Harvard's Research on the CIO Method.

I am somewhat familiar with both. I read Babywise upon the advice of a friend and briefly, and I do mean briefly, used it with my newborn sons. I quickly realized it was not effective. Personally, I believe the attachment philosophy of parenting is far more effective. My twins slept through the night at 3.5 months and do not have any sleep problems whatsoever. They are now 6. I hope that helps.

Never used this method and both my girls were in their "big girl" beds sleeping through the night in their own room at age 2. I believe we are parents, and, meant to love and embrace our kids. Why rush something that they are not ready for? I could not imagine listening to my baby cry just because he is looking for comfort. I mean, it is not a discipline thing, he is a baby, looking for love. Why deny the love he is seeking? I believe my girls were comfortable enough to go to sleep in their own beds because they KNEW WITHOUT A DOUBT that I would be there or their dad would be there if they needed something. They're kids, they should know that their parents will be there for them if needed and not have to worry about being independent at such a young age. I never had issues with them being clingy going to school or any of that either. They knew I was a heartbeat away as well as their daddy! My parents were always there for me, at bedtime or whenever, and, to this day I still know I can pick up the phone and they will be there for me if I need them.

I couldn't agree more about the long term affects of CIO. Infants are learning at the most innate and deep level that mom and dad don't care when I am upset. That has to affect them as adults (as the harvard researchers have found).

For anyone needing a solution, but not interested in CIO, I recommend Elizabeth Pantley's book called "The No Cry Sleep Solution." It gradually weans the baby of their night waking patterns and it works if you truly stick with her methods! It isn't as quick as CIO, but you'll be so glad that taught your child to sleep in a more loving manner. No regrets.

Wow. That's powerful. I've shared the following info with mamas on this site. Maybe the links will give more information as well:

Crying for you is your baby's way of communicating with you, getting reassurance that his needs are going to be met and that he is loved and cared for by you. Please read the following article that cites research completed at Yale University, Harvard Medical School, Duke University and Baylor University to name a few, regarding the very harmful physical and mental effects of cry it out methods.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp

For kinder ways to assist napping and bedtime that promote healthy development for your baby, see this link for the book The No-Cry Sleep Solution ~ Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
By Elizabeth Pantley:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.a...

Here's a link to an excerpt from the book. It has a lot of good information that you could try right away.
http://www.lovegevity.com/parenting/mother/baby_wakes.html

L.,

We went with Babywise all the way and our daughter was so well adjusted compaired to my 2 boys. It is a fabulous book and method and I highly recommend it.

Best of luck,
D.

We live in such a rushed society and have such high expectations for our babies, no wonder so many parents feel like their baby should be sleeping to adult standards.

I wish their was more research with CIO and incidence of SIDS and premature weaning. So many moms are told their baby should be sleeping through the night by 4 or 6 months when their baby may not be ready for it. I always cringe when I hear a mother talk about her diminishing milk supply but how she is happy baby at 4 months is sleeping through the night and only cries for 20 minutes. Or how baby slept only 8 hours and decided to wait until mom was ready to get out of bed to tend to the baby, because it just was not time for baby to get up. Something is very backwards about that to me.

We used Babywise on all FOUR of our kids and it worked great. Everyone seems well adjusted, likes to sleep, has no issues with bedtime, loves mommy and daddy, completely trusts us, etc. I knew when I had met my child's basic needs and that learning to help him/her self-soothe in order to become a good sleeper and feel the security of a schedule would allow me to get more sleep and be a much better mother. Also, for example, encouraging eating at a routine time helps the baby eat a full meal so she gets the good hind milk and not just snacking on the not as beneficial initial milk. That actually helps the mom's milk production as well. Above all, and Babywise says this many times within the book, the parent knows her child and should act accordingly. He also discusses some flexibility. What he puts out in Babywise are general guidelines, not hard and fast rules to follow with non-thinking abandon. I don't think this is the only method of dealing with an infant, but when we used it, coupled with our own good sense and input from our pediatrician, we found it to be a wonderful tool.

So because I used the CIO method my children are going to have mental problems? HA I don't think so. They are highly functioning members of society. One is in college and the other is a junior in high school. Both also know that their parents love them very much. They went to bed at a certain time and ate at a certain time. What does that mean? Means they are normal kids and live like normal people. This reminds me of a time when it came out that if you didn't breastfeed your baby you were a terrible mother, didn't care and were going to ruin the baby. Well again didn't happen. Listen moms, your kids need your love, disciple and attention. You don't have to nurse them until they leave for college and you certainly can put them on a schedule and not screw them up. And yes, it is your place to question a study out of Harvard Science. Just because it came out of Harvard doesn't mean the paper its written on. Seriously, look at what has come out of Harvard lately!

we started this when our son was one with the pedi's ok. it took three nights. 1st night i went in there and told him it was ok, this only angered him. second and third night we gave him 15 mins and said we would go in there if he was still crying he stoped both nights at 10 mins. havent had a problem till recently when he was crying 20 mins!!! my husband went in and told him everything was ok and it was time for him to go to sleep now,see you in the morning, gave him a hug and put him back in his crib...he went right to sleep! i dont recomend using the CIO till one yr.

I have used baby wise, healthy sleep habits happy child, and CIO. I never read any books for CIO method. I just did my own version. Let them cry for a little then go in and make sure they are okay but don't take them out of the crib. Then wait a little longer before I went in the next time etc. I knew the my babies different cries though. I knew when they did their hunger cry, pain cry, and I want attention cry. I suppose I was blessed with good babies because I only had to do CIO for a day or 2 before they would just fall asleep in their own bed.And, they would only cry for like 20 minutes. Healthy Sleep habits I think is my favorite method. I did use babywise on my last and it worked well for her. I think every child is different and they react different to different methods. Each family needs to do what works right for them. I read on here somewhere that someone was trying the CIO method with there 6 week old. That is deffinately too early. I say if that is a method someone is going to use wait until you know your child well enough to know they have no pressing needs.

I am not familiar with the Cry It Out method's studies from Harvard, but I have read/implemented Babywise. I think it is great. We actually use Tracy Hogg the Baby Whisperer, but it is almost exactaly the same concept. The only difference is with Babywise they recommend letting your baby cry it out, and Baby Whisperer recommends going in and patting your baby on the back. Both have the same schedule, and the same basic principle that you don't rock/nurse/hold your baby to sleep, and letting them learn how to self soothe and get themselves to sleep at an early age.

It has worked great for my son!

Hope this helps, good luck! :)

Why would you post this on here when there are so many of us that have already used this method and it worked- I have 3 very well adjusted healthy children in my house who learned the art of self soothing. They did not die or starve - I fed them when they were hungry and read the clues when they were sleepy. I knew by looking at the clock what they needed because they were used to a schedule and that is what babywise is all about. I didn't start the CIO until they were starting to fall into a routine because they weren't ready for it before- My milk supply was perfect for each babies needs and each parent has to decide for themselves what works. I am pretty sure most parents have had time to research and decide what works best for them and their babies. I thought it would be good to have someone from a different perspective post so there would be support for those of us who did have success and our children didn't die and are well rounded to this day.

I saw your message title and thought you had some information to share. LOL

When it came time to make the choice for myself and my son, my heart could not stand it. I learned of Attachment Parenting and have embraced their recommendations. I was happy with how that worked for us.

Babies don't know how to ask for their needs to be met. Young children are starting to learn how to ask for what they want and, even, differentiate between wants and needs. Learning how to express their feelings and their wants and how to accept an answer of 'no', all takes mothering instincts and time.

All mothers taking on this challenge are blessed! Bless you all!