I've always been a proponent of putting the babies down "sleepy, but awake." And for the most part, we've avoided CIO. (That's cry-it-out, Kelly!) But lately, Charlotte has been throwing little hissy fits at bedtime. Tonight she even started crying
before I put her in the crib, during our rocking/story/singing. She may just be overtired, because as I've mentioned before, my babies don't nap. I guess she could be getting a tooth, because she has none and Gavin has four, but I've been blaming everything on teething lately, and her gums still feel flat as ever. I think what's going on is that she just realized:
Hey. I kind of like this lady. I like when she's kissing me, and tickling me, and telling me how cute I am. I don't want to be alone in my crib, in the dark. Get me out of here!But the thing is, even when I give in and rock her, she still screams and cries and arches her back. Tonight she even flailed and clawed at my eye. I look like I got in a minor scuffle. So when the options are: (1) Charlotte screams alone in her crib, or (2) Charlotte screams in my arms and nearly blinds me, well then-I'm going to choose the first option.
Has anyone else had this happen? When their baby originally was going to sleep on his own, and then decided to cry at bedtime? What do I do?
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One of my boys did exactly this, and we'd go around and around until I finally just let him be, and he'd cry for 5 or 10 minutes and pass out. It wasn't what I set out to do, but that boy just has a pie-hole shaped pressure valve that he prefers to release without my interference. the CIO vs. anti-CIO thing isn't always as cut and dry as it looks. It may just be some new separation anxiety. Letting her be for a bit may not work for your girl, but I still wouldn't hesitate to try it. My boy still cried a little as I left for a long time, but after the first week or so, it was only for a minute or two, not 5 or 10. If I interfered, we'd just start the whole cycle all over again.
ReplyDeleteI agree with emmie. I let my kids cry it out and I must admit that in the beginning you feel terrible. I would go in every 10 minutes or so and reassure her that I was here and she wasn't abandon. It gets better but for some reason every few months they try to trick you into getting them. I think this is a daily topic between my friends and neighbors with little ones so you are not alone.
ReplyDeleteKelly
By the way....HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yes it is almost 10:00 on New Year's Eve and I am typing away on the computer..........oh the old days!
ReplyDeleteKelly