Question about wi/wo

[LisaM]

Hi

Have decided to give wi/wo a try - my dd is a very early riser which is getting worse and although she never goes back off to sleep maybe this will help.  Also am trying it because lately she is playing up at nap and bedtimes and calling me back or crying out for ages. 

My question is I think I am supposed to count to about 10 and keep on going in if she is crying, however, today she stopped crying and was saying she wanted a cuddle etc (mor whiney than crying) and I so wanted to give her one but assumed that this is not right as she will have got me to do what she wants rather than the other way around.  Did I do the right thing by not cuddling her but just repeating time to sleep?

Thanks
Lisa

[skatty]

I think it is best to only respond to proper upset crying, at this age if they know you will come back and cuddle you will never get out of the room! I would talk from the doorway if I were you rather than keep going in (unless distressed), my DD catches on quick that we will not be having any fun when she should be sleeping! My DH normally deals with bedtime so if she wont settle he will go in once and tell her it's time to sleep and then just says "ssh, ssh" from the door, I think she just likes to know we are still around. I'm not sure if things are different at EWs because if they are fresh they just aren't going b2s are they, maybe it is more a case of having them entertain themselves until a reasonable time and hope they are so bored they fall b2s.

[LisaM]

Hi there

Yes, she used to entertain herself just chatting etc for a while so I could at least come round a bit and resign myself to getting up while the rest of the country was still asleep but lately she has just started shouting out as soon as she wakes and I am of course worried she will wake her sister up who has to go to school so I want her to get good sleep. The problem in the mornings is although she is really noisy I don't think I could class it as beign properly upset, its more about being really tired but not able to sleep and just wanting someone to come in and get her up.  Anyway, I might do what you say and talk by door.  All I did do was just open the door and say its was sleep time so probably just as effective to be outside.  See how I get on tonight.  Cos she was awake at 4.30 and had early nap will be getting her to bed for 6pm and desperately hoping that she doesn't take an hour to go to sleep like the last 3 nights!!!

Thanks for your input.

[elmarie]

I agree with Katt, if she not crying don't go in.  We used (and still use wi/pd/wo very successfully) and the secret is to ignore them when not crying otherwise she will always find an excuse to get you into the room.  With Courteney I will only tell her to go to sleep the first time I go in, after that i have no interaction-I just go in pd or close her with her blankets if she is still lying down and leave 

[skatty]

Haha, it was Elmarie that encouraged me to do WIWO