I'm back with and Update!! First of all thank you for all your support and advice...
I hope I don't jinx myself here, but here is what is going on lately...
I started WIWO as I wrote before... I figured that I had to solve his Prop issues first and then tackle the NW. His Prop was basically me staying in the room so that he could fall asleep. It was terrible. He would close his eyes and fall asleep, but as soon as I moved and inch (I'm not kidding) he would scream and search for me. He was an independent sleeper from 4 to 8 months (before SA hit us hard) so I figured I had a good chance of getting it back.
I wrote in my last post the method I used...
I would like to explain in a little more detail in case it helps someone else...
First of all to do WIWO you have to be determined to do it, even if it gets rough. You CAN NOT give in and do a half prop (for me that was sometimes staying in the room and Shhsing), or just stop after and hour. That would have been a waist of time and tears... But be certain if your LO was and independent sleeper before it will work and it will change your life.
So I went on like this.
First night
1. Routine, lay in crib, say good night and sleepy words for about 2 minutes. Leave the room (Expect immediate tears).
2. Count to ten walk in, lay down in crib, sushh, leave.
You have to leave fast. Don't linger. What I learned (and I was mistaken about this) is that you are teaching to self soothe, not to fall asleep. Theres a difference and once I understood that It became clearer to me that what I was doing was rigth. The idea is not for him to fall asleep in the process and while he cries (although he will fall asleep during WIWO), but to be able to soothe himself while you are not in the room with him...
3. After you leave expect crying. Count to ten again and come back in, lay down, sushh and leave.
I had to do this for 2.30 hours the first night. I think I came in more than 200 times. My back was killing me, I started to bend by the knees cause I just couldn't take it anymore. At some point he just got it that I would be coming back and leaving and his crying started to change. This is important. If at some point he seems to stop crying (even if its just for a second), then stop counting and start over. Only come in when he is crying. My DS has this manta cry where he babbles angrily and sounds like an old man. Sometimes he stops, some times it escalates into crying and this is when I count and come in.
4. At the end, I came in layed him down, and he closed his eyes and I left.
5. He woke up that night at 10, 1, 4. I did Exactly the same process each time. I went over it with DH so that we were both doing the same thing each time. He took the 10 and 4 shift.
At the NW I started the WIWO straight away (no night night or sleepy words). So I just counted to 10 went in and layed down.
6. The next day for naps I did the same. It took me and hour.
7. At night (2NW night) I did it for 45 minutes. He woke at 10 (2 WIWO) and then at 1 (2 WIWO)
8. For naps the next day. I layed him down say the sleepy words 2 Min's. Left. Silence.
9. For the night. Sleepy words. Leave silence.
He has STTN ever since. I can not believe it. If you read this whole thread you wont believe also!! I keep waiting for it all to go wrong. But it seems to be working. I know if anything goes wrong I will do WIWO again. I will never let myself get caught up in props again.
At night sometimes he cries for 5 seconds or more. I wait. And then silence. You can not imagine how much life has changed. He is also more rested during the day, and therefore happier.
I just wanted to say thank you again.
I am certainly no expert. This is just what worked for me. So if you find something wrong with what I did, please post so that others don't make the same mistake. I hope this helps another parent lookinf for answers.
Cheers!!!
