So, tonight... RM started crying hysterically as he got in to his crib. As if he remembered what had happened this morning. I had to walk him a little and pacify him. Pat him while he laid in his crib... is that a mommy caving in? Ughh... this is hard. Is he going to get traumatized and hate his crib or finally realize that this is how it is going to be and deal with it! Aaah parenting!
Thanks for your comments girls! Makes me wanna believe that there is light at the end of this tunnel!
Thanks for your comments girls! Makes me wanna believe that there is light at the end of this tunnel!
He is not the first child to do that. Being brought back to the site of long crying bouts can do that. He will not be traumatized by his crib forever.
ReplyDeleteIt is not caving for you to give him a little extra comfort if he's very upset, as long as you are not the thing making him fall asleep. You don't want to create any new sleep associations. But if he's really upset and your presence helps calm him down, that is a good thing! Just don't cater to him by "putting" him to sleep, because that will probably derail your efforts. Unless he has a extremely adaptive personality... which it doesn't sound like he has, at least in this situation.
I never intended to try CIO either, but for the last few months, C will not go to sleep peacefully. And like your babes, she cries harder and more miserably if we stay in the room or try to soothe her without picking her up out of the crib. So, CIO has become my daily routine. Sometimes, she goes silent as soon as I close her door. Other times, she goes on and on for up to 45 minutes... but we can tell it's not "real" crying because she pauses frequently to listen for a response from us. It's the short but utterly miserable bouts of crying that break my heart. She loved going to sleep when she was 6 months old. I wish I knew what had changed.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, you're not alone. Our babies will survive. And so will we. Hang in there!