Replies to 'Sleep Issues'

Quote From: bigboob

My darling Katie falls asleep alright, sometimes by herself, sometimes with breast, sometimes with pacifier, sometimes crying (5-15 minutes). She doesn't have as much trouble going to sleep as she does staying asleep. She is regularly cantankerous at 7:00pm and I usually nurse her to help her become drowsy. If she falls asleep I place her in bed. If she is cantankerous (kicking) I place her in bed and let her cry. She is awake anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 hour and will awaken all night long either every 1-2 hours. Her pediatrician says to let her cry it out. If I do that all 5 of us will be up every 1-2 hours. I start her out in her own bed and for the sake of sleep nurse her in bed with me. Every time she wakes I switch sides and this is the best way for me and my household to get sleep. Even her dr. said that when he was training his daughter to "cry it out" he had to leave the house because he couldn't bare to hear the sadness. (I'll bet his wife did) When he said you could do that for up to an hour and a half I told him that sounded like a big bad time out. I will not let her cry past 15 minutes. I do not want a sad baby. I do not feel that letting her cry all night will teach her to sleep longer than 1-2 hours at a time. I think that's all she's naturally capable of doing. Can I die of not sleeping?