I am new to this but really needed help so I thought I would give it a try. I have a 6MO baby girl who is waking up almost every hour. Even when I bring her into bed with me and nurse her, she is STILL waking up. I am now trying to get her used to putting herself to sleep (prior to this, I parented her down until she was in light sleep and then placed her in her crib) but am not sure of a 'no-cry' way to do this. Ms. Pantley's book (No Cry Sleep Solution) talks about putting a baby to bed prior to the baby falling asleep but doesn't really tell you how to do it. The "Baby Whisperer" discussed how to do this - by picking baby up when she cries and then placing her back down again when she is settled. I haven't tried this yet (I'm reluctant because my baby is a classic High Need and I fear she will just work herself up).

I would appreciate any advice from AP Moms. I just read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and got very depressed, since the author strongly advocates letting babies cry it out in order to teach them how to fall asleep on their own. After I read it, I felt like I was a terrible Mom for NOT teaching Sophia how to sleep on her own.

I feel very isolated in my decision not to let her cry it out, since this is quite old school and very accepted. Am I teaching Sophia bad sleep habits? I would appreciate some advice from someone who has been there.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

I let both of my girls "cry it out" and they are good sleepers. It is hard to listen to them cry, but I totally believe that they need to learn to fall asleep on their own in their own bed. I know it's "old school" but it really does work. My girls are 3 and 6 and they go to sleep on their own and we get to have our bed to ourselves. I have lots of friends that regret their decision to let their children sleep with them. i hope that you find something that works for you.

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LORELLE

I guess it depends how YOU feel about it. I could never stand to hear my baby crying for long. So I would never advise to anybody "cry it out" school. For sure not to such a young child. You can always start to learn your child to sleep by her own when she is a little older. My daughter was also waking up often as for the first 4 months - she was eating every 3 hours! I was hardly ever sleeping.
Dont feel pushed or rushed to raise your child with crying just beacuse it worked for others. Every child is different and every parent is different. I hope your choice will be good for both - your daughter AND u. Good luck.

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BTW you may try to post on the other board for people with young kids - Just Add Baby http://talk.sheknows.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
or about co-sleeping http://talk.sheknows.com/forumdisplay.php?f=226

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Thank you for the encouragement, Eve. As it turns out, she has started teething. I feel better knowing there is a reason behind all of this nightwaking. I still feel strongly about not letting her cry it out and needed to hear from others that it is okay. I mentioned the sleep issue to my pediatrician and he suggested the Ferber method (which I learned during subsequent web searching isn't supposed to be used for babies under 1 year!!!!!!) - Well, that only strengthened my resolve to stick this out. I don't think it is worth trying nor do I feel that after 6 months of attached parenting, Sophia would respond well to that.

I will try posting on other boards. I thought for some reason I was posting on the "No Cry Sleep Solution" board but I don't think this is it (I'm new to this so I'm not exactly sure what I am doing!).
Thanks again,
Susan (Sophie's Mom)

I'm glad it helped you ahhh teething... exactly - thats why i could never let my child to "cry it out" since small babies cant talk i would never be sure if shes only crying or if she has a reason to cry (like for example teething). After all I love my child - as i'm sure you love yours - so I could never let her cry and go and do something else...
Again good luck! and always listen to your heart - thats what i do when raising my daughter

Eve

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To insinuate that someone does not love their baby because they have a different way of parenting than you is totally unfair. I was only offering advice to someone and giving my opinion. ( It is a widely accepted opinion as well) I did not say that this was the only way of dealing with children that don't sleep. I also said that I hope that you find something that works for you. My children never cried long and I certainly comforted them if they were teething or sick. It is just something that worked for me. I felt that I was a better mom if I slept some. A sixth month old should be able to sleep at least 7-8 hr without eating but certainly if they are crying a long time you should also be aware of things that might be wrong like a fever or teething. Again, I hope that you find something that works for you.

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LORELLE

Lorelle - I never thought that people who are raising their child different than me dont love them! WOW it never even crossed my mind - honestly. I'm sorry if what I have said sounded like this - not my intention at all. I wanted only to say that we can never give TOO much love to our children - therefore responding to their cries, letting them sleep with us (not forever of course ) CANT be 'bad'. Susan wasnt sure if she was doing right or wrong thing, so i just meant that THIS way is not wrong - cos we love our children - so we do what we THINK is the best for them - so if she thinks that comforting a child every time it cries is good - then its good!
Besides I have no idea how you are raising your kids cos i dont even know you so i could never judge you in this matter and I wasnt judging YOUR way of raising them.
Like i wrote:
I doubt that my post with those words could imply 'better' and 'worse' way of raising or that others dont love their children - but if what i wrote hurted your feelings somehow then i am really sorry. I often post here late at night so maybe I didnt express my thoughts as good as i could.

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