Do you still count this as letting the child cry it out?

Question

When you sit in the room with the baby and try and comfort him/her by stroking the babys back or singing to baby etc. But you do not pick baby up out of his bed. Is that still counted as letting the baby cry it out? Ive always wandered.

Answer 1

Hmm, I dont think so because your trying to calm the baby down.  In my opinion if you just left the baby alone, that would be CIO.

Answer 2

That is definitely not letting your child cry it out.

Answer 3

No, the baby wants your attention is the only reason she is crying. It's hard to let them cry it out. But you realize how much you miss sleep when they finally do sleep through thr night

Answer 4

I tried sitting in the room with my kids when they were going to sleep, and it was much harder on them and me than leaving the room and letting them cry alone. I don't think there's anything wrong with letting a baby cry by him or herself until he falls asleep, and I don't think it's necessarily better or worse to sit in the room with the baby. My son still (at 22 months) goes nuts if I try to put him in his crib and stay in the room, but if I just put him in his crib and leave him he happily talks to himself until he falls asleep.

Answer 5

No it is not CIO.. you are doing the right thing.. if you pick up the baby, it will only make her stay awake longer (i learned that the hard way) but what you are doing is letting her know you are there, but that its time for sleep and time to relax, singing/stroking back/hair are all good things to include in a bedtime routine.. When you are letting a baby (which i dont really think is right) cio.. you just leave the baby (dont go and touch or try to comfort) the child. Although there are some cio methods  where you let the baby cry, and  go into reassure every 5  min.. but dont pick up the baby or talk to the baby (because that will just make them more upset) Just give some pats and rubs.. Someitmes it takes a while.. but its good to find a bedtime routine that is good for your baby, maybe some songs and a story and some milk or start with a bath. that lavender bath stuff works great for my son.

Answer 6

I don't think that would be considered as letting the baby 'cry it out' because your still there comforting him/her.

Personally i couldn't do it anyways, listening to my child cry is like torture

Answer 7

Cry it out is defined as making sure a baby is fed and changed (and hopefully well cuddled, though this isn't a requirement), then putting the baby to bed and leaving him there until you've decided bed time is over.  That means if bed time is 8pm-6am, you don't go back in there at all during that time.  If the baby cries, you just leave him alone and let him cry through it.  

So no, what you described is not true CIO, though it is a modification.  I'm guessing it isn't going to be much more or less effective than standard CIO, though it is much safer for the baby.  It is still trying to force the baby to figure out how to calm himself when he isn't ready.  Babies learn how to calm themselves in a safe, happy, and secure environment.  Crying to be held and not getting that, being upset because you aren't getting that, and continuing to cry isn't a happy and secure environment, so it's still going to be a struggle.

Answer 8

I think that is more controlled crying.