Controlled Crying (without mommy crying)

Lately I have seen a lot of questions about sleep or lack there of. We tried to not use the controlled crying techniques for 5 1/2 months, then we couldn't take anymore! So if daddy is threatening to move to a hotel, your baby is 4 months or older and  isn't sleeping maybe controlled crying is for you. Here are a few tips to help you through this hard, but well worth it, sleep technique.

1. Start on a day your husband, friend or relative will be home or can come help you. Maybe on a weekend, starting on a Friday.
2. Hold your baby and give them extra attention all day so that they know you love them and they aren't being punished.
3. Start this AT HOME. I would advise to NEVER try any new routine or technique anywhere but at home the first few times.
4. Remember, try this at least a week, for every sleep, night time and naps, before you decide if its working. It only took us 3 days.
5. DO NOT listen to your child cry or stand outside of the door. You will cry and will not be able to do it.
6. Go in the room ( you pick the amount of time, whenever you are comfortable) and check on your baby. Make sure they are as comfortable as can be and are not under any blankets or tangled up in sheets.
7. Pick a time you will stop the process, usually one hour. I let mine cry for an hour for naps, then get her up and act happy.
8. Once you put them down for night time sleep, DO NOT get them up unless their diaper is soiled or they are teething. Fix the problem and put them back to bed.
9. If they wake up at night, let them cry.
10. If your child has been sleeping without a bottle for a while do not start this again to get them back to sleep.
11. Consider putting your child to bed up to 1 hour later, so they are good and sleepy and won't cry so long.
12. Start controlled crying when your child is healthy. (Try not to start if they are teething).
13. Try to use a special toy for sleep so they have something to cuddle with.
14. Let your child spend some time playing in their crib so they know it is their bed and can be fun too. This also helps to teach them that they don't have to be picked up as soon as they wake up. They can play quietly a few minutes and wake up some more.

Let me just imphasize that conrolled crying isn't for everyone. We had a great experience with it and now get up to 12 hours of sleep from our baby every night. It is very hard, but so worth it in the end!