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I was just wondering what each of you did with your kids-- letting them cry it out versus being sleep-deprived for many months.  I didn't let my kids cry it out, but if I have another, I don't know if I can go back to that level of sleep-deprivation and take care of the kids I already have.  My fear of sleep-deprivation is my #1 reason for not getting pregnant right now.  I'd like to see how others have dealt with the sleep issue.  I have no judgment for what any other mom has done, btw. 

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Well to give him credit, he did say that you are only to ignore the "protest crying", not the sad cries, the painful cries, or the cries that you just know aren't right. As a mom I think we all can tell the difference in these types of cries. Go with your instinct.
Thanks for the clarification.
We used CIO on our oldest. She would go through phases of sleeping well/not sleeping well. After we let her cry it out (at 15mo), she was fine.

Our middle one, he didn't want anything other than his pillow and his lovey (a babydoll when he was very little and a small pillow as he got a bit older). The baby had his big brother in the room. I don't remember him every having a problem getting to sleep.

Cathy
Valley Park, MO
I have read lots of research and decided to never use CIO with our children. We co-sleep and breastfeed on demand. Both my husband and I sleep very well and so do our two boys. I also recommend reading Elizabeth pantleys book as well.
With my first we used co-sleeping so I just fed on demand and we made it work. My second was much more difficult. He wouldn't co-sleep like my first one did so we ended up putting him in his own bed. I was also working full time (middle school teacher). Around 9 months he started waking every 30 min at night to nurse. I would go in and nurse him, put him back down, crawl back into bed and wait for him to wake again. I was miserable and my whole life was a blur. I never believed in CIO, but decided to give it a try. I was desperate. It only took 2 nights and he only cried for 7 minutes at the most. I know each child is different but it worked for mine. After we let him CIO he slept all night and is now almost 3 and we have never had that problem again. Personally I wouldn't let them CIO if they were under 9 months. I knew that at that age he could comprehend that he was supposed to lay down and go to sleep as opposed to nurse.
I am a mother of two little boys, with one baby on the way in August. And as I am writing this, they are both sleeping and I am tired. The way I see it, it is one very big sacrifice to attend to your children the moment they cry but the benefits to them are so so great. We are seeing now with our four-year-old son that if we had left him alone to "cry it out," his autism may have been worse than it is now. Now he is only mildly autistic but so so connected with us! It really paid off and we can see that. Praise God, because at the time we were going to be putting him in his crib and getting our "much needed rest." But now I would not change his closeness to us for the world. Believe in the Cross and sacrifice. It's always the better way!
I'm so glad that your son's autism is only mild.
I'm so glad things worked out for your situation. :)

I would like to include to my earlier comments however, that the most common comment I have received over the years is that my babies/children are the most JOYFUL children they have ever met. They have a joie de vivreand a confidence that really shines out from them. Now they are winning national speech and debate tournaments, have a very close relationship with their Dad and I, with each other, and even more importantly with God. :)

I couldn't ask for more, so I wouldn't overdo the guilt trips on moms who are making prayerfully thoughtout decisions for their infants. If a mom is providing adequate nutrition, cleaning, swaddling, cuddles, touch, love, monitoring their safety, etc...That is a good mom and the child really wants for nothing. Our experience was that the short term pain for mom and baby was long term gain for everyone! :)

In Christ,
Lucy
Thank you Diana, I just saw your comment and I do praise God for the mild form he has. Everything is a blessing, isn't it? :)
Love your attitude. I think I'll put "Believe in the cross and sacrifice" on my refrigerator. :)
Me too! ! ! We co-sleep with our two boys and now that our third child is coming in August, we plan to put our two boys in the same bed and my husband and I will sleep together with the baby, all in the same room! People sometimes have a problem with that and I say, the animals get to do it, why can't we?!
Well, I for one am *impressed* with a mom and dad willing to do this. I heard that in Japan, family co-sleeping is such the norm that no one even buys cribs.

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