Hi everyone, I'm new here and looking forward to hearing the wise (hopefully not wise-guy!) advice of those who have more experience with this.

We are getting reading to use the NCSS. We've done our logs, have made our sleep plan, and have carefully discussed who is doing what and when. Our baby is almost 8 mos. and is more and more needing only Mom at night, so we are trying to take that into consideration as well. We are both committed to no CIO, and as little crying as possible, but that's where our concern comes in.

When I read the gentle removal plan, I thought, yeah this all makes sense and sounds familiar. Right up to the last two lines: "You place Baby in bed. He goes to sleep." We would have to cross out that last light and replace it with "the second she hits the mattress she starts violently fighting and screaming, coming completely awake." By violently fighting, I mean that she tosses from side to side, lifts her legs into the air and slams them down, she picks up lovey and bites and punches it, sometimes throwing it around. She then starts screaming/crying, complete with tears.

We have never done any kind of CIO, and we've had a bedtime routine for her since 2.5 months. She's always very sleepy and ready for bed, she likes to play in her crib, but she just doesn't want to be put down.

So, I guess my question is, has anyone else managed to work with NCSS with a baby that is an instant crier when put down? Any additional ideas for us to incorporate?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Hi,
I would read this article, and pay close attention to #2 about how to tell if baby is completely asleep:

8 INFANT SLEEP FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

We've been fooled many a time, including this very minute when my DH thought my son was asleep just now, and yet the second he put him down, he jumped right back up, and now here he is in my arms... in this case, I believe Dr. Sears says to try again, and then wait even 20 minutes after you think that baby is asleep... then try the limp limb method again... our older son was a very light sleeper and it took him a LOT of time to get into the second stage of sleep where it was okay to try to put him down.

Plus, look in NCSS about how to gently put baby down... she has about a page on how to make sure you are really putting baby down with little to no disturbances... it's hard to do with a crib... but still it is a huge change in a baby's body to go from cuddling on a shoulder to be put down on their back... their whole center of gravity moves and it can wake them up and even startle them unless it is done slowly slowly slowly, with gentle rocking, then making sure you don't let go when the are finally down on the crib, you are still holding them with your body close as it was when you had them nestled up to you... and then slowly you can lift yourself away... this is the way to not wake them from this cozy slumber...
I can't remember what page it's on... I lent the book to a friend... in any case, it's in there and it's quite detailed.

Hope this helps

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