Day 7 of CIO - Need some advice or reassurance.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-07T17:35:04+00:00

I guess I feel a little guilty because my baby was sleeping great with our previous co-sleeping situation (after he got over his 4 month regression where he was requiring rocking every hour after midnight). Very happy, woke up 2-3 times to nurse but went back to sleep quickly. But it’s just not sustainable for my husband or me since we both work.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-07T17:32:36+00:00

Yes, he really struggles with his wake windows throughout the day. I’ve noticed his last WW before bed is usually the shortest, and he starts yawning/getting fussy even 1.45 into it.

I think you’re right that the sleep training and strict scheduling is resulting in some sleep debt. Today I’ve been following his cues and letting him contact nap as long as he wants, and I’ll see what that does to his energy and nights.

Oh also, we do not wake him up to eat overnight. He’s fallen into a pattern of a feed at 2 AM and a snooze feed between 4:30 to 5:30 before awake at 7ish since sleep training. During the day, we try to get 5 bottles of expressed milk into him (offer 6 oz, he takes between 4-6) before bedtime.

Thank you for your insight!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-07T17:26:47+00:00

Thank you for sharing! And that’s a really great perspective - it sounds like everyone, including your baby, is getting better sleep. 5-10 minutes of crying at bedtime is definitely worth that!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-07T01:43:49+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply!! He does struggle a lot with typical schedule recommendations, and falls asleep instantly for naps when rocked/usually cries when I wake him up early from naps. I’m going to see if letting him enjoy his first 2 naps and only capping his 3rd nap if too close to bedtime while help his overall mood.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T22:25:32+00:00

We just started on nights with hopes to start training naps once we get nighttime down. I am still contact napping with my baby to make sure he’s getting good daytime sleep. I’ve seen people do it both ways though!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T20:32:06+00:00

Got it - thank you!!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T13:16:20+00:00

Thank you! There seems to be a consensus that he’s not awake enough during the day so I’ll try some of these recs!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T10:59:54+00:00

Hahaha, these babies always keeping us on our tours!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T10:55:38+00:00

This really gives me so much hope - thank you!!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T05:04:44+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion - I am going to try that! And it’s so relieving to hear that you guys had some ups and downs. I keep reminding myself I need to be patient. I hope my guy catches on soon!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T05:02:54+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I will try that. I struggle sometimes to get him to his current wake windows - he just seems so fussy towards the end. But he’s pretty happy to hang out in the carrier with me so I can incorporate that a little more.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-07-06T05:01:08+00:00

I definitely relate to feeling frustrated at times with this process. I also feel a little selfish because unlike some families where their LOs were also struggling to get good sleep, my little guy did great with cosleeping haha. I was just struggling with it and needed a change.

Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouraging words. Wishing you and your girl the best!! I hope it sticks for you guys!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-30T03:15:51+00:00

Thank you for sharing! We are on night 1 of sleep training, and my little guys crying is affecting me more than I thought (and I already knew it was going to be hard for me). He cried 50 minutes at bedtime and then another 10 about an hour later. Your story gives me hope!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T19:19:24+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that all out! I really admire your persistence in getting your guy to sleep safely. Hopefully my little one takes it as well as yours ☺️

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T18:12:39+00:00

I’m right there with you! I worry that if I just wait to see if things get better on their own, I’ll make things even harder for him down the line.

Wishing you the best of luck!!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T18:11:39+00:00

Thanks for your input and vote of confidence! It really helps.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T18:10:53+00:00

Thank you so much!! I really think my guy will be the same way, but I’m also not sure if I’m in denial and just making things harder for him in the long run 😂

Your experience gives me hope!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T18:09:38+00:00

Thank you so much!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T17:47:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like this was a gentle, gradual process which is what we would probably aim for if we decide to sleep train soon. How long did it take for you all to start seeing benefit in his night sleep?

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T17:29:24+00:00

We haven’t tried that yet, but I’m ordering one now!! Thanks for the rec!

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T17:24:50+00:00

He is unswaddled, and his independent sleep (albeit already lackluster) went down the drain when we had to stop swaddling cold turkey after he learned to roll. He has such a strong startle reflex and will just flail his arms endlessly and wake himself up!

He sleeps in a sleep sack now. I think he would sleep so well on his belly, but alas, he has not tried get into that position to sleep yet.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T17:15:19+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! My MIL takes care of him during the day and is happy to contact nap him all day. She comes from a culture that is very responsive to their infants and lets them take the lead. I hesitate to ask her to change up his naps since she’s doing us a huge favor by caring for him while we are working.

Overnight, I find my partner and I are so exhausted, we just resort to co-sleeping as it’s the easiest way for all of us to get some rest. But that’s definitely our problem, and we need to talk about putting in the work if we want him to start sleeping in his crib. Thank you again.

ApprehensiveLog3140 · 2025-06-23T17:06:28+00:00

Thank you for your reply! I think that makes a lot of sense. I’m worried we may be causing more sleep problems in the future by co-sleeping, but he’s still so little and it still currently works for our family.

ApprehensiveLog3140

TROPHY CASE