wiwo question

[LucysMommy]

Hi,
I am thinking of trying wiwo with my 14 month old.  Just a question - how long do I wait in between wiwo?  It seems that going in and out frequently would be more upsetting than a longer wait time inbetween.  Also, how does wiwo differ from controlled crying?  The only difference I can see is that controlled crying waits 5 / 10/ 15 minutes in between wiwo and wiwo is shorter, like 1 minute?

Thanks!
Jolene

[Tay]

As far as I know with WIWO you don't set a length of time before going back in, baby cries you go stright back in. But only if it's a 'needing you' cry, not if it's a settling cry.

I done it with DD (even before I knew WIWO) and it worked wonderfully. The first few days were tough, but she soon got the hang of it. I always left the door half opened and acrried on with doing things upstairs, so she knew I was around. If she started crying madly I would go in and say something like: it's ok, it's bedtime. Give her a kiss, or give a back rub and walk out. Sometimes when walking out I would say: mummy's here sorting the bathroom.
HTH
xxx

[LucysMommy]

Thank-you Tay!

[Tay]

did you try last night?

[LucysMommy]

I am trying to do gradual withdrawal right now... when she cries I go in, and sit down on the floor and tell her to lie down, find your paci, find your bunny, go to sleep, etc.  I might reach through the crib bars and touch her or put her paci in for her if she is really upset.  I stay in the room with her until she I *think* she is asleep, but often I have to go in and do this several times as I guess she is not really asleep when I leave.
I have done this two nights now and both nights took over an hour but she eventually did go without me nursing her back to sleep.
This worked for us about a  month ago but then she got sick and needed some extra love and nursing in the night to feel better, but now she wants to bf at night every night.  So we have to get back to the old routine now.
I hope we see some change in behaviour soon as I have been up every night for at least an hour over the last 2 weeks!  Getting exhausted!

[LucysMommy]

I will try wiwo once she can settle herself doing the way I have been doing in my pp.
Thanks Tay for your concern, nice to know someone is cheering for me!

[Tay]

i am definately cheering for you, been there myself...
It should take 4 days for you to notice progress, but tbh 1hr is not bad at all.
Xxx

[LucysMommy]

Last night she slept through her usual wake up time, and woke up at a later time.  She has been waking up at the same time for about 2 weeks so it's good that habit has been broken!  At the later time she fussed on and off for about an hour but never got really mad. I left her to it mostly except when she cried hard, I told her, remember mommy said no more picking up in the night time, at nighttime you have to stay in your bed, find your paci, lay down, etc. I am also trying to use a more firm voice so she knows I mean business! So I think things are on the right track.  I was sleeping on a cot in her room as DH has a terrible cough and I can't sleep at all when he's in a coughing fit.  So I just spoke to her from where I was laying on the cot.

[Tay]

That actualy might work very well (your DH's cough...) you'll have time to reassure your LO until she is well settled into the new system. By then your DH will be better and you can move out of her room.
Good luck!
xx

[LucysMommy]

Last night DD slept through straight from 7:30 pm to 8:15 am!  Thanks for your help Tay.  I hope this will be a new pattern!

[Tay]

woo hoo!!! That's brilliant! Hopefully she'll continue like that.
Xx