What do you do while your baby is crying it out?

Question

We've tried everything to put her to sleep and our last resort ahs been to let her cry it out, the thing is I don't know what to do with myself. If I listen I want to cry too, if I don't listen I keep going close to hear if she is still crying and end up going up to her room so many times. Do you walk out of the house to avoid hearing, do you block it, do you put headphones on, what do you do!? I am going crazy here!

Answer 1

You just go in the other room and relax or watch TV. They shouldn't be let to cry more than 20 minutes. You can usually tell if they are getting sleepy by the crying is getting slower. It is just pretty natural for babies to cry themselves to sleep. They don't want to go to bed, there is too much to explore in the world and they just want to keep going. LOL.

Answer 2

How old is your baby? If she is an infant (anything under a year) then she needs to be held, and should never go more than just a minute or two crying unattended. But you also need a break! Is there anyone else to watch her even for a few minutes (at least 30 or so)? How are you sleeping? Are you sufferning from post-partum depression?

If this is an older baby (toddler) then letting them cry it out can be appropriate, especially if you do it to get them to bed at night (it is tough, but unless you want a co-sleeping arrangement it's worth it and helps them develop some independence). I found that just occupying myself with something else was the best thing to do; somewhere where I could not hear the baby, or hear very well.


But it sounds more like you are dealing with an infant, right? If that is the case, then those times when you go check on her & end up staying, if she is not still crying, should be used to let you rest or unwind in some way. If you are not able to take care of yourself then you can't take care of the baby. That means eating right, getting plenty of rest and having at least a little time to yourself.

Know this too--these times do not last forever! (That one really helped me a lot!)

Answer 3

I find something to do. I still listen, because once while i was trying to get her to nap at my parents she got her leg stuck in the rail of the crib. My dad went and got her and came back held her up and said,"this is why you shouldnt leave your babies to cry" Her knee was swollen and sore looking. Ouch! You can leave them to cry, but I believe you should still listen for them, sometimes you can hear if their cry changes. SOmetimes they need reassurance or were having a bad dream. Usually if I know she is crying just for me to get her I ignore her for a half hour or so. Then I go in and hold her. The more you make this time uncomfortable the faster they will get over it. But it is true that scientists are starting to say that is not a real good thing to do I believe to very young infants. They can make themsleves so mad that they put undo amount of pressure on their brains and thus causing some brain damage. When they get a little older, I think its alright tolet them cry more. I let my girl cry herself out at 3 months once and she ended up choking and winding herself at the same time. Luckly I was in the next room and was able to get to her fast and get some air into her lungs. I wouldnt leave your baby to cry too much until they are a bit older, I say about 6 months. Good Luck

Answer 4

I played music for my little boy everytime I put him down for a nap or to sleep. It worked really good. I just put the cd in and gave him a kiss, covered him up and went out and closed the door behind me. He cryed just briefly at first then got to where he knew when he heard the music it was nap time. No more problems. I left it on the whole time he sleep. Plus this also gets them to the point that they will sleep through anything. I could actually run vaccuum or anything and he wouldn't move. He will be 10 and I can go into his room flip on light vaccuum the floor and leave and he won't wake up. But if I go up to him and touch him he is wide awake.

Answer 5

How old is your baby? I wouldnt let an infant cry it out until theyre at least 4 months old. I just shut their door, turn on their mobile and if it last more than 10-15 minutes I would go back and pick her up. I would keep the light off and only hold him for a minute. If youre daughter is older than 8 months however I wouldnt go back. Has she found her thumb yet? I found when they find their thumb the crying only lasts about 5 mintutes. If it helps turn the TV on and mute it every 5 mins to see if shes stopped. Good Luck!

Answer 6

It's hard for a mom to hear her child cry for any reason. When my children were younger I would always make sure their diaper was changed and their bellies were full. If they started crying I would let them cry for about 5 mins. go back in the room and let them know that I am here and they need to go to sleep. I would keep repeating this until they went to sleep but, now I all I have to say "Lets go to bed" and it's done with. Good Luck with it!

Answer 7

I waited until he was 6 months old before I let him cry it out. I just go down stairs listen to music, watch tv. some sort of noise to drown out the crying. I go for 10 minutes and then check on him, pat his back, then 10 more minutes. It took about an hour the first few nights. now he goes to sleep much faster, some times without any crying, and he sleeps better through the night. After he's sound asleep I go in and turn him to his back because he always falls asleep on his tummy. And I don't use a monitor. I'm just in the next room, if he cries I'll hear him.

Answer 8

Hearing my baby cry hurts me too. This method was our last resort, we started when she was 6 months and she was in her own room.

We put baby to bed awake, she cried for me to return.

I let her cry 3 minutes only before her daddy went in, patted her and said comforting words. No lifting her up, no toys, no feeding, keeping the room dark.

Then he left, and we let her cry for 5 minutes only.

Then he went in and patted her, no talking this time.

Then if she still cried, we left her for 7 minutes only before he went in so she could see him, so she knew she was safe.

I would be outside the room always listening. I always listen, and NEVER leave her for longer than a few minutes. half an hour for a crying baby is too much, and baby should be at least 6 months, NO YOUNGER.

This worked for us.

Baby just needs to know she/he is safe. But you need to be sure b4 you start this that the baby is not hungry, wet, too hot/cold or uncomfortable ect.

You need your partner to support you, as you cant relax with a crying baby in the background its too painful.

Answer 9

I did the cry it out method. The thing is don't just let her cry continuously. To start out check on her every 2 minutes. Then up it to every 5 minutes and then every 10 minutes. then every 15 minutes. The trick is to let her know that you're still there if she needs you but that you're not going to continue rocking her (or whatever it is you do) to sleep. It took a month for my daughter to stop crying and go to sleep. While she's crying do whatever you need to do to distract yourself. And keep telling yourself she's going to be ok. If you cry it's fine..I cried the first week. Remember you're not hurting her. It's better for all of you in the long run. Also let dad help.

Answer 10

Take a step outside or to another room
occupy yourself with something else
read a book in another room or watch tv
Eventually you will learn to tone it out. Every so often you can go check on her as long as it is not every 5 min. lol try waiting a good 15 or so. If you are watching tv wait and check on her during a commercial or after a 30 min episode.