First of all, I'm new - I've been lurking and the board has been very helpful. It is nice to meet everyone.

My son is 4 month old (and EBF) and we started CIO (following Ferber with the controlled intervals) 6 days ago. Before that, he only slept with a paci and was very inconsistent for sleeping -- we were down to only 30 minute naps and waking 5+ times at night and we'd have to plug him back in, etc...

We started CIO with everyone all at once (which our doctor recommended) -- so, no paci, no swaddling (he had still been swaddled at night but was really fighting it which was why we started sleep training). We're doing it for both naps and nighttime, including wakings. The first night was awful, and the following "first" day. The second night, he slept 8 hours in a row, woke to eat and then back down -- amazing. From night 3 on, he has slept through the night (not even a feeding, which our doc also recommended eliminating). We are thrilled. Naps have been harder - still 30 minutes but at least no paci.

So, after the first day, he was going down pretty quickly -- some talking/fussing and some but minimal crying, generally asleep within 10-15 minutes. I figured that would gradually reduce, but instead, starting last night (Night 5), he cried somewhat hard for about 30 minutes again (but only one 2 minute night waking). Naps yesterday were also a lot more crying and same with the naps this AM he just went down for. Any ideas why? Is this just a regression that will go away or should I expect it to stay? Any suggestions? I'm happy with the night sleep and willing to stick it out for naps, but the crying just makes me so sad and anxious every time...

Thanks in advance!

Jen

Oh... I think you've got a good start and you just need to give it time to work. 5 nights isn't nearly long enough. The important thing is that you remain consistent with how you respond to his cries (either by not responding or Ferberizing). I know it's hard to hear the cries, but I think your son is doing really great. Good job mom!

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Rachel
Ryan (4) and Michael (7)
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Thanks for the support -- so is it normal that they would start crying for 30+ minutes at every nap for falling asleep for a while? Will it reduce eventually? Should I expect another week of it or what?

It's different for each child. But yes, over time the crying lessens. I think sleep training can take 4-6 weeks, though some babies train faster.

Some babies "wind down" by crying prior to naptime. Still it could be a timing issue, if he is overtired he might cry. Weissbluth says to give it an hour at naptimes, so his crying for 30 min is well within that time and I would say it's pretty normal.

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Rachel
Ryan (4) and Michael (7)
[

Sometimes sleep training is a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing while baby is learning to sleep- especially with naps. Hang in there! Your son will get the hang of it .

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SAHM to Gabrielle 9/98 and Alec 4/04
Wife to Jeff since 3/96

Thanks to both of you. After the second day, we thought that somehow we had "escaped" the toughest part and that it was somehow going to be be easier than we had anticipated. Oh well, at this point, I feel like we have to stick it out so that is my plan....how could we not after 6 days of it. My son went from waking 6+ times for the paci at night to sleeping through the night within 2-3 days so that was a dramatic improvement obviously...but the crying had subsided to <10 minutes by day 3, only to increase by day 5 -- and yesterday, he cried through a whole nap.

I'm crossing my fingers that we get through this soon. Thanks again.

Jen