Cry it out..........

With an extremely heavy heart, and a very sleepy brain (it's 3:40 and I've been up all night) I've decided it's time to let the boy.....cry.it.out.  :-( 

Squishy is getting worse every night. I am now a zombie at any given time day or night. I read that sometimes the reason a baby who used to sleep so well is now regressing is because of all the development right now. He is learning so much and is excited and basically wants to practice. Totally get that... but mommy is not doing so hot. I'm not expecting 8 hours straight, just maybe a little longer than an hour at a time? Please? 

This is going to be super hard.  He's not a big crier and I usually don't let him get too far... But I'll have to, I found this info on the babycenter website (link below):

First, wait until your baby is physically and emotionally ready to sleep through the night, usually between 4 and 6 months of age. Ferber doesn't designate a precise age at which to begin his technique, since it can vary so much depending on the child.

If you're not sure whether your baby's ready, you can always give it a try. If you encounter too much resistance, wait a few weeks and try again.

Step 1
Put your baby in his crib when he's sleepy but still awake.

Step 2
Say goodnight to your child and leave the room. If he cries when you leave, let him cry for a predetermined amount of time. (See "How long should I leave my child alone?" below.)

Step 3
Go back into the room for no more than a minute or two to pat and reassure your baby. Leave the light off and keep your voice quiet and soothing. Don't pick him up. Leave again while he's still awake, even if he's crying.

Step 4
Stay out of the room for a little bit longer than the first time and follow the same routine, staying out of the room for gradually longer intervals, each time returning for only a minute or two to pat and reassure him, and leaving while he's still awake.

Step 5
Follow this routine until your child falls asleep when you're out of the room.

Step 6
If your child wakes up again later, follow the same routine, beginning with the minimum waiting time for that night and gradually increasing the intervals between visits until you reach the maximum for that night.

Step 7
Increase the amount of time between visits to the nursery each night. In most cases, according to Ferber, your baby will be going to sleep on his own by the third or fourth night — a week at the most. If your child is very resistant after several nights of trying, wait a few weeks and then try again.

How long should I leave my child alone?
In his book, Ferber suggests these intervals:

• First night: Leave for three minutes the first time, five minutes the second time, and ten minutes for the third and all subsequent waiting periods.
• Second night: Leave for five minutes, then ten minutes, then 12 minutes.
• Make the intervals longer on each subsequent night.

Keep in mind that there's nothing magical about these waiting periods. You can choose any length of time you feel comfortable with.

 

Baby sleep training: Cry it out methods

http://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-sleep-training-cry-it-out-methods_1497112.bc
(If clicking doesn't work, simply cut and paste the link into your Web browser.)

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Wish us luck... It's going to be rough :(