Another Baby Sleep Question - Buffalo Grove,IL

Cry-It-Out... Ferber Method... Sleep Training... whatever you want to call it, time to get a book out of the library and try something!

We did the CIO/Ferber Method with our son and he slept through the night after 3 nights (3 months old). We had to do it again after a nasty bout with the flu b/c there was no routine then and he slept with us for a week. Again... 3 nights of screaming and crying and thinking he would EVENTUALLY pass out and it was over!

I think moving the pack'nplay to his upstairs room would be a good start. At least he'll get used to sleeping in his own room. I would leave him in the pack'nplay at night, but try the crib for naps. If it turns out he just sleeps better in the pack'nplay, just let him sleep there - it won't hurt him and getting more/better sleep will certainly help everyone!

I would attempt to move the Pack n Play upstairs into his room. Try that for a while, and then begin transitioning him into his crib either at nap time or when you lay him down for the night before his first wake-up and see what happens!! Sleep issues are sooo tough-- so hang in there :)

As for "CIO," your child is old enough try it; it will just come down to your personal belief system around using that method. I personally am not a fan, but it has worked for a lot of moms out there -- so, to each their own!

And, to the mother who said she did "CIO" with her 3 month old, that is WAY too young... poor thing :( It is NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BABIES UNDER 6 MONTHS!!!

Ferber actually says the following about "CIO" in the preface of his newest edition, as he takes pains to clarify his often misunderstood position:

"Simply leaving a child in a crib to cry for long periods alone until he falls sleep, no matter how long it takes, is not an approach I approve of. On the contrary, many of the approaches I recommend are designed specifically to avoid unnecessary crying."

Ferber's "progressive waiting" technique actually encourages parents to frequently comfort their child during the sleep training process.

Best of luck Mommy!

It's definitely VERY normal for a 9-month old to still wake up once during the night (is he legitimately eating when he wakes up?), so that sounds fine. I did some form of CIO for my kids when they'd wake up in the middle of the night (I still do for my now-2-year old)...basically, if my kids woke up, I'd start by giving them 5 minutes of fuss-time to see if they'd settle themselves back down, then I'd go in. And I'd work my way up to more time allowing them to settle down. Most of the time, I wouldn't have to go in with my 2nd child. With my first, I'd have to up until he was over a year old. At this point with my youngest, I give her 15 min of fussing and if she can't settle herself, I go in. Again, 99% of the time, she's been able to settle down within the window of time. Also, if I do have to go in there, I settle and soothe and then once she's calm, I leave. I might do it one more time if she starts fussing again, but beyond that, nope. If she was calm & sleepy when I put her down, it's her job to stay that way :)

For sleeping, if he sleeps better in a pack n play, move it into his room and let him sleep there. No harm done. Eventually, you can have try having him nap in his regular crib so that he gets more used to it and then work it in to his nighttime sleeping so that the pack n play can go back to wherever it's supposed to be.

Good luck!