No CIO Versus CIO Method

[beethann]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now, so I HAVE to ask.

Been reading about both these methods and have tried both. Now, some people say that letting your LO CIO is harmful to their brains. But my question is..how is CIO any different than when you stand there, not holding the baby, trying to calm them to sleep..or when a baby is coliky and crying thier head off..or teething...or in pain..etc, etc, etc. How does that crying NOT harm them but leaving them by themselves to CIO is harmful?

I'm talking about the theory that crying depletes oxygen and kills brain cells

[Bknotnobody]

that's my thought too. Sits back and waits for answers! :-)

[chipper87]

Here's my personal take on it: if I lay my baby down and let it scream itself to sleep, then my baby learns that mommy isn't there for it, it feels scared and abandoned, if they are capable then I assume they also feel frustration and maybe resentment a little too because its trying to communicate the only way it can and its being ignored. I don't want my baby to feel like that, do you?
Now, if its screaming and Im holding it and obviously trying to console it, then it feels frustration because its needs aren't being met, but at least it knows mommy is there, trying to help.
Im venturing out on a limb here a little but it seems the moms breathing would also help regulate the screaming child....especially if the mom is consoling said baby.

to me its also important to know the age that you're trying to train the child to sleep. I believe that as a society, we try to force our babies to sleep in patterns that aren't natural to them in order for our lives to fit a set schedule....kind of how we expect kids to eat 3 square meals a day instead of to graze which is healthier and more natural for them. Basically we expect too much and its unrealistic and even detrimental.

This doesn't answer your question specifically but hopefully my take on the situation helps :)

[CountryGirl0809]

I just think it mean and cruel to let a poor little innocent baby who doesn't know what is going on to just lay there and cry.

[piwife]

There is a difference between a baby crying from pain and a baby crying cuz the parent leaves them to cry. Pain and abandoment are two different things

[huntersmama711]

I agree with chipper and countrygirl. I can't listen to my baby cry his little heart out and not do everything in my power to make it all better.

[myperfect4inok]

There is no difference.

[MakisMama]

How old is you LO? we found that around 9 months DS had us figured out. That is when he started having trouble staying asleep. IMO, the CIO method works best because it teaches them to put themselves to sleep. If they are always nursed or comforted to sleep and they wake up and their crutch is no longer their, it can be very distressing. We did the Ferberization method, but modified it because DS would only get more worked up if we came in to comfort him and then left him again. Instead of going into the room, we talked to him through the door. It was tough for me to hear him cry for a few nights, but now he doesn't even make a peep when we put him down!

[christina0607]

All this method crap is ridiculous. Sometimes it's appropriate to come as soon as they cry, other times yes it's appropriate to allow them to cry. As their mother, make that decisions in the moment. There is really no need to commit to one side of this.

[lisa601]

I don't think there is difference in colic crying, gas crying or I don't want to go sleep crying. I don't see how 10 minutes of crying to go to sleep is more harmful than 4 hours of colic crying.

[emeraldangel20]

my baby is six months old, and, though i said i wouldn't, we're going to start CIO this week. i'm about to start school so i want her routine down.