Sleep Training without CIO?

Question

My baby is almost 16 weeks, still gets up anywhere from 2-4 times a night, and won't fall asleep unless he's held. We're exhausted! It's past time for sleep training, but I really want to use Cry It Out as a very last resort. Any suggestions?

Answer

Our daughter sleeps 6-6 or 7-7and has been since 6 weeks . We do the same routine every night . Feeding . Bath . Calming lavender lotion . White noise in the background and put down . When I feel like she’s bathing too much I’ll just put the calming lotion on her and give her a massage . Same thing every night since she was 4 weeks old and without fail she hears that noise and she’s out. She doesn’t nap much at all but I’ll take it .

Answer

Thanks everyone! It's been great hearing what works for other parents. My mother insists that we'll spoil our baby if we don't let him cry it out, but it's not like we jump to the moment he starts getting a little fussy. I know this is a frustrating process so some tears are inevitable, but I'd rather not leave him to cry himself to sleep if I can help it.

Answer

Most sleep training, no matter how hard you try, just involves some crying. I’d be prepared for that. The learning process can be frustrating to a baby, and the only way they communicate it is through crying. Think of tummy time. Did your baby hate it at first? Or start to scream once they’ve had enough? Same idea in sleep training. There are books out thereto helpCIO as little as possible and some methods to ease it  It will just take a lot more time and patience is you’re up for it. My son is 16 weeks and we are sleep training next month. He still wakes 3x a night for feedings. To wean I believe he must be 15 pounds, so if you sleep train now and don’t want to get up at all, make sure the weight is fine and you wean those feedings. Good luck!

Answer

Have you tried the pick up/put down method? We did it when our LO was about 16 weeks and would wake up the moment her head hit the mattress because she was used to being rocked to sleep. I was also hesitant to CIO and still am. 
The key is putting your LO in the crib awake and helping them get to sleep on their own. I can't emphasize the importance of that enough. We would put her on the back, shush, and talk to her in a very low, relaxed tone. We found that our voice was sometimes the most powerful tool. 
Also, it's still pretty normal for a baby that to be getting up 2 to 4 times a night - especially if breastfed - so it could be a matter of resetting expectations. I know I had to. 
It requires a lot of patience and is exhausting - physically and mentally- but we saw great results with it. When she wakes in the middle of the night she usually puts herself back to sleep unless she's hungry. We once picked up and put down 20+ times and patted her to sleep for 45+. I'll also preface with that there are definitely tears but they are tears of frustration because baby is used to be putting to sleep a specific way and you're trying something new. I'll also say she is still a horrible but  I guess beggars can't be choosers 😌 Good luck! Your baby will get there with your support

Answer

Following, I’m having the same issues with my almost 16 week old.

Sleep Training without CIO?

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