u/Accomplished_Bat6961

I'm at a bit of a loss.

I was committed to letting baby cry to do CIO but then everyone also says there are instances where something is actually wrong and to offer baby comfort. I can't tell the difference and baby is not comforted by anything other than being picked up and rocked to sleep.

We did a couple days and thought we were finding success until he cut 2 teeth and now I'm so confused if we are just being cruel.

6.5 month old schedule is 7am wake 2-2.25/2.5/2.5/3 bedtime around 730-8pm. naps capped at 1 hr and 3rd nap is half hour cat nap.

bedtime routine: nurse 40 mins before bed, dim light, calm chats and books, sleep sack, bedtime song, white noise, put down awake

First night CIO cried 40 mins woke up an hour later cried for 10 mins and then another hour later nursed. Woke up at 1 for 10 mins then back to sleep and woke up smiling.
2nd night cried very briefly less than 5 mins.
3rd night same as 2nd night.
at this point I wonder if baby was getting too drowsy during bedtime routine and was already half asleep when put down even though in monitor eyes were open for a couple mins.
then cut 2 teeth so had to intervene for MOTN wakings but still thought putting to bed independently was working.
It's day 11 now, teeth are poked out all the way and bedtime was 15 mins crying then woke up 15 mins later with 15 mins crying then woke up an hour later screaming really hard and I had to go pick him up.

night feedings don't really seem necessary only do a snooze feed after 4-5am not sure if he's even truly hungry for that. can resettle all night without nursing

on the days in between there's 4-6 MOTN wakings and if we didn't feel there was teething pain we have let him cry up to an hour of intense crying for MOTN wakings to try to be consistent but it doesn't seem to have decreased the screaming and have noticed less happy morning wake ups.

there does seem to be a difference in crying one is a bit more intermittent with some soothing wiggles in between and the other is more intense screaming and eye rubbing that doesn't seem to stop and is not a rare occurence.

Even on the best nights we often have to nurse to sleep between 4-5 and/or contact sleep between 5-7-am.

I keep going in an endless loop thinking the crying is the not normal kind that needs attention and I either need to respond right away or not at all to not teach him the longer he cries he will get a response. I want to be able to offer comfort but still work on independent sleep but every time I go in there it seems like the crying gets more intense. crib side comfort is not an option.

do we give up?? It doesn't feel like it's improving.

We thought we had pretty successfully did full extinction with our 6 month old over the last few days. I am happy to continue 1-2 night feedings, but the issue is after he falls asleep nursing and I try to transfer him he wakes up and cries worse than at initial bedtime. At bedtime he's been crying less than 1 minute but after nursing it's like the first night all over again with real tears and continues with more MOTN wakings crying hard >30 mins

But picking him up and rocking him to sleep now would ruin our progress? Can it be extinction burst for just MOTN and not bedtime?

Am I doing the right thing?

Bedtime routine is dim lights, diaper change, nurse 30'mins before bed, books, sleep sack, sing bedtime song and put in crib fully awake. First night cried 40 mins and 10 mins a couple MOTN. subsequent nights cried only a minute. Previous nights fell asleep nursing but stayed asleep during transfer. this night he woke up and I would have had to pick him up to settle him but trying to avoid. After nursing I wait 20 mins while he's asleep before putting him down.

Schedule is 7am wake 2/2.5/2.5/3 bed at 8pm.

We just pretty successfully did full extinction with our 6 month old over the last few days. I am happy to continue 1-2 night feedings, but the issue is after he falls asleep nursing and I try to transfer him he wakes up and cries worse than at initial bedtime. At bedtime he's been crying less than 1 minute but after nursing it's like the first night all over again with real tears.

I can't say I blame him he's just been nursed to sleep and then woken up and left alone. But picking him up and rocking him to sleep now would ruin our progress?

Am I doing the right thing?

Bedtime routine is dim lights, diaper change, nurse 30'mins before bed, books, sleep sack, sing bedtime song and put in crib fully awake. First night cried 40 mins and 10 mins a couple MOTN. subsequent nights cried only a minute. Previous nights fell asleep nursing but stayed asleep during transfer. this night he woke up and I would have had to pick him up to settle him but trying to avoid. After nursing I wait 20 mins while he's asleep before putting him down.