perfect since he has to be up so his Daddy and I can go teach and he goes to grandma's). Noah cried out twice around 2:30 and 4:30 for 2-3 minutes and went back to sleep and then again at 5:30.....I went to him at 5:30 and gave him his morning bottle and he dozed back off in my arms and slept until 7:15.

So, I have to say even though I am up listening to the crying and watching them on the video monitoring system through the TV ...it is getting better and I am feeling a little more rested. My body is not in such pain for holding a child half the night because I fall asleep feeding them or rocking them.

I hope the trend continues and in the next week or so I can say that there is nothing but SILENCE until the morning.

 

It sounds like it is already getting better, hang in there!

 

It does get better, but I know how you are feeling. It takes our guys sometimes over 60 minutes to stop crying too!