‘Cry it Out’ (CIO), also known as the extinction method, is a sleep training technique for babies.
According to BabyCenter, this entails putting your baby to bed drowsy but awake at a set time every night and not responding to crying until the next morning.
When you put your baby to sleep, as long as they are healthy, wearing a dry diaper, and not hurt or sick, you won’t respond to their cries until it’s time to get up the next morning, which is frequently up to 12 hours.
Some parents may not really like the idea of letting their kids cry until they fall asleep because it appears to be cruel.
However, CIO has been shown to be effective in assisting babies to sleep better on their own. Although the first few weeks may be difficult, after some time, your baby will eventually adapt.
If you decide to use this method to teach your baby to sleep on their own, you should understand what it’s all about.
It is also important to ensure that the method is carried out correctly so that your baby is not harmed during the process.
Here are 12 essential dos and don’ts for CIO sleeping training.
The Dos of the CIO method
The following list of things to do will help the process go more smoothly and ensure your baby is comfortable when using the ‘Cry it Out’ method:
- Have a baby monitor and check in on your baby in 5-10 minutes intervals to make sure your little one is safe.
- Make a sleeping schedule and routine so your baby knows when it is time to sleep.
- Plan ahead of time and know what you’re doing.
- Stay on the course and be prepared to follow through with your plan.
- Find a support system that can help you out and keep you on track.
- Make sure that your baby is not hungry because of pain or hunger.
The Don’ts of the CIO method
These are the things to avoid when using the ‘Cry it Out’ technique on your baby to ensure that it does not stress you out and has a negative impact on the baby.
- Your baby needs to know that it is time to sleep so don’t pick them out of bed, feed them or turn on the light.
- Don’t use the method too soon. CIO should only be used when the child is over 4 months old.
- Don’t mix up naps and night sleep because it’ll be hard to follow through
- Don’t be inconsistent and sending mixed message to your baby.
- Avoid carrying out CIO if your baby is sick.
- Never force your baby if it turns out that the method doesn’t work. They may require more time, so try again after a short break.
Know When to Stop the ‘Cry It Out’
Even if you know that the CIO method has worked for some parents, it may not be appropriate for you and your baby.
After a few weeks of trial and error, you should have a good idea whether it’s working or not. Set a time limit for how long you’ll try the ‘Cry it Out’, and if it doesn’t work and you don’t see your baby getting comfortable, it’s best to stop.
The same goes if you feel that you are unable to maintain the method because hearing your baby cry for an extended period of time can be agonising and could disturbing the good nights’ sleep for both you and your baby.
Don’t worry as there are a variety of other sleep training methods available to help your baby fall asleep on their own at night.
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